Synod of Rathbreasail

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The Synod of Rathbreasail took place in Ireland in 1111. It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and parish-based church. Many Irish Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland (Protestant) dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod.

The synod was attended by no fewer than fifty bishops, three hundred priests and over three thousand laymen. It established two provinces, with archbishoprics at Armagh and Cashel. Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses. The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined, however. The synod also brought the existing see of Waterford, subject to Canterbury, under the authority of the Archbishop of Cashel.

It was the third of four great reforming Irish synods, the other three were at Cashel (1101), Kells-Mellifont (1152) and Cashel again (1172).

[edit] Dioceses established

The following 24 dioceses were established by the synod:

Armagh
Cashel
Ardagh: East Connacht
Ardstraw: Cehel Tír Eogain (except Inis Eogain)
Clogher: Approximating to Kingdom of Uí Chremthainn
Clonard: West Meath †
Clonfert: Territory of the Uí Maine
Connor: Territory of Dalriada
Cong was named as one of the five dioceses for Connacht, but no names of bishops have been recorded.
Cork
Down: Territory of Ulidia
Duleek: East Meath †
Elphin: East Connacht
Emly
Ferns
Glendalough
Kildare
Kilkenny (subsequently renamed Ossory): Territory of Osraige
Killala: Territory of the Uí Fiachrach
Killaloe: Territory of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
Leighlin: One of five dioceses for Leinster
Limerick
Raphoe: Tír Conaill and Inis Eogain
Ratass: Territories of the Ciarraighe, Corco Duibne and Eoganacht Locha Léin (moved to Ardfert by 1117)
Tuam: One of five dioceses in Connacht
Diocese of Waterford: already in existence, but had been subject to the Archdiocese of Canterbury prior to 1111

The Diocese of Dublin acknowledged the jurisdiction of Canterbury until 1096, but was not included in the list of dioceses at the synod. It was not incorporated into the system of Irish dioceses until 1152.

†At the Synod of Uisneach, convened by the abbot of Clonmacnaoise later in 1111, the See of Duleek was suppressed, West Meath assigned to a new Diocese of Clonmacnaoise and East Meath to Clonard. It appears, however, that a number of Bishops of Duleek were appointed before 1160.