| Diocese of Meath Dioecesis Midensis |
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The Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar |
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| Location | |
| Country | Republic of Ireland |
| Territory | Most of counties Meath, Westmeath part of Offaly along with part of counties Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan. |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Armagh |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 1,809 sq mi (4,690 km2) |
| Population - Catholics |
250,000 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar |
| Patron saint | St Finnian |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Pope Benedict XVI |
| Bishop | Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Cardinal Seán Baptist Brady, Archbishop of Armagh |
| Map | |
| Province of Armagh (blank).png The Diocese of Meath, shown in dark blue, within the Province of Armagh. |
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| Website | |
| dioceseofmeath.ie | |
The Diocese of Meath (Irish: Deoise na Mí) is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The incumbent ordinary is the Most Reverend Michael Smith, who succeeded to the title on 16 May 1990.
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Although there had been abbot-bishops at Clonard Abbey since the sixth century, the diocese of Clonard proper was not formally established until 1111. It was one of the twenty-four dioceses established by the Synod of Rathbreasail. The diocese covered roughly the western part of the Kingdom of Meath with the bishop's seat located at Clonard Abbey.
During the twelfth century the bishops of Clonard acquired most of Meath as their territory, and frequently used the title "bishop of Meath" or "bishop of the men of Meath". After Bishop Simon Rochfort transferred his seat from Clonard to Trim in 1202, the normal style became the "Bishop of Meath". From 1778 until the late 19th century it had its seat in Navan, County Meath.
Charles Stewart Parnell's relationship with Mrs Katharine O'Shea led to the Bishop of Meath having a letter read at masses in the diocese in condemnation of the relationship. As Parnell was popular, this caused a backlash which eventually led to the cathedra removing to Mullingar, County Westmeath permanently. The diocesan School, St. Finian's College also moved to Mullingar. The incumbent Bishop is Dr. Michael Smith.
The diocesan cathedral is Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar, situated near the town centre.
The following is a basic list of bishops of Meath since 1830:[1][2]
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