Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly

Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Archidioecesis Casheliensis et Emeliensis

The Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles
Location
Country Ireland
Territory Most of North Tipperary and parts of South Tipperary and County Limerick.
Ecclesiastical province Province of Cashel
Statistics
Area 1,190 sq mi (3,100 km2)
Population
- Catholics

81,609
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established United 10 May 1718
Cathedral The Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles
Patron saint St Ailbe
Current leadership
Pope Pope Benedict XVI
Archbishop Dermot Clifford,
Archbishop of Cashel and Emly
Map

The Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, shown in bluish-purple, within the Province of Cashel.
Website
cashel-emly.ie

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly (Irish: Ard-Deoise Chaisil agus Imligh) is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster.[1] The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the Synod of Kells. The incumbent Ordinary is Dermot Clifford.

Contents

Province and geographic remit

The Province of Cashel, is one of the four ecclesiastical provinces that together form the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland; the other provinces are Dublin, Tuam and Armagh. Its metropolitan bishop is the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. The geographical remit of the province is confined to the Republic of Ireland. The suffragan dioceses of the province are:

Ecclesiastical history

The Archdiocese consists of two older entities: The "Diocese of Cashel" and the "Diocese of Emly". Since the Papal Legate, Cardinal Paparo, awarded the pallium to Donat O'Lonergan of Cashel at the Synod of Kells,[2] his successors have ruled the ecclesiastical Province of Cashel (or Munster as it is sometimes known). The diocese of Emly took its name from the village of Emly in South Tipperary, which was the location of the principal church of the Eóghanacht dynasty. The original dioceses of Cashel and Emly have been united since 1718 (in the Roman Catholic Church).

Church of Ireland ecclesiastical history

In the Church of Ireland, the two dioceses had been united since 1569. This union lasted until 1976. Since that date, Cashel has been contained within the United dioceses of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin which is commonly referred to as the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory. Likewise, Emly is contained within the United dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly which is commonly referred to as the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe.

Cathedral

Despite the name, the archdiocese's episcopal seat (the cathedra) lies neither in the town of Cashel nor of Emly, but in nearby Thurles. This is due to the supplanting of the Roman Catholic archbishops from their see by the appointees of the crown on behalf of the established Church of Ireland. From the time of the English Reformation onwards, those archbishops appointed by Rome had to make their throne in whichever house in Tipperary would hide them from the forces of the crown. This state of affairs continued until the late 18th century when some of the harsher provisions of the Penal Laws were relaxed.

James Butler 2nd (1774-91),[3] on being appointed by Rome moved his residence and cathedra from Cashel, favouring Thurles instead, where his successors continue to reign today.

Ordinaries

Deaneries and Parishes

The current Roman Catholic archdiocese is divided into eight deaneries, each of which are divided into a number of parishes (or combined parishes).[4]

Deanery of Ballingarry
Deanery of Cashel
Deanery of Fethard
Deanery of Galbally
  • Galbally and Lisvemane
  • Emly
  • Ballylanders
  • Kilbehenny and Anglesboro
Deanery of Hospital
Deanery of Murroe
Deanery of Thurles
Deanery of Tipperary

See also

References

  1. ^ Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  2. ^ Information on the history of the diocese
  3. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia
  4. ^ Map of the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Official website. Retrieved on 2009-08-13.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.