Bishop of Kilmacduagh

The ruined cathedral at Kilmacduagh, with round tower in background

The Bishop of Kilmacduagh was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the village of Kilmacduagh in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. In both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church, the title is now united with other bishoprics.

History

In the seventh century, the monastery of Kilmacduagh was founded by Saint Colman, son of Duagh. It was not until 1152 that the Diocese of Kilmacduagh was established at the Synod of Kells. After the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions.[1]

In the Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland bishopric of Kilmacduagh was united with Clonfert to form the united bishopric of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh in 1625. Under the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833, the united see became part of the bishopric of Killaloe and Clonfert in 1834. Since 1976, Kilmacduagh has been one of the sees held by the Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe.[2][3]

In the Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church bishopric of Kilmacduagh continued as a separate title until 1750 when Pope Benedict XIV decreed that it to be united with the bishopric of Kilfenora. Since Kilmacduagh was in the Ecclesiastical province of Tuam while Kilfenora was in the Province of Cashel, it was arranged that the ordinary of the united dioceses was to be alternately bishop of one diocese and apostolic administrator of the other. The first holder of this unusual arrangement was Peter Kilkelly, who had been Bishop of Kilmacduagh since 1744, became Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora in September 1750. In 1883, the see of Kilmacduagh was united with Galway.[4][5] Since that date, Kilfenora has been administered by that united diocese as an Apostolic Vicariate. Since the territory of an Apostolic Vicariate comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop", the pope exercises his authority in Kilfenora through a "vicar".

Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Kilmacduagh
From Until Incumbent Notes
unknown 1137 ?Ua Clérig Died in office
unknown 1176 Ímar Ua Ruaidín Died in office
before 1179 1204 Mac Gilla Cellaig Ua Ruaidín Died in office
1206 1215 I. Ua Cellaig Elected bishop before February 1206; died 1215
unknown 1224 Máel Muire Ó Connaig Died in office
1227 unknown Áed Formerly Precentor of Kilmacduagh; elected before 12 May 1227 and received possession of the temporalities after that date; date of death or end of episcopate unknown; also known as Odo
unknown 1247 Conchobar Ó Muirdaig Died in office
1248 1253 Gilla Cellaig Ó Ruaidín Elected before 5 May 1248 and received possession of the temporalities after that date; died before 10 November 1253; also known as Gillebertus
1254 1284 Mauricius Ó Leaáin Elected before 15 May 1254 and received possession of the temporalities after that date; died before 16 January 1284
1284 1290 David Ó Sétacháin Elected and received possession of the temporalities after 27 March 1284; died before 13 June 1290
1290 1307 Lúrint Ó Lachtnáin Formerly Abbot of Knockmoy; elected bishop before 10 August 1290 and received possession of the temporalities after that date; died before 1 March 1307; also known as Laurentius
c.1307 1325 Lucas Elected bishop circa 1307; died 1325
1326 c.1357 Johannes Elected before May 1326 and received possession of the temporalities on 14 May 1326; died circa 1357
1358 1393 Nicol Ó Leaáin Appointed on 16 November 1358 and consecrated in 1360; died before October 1393
1394 1397 Gregorius Ó Leaáin Appointed on 14 October 1393 and consecrated circa 1394; confirmed bishop on 30 August 1396; died 1397
1397 1405 See vacant
1405 unknown Énri Ó Connmhaigh Translated from Clonfert on 11 March 1405; date of death or end of episcopate unknown
unknown 1410 Dionysius Died circa May 1410
1409 1418 Eugenius Ó Faoláin Appointed on 23 September 1409 (papal bulls expediated on 25 May 1410; translated to Bishop of Killaloe on 6 July 1418
1418 1419 Diamaid Ó Donnchadha Appointed and consecrated circa July 1418; died before October 1419
1419 (Nicol Ó Duibhghiolla) Elected before October 1419, but did not take effect
1419 1441 Seaán Ó Connmhaigh Appointed on 23 October 1419; died before May 1441
1441 1478 Dionysius Ó Donnchadha Appointed on 10 May 1441; died before December 1478
1479 1503 Cornelius "'O'Mullony" Appointed on 8 January 1479; resigned on 8 March 1503; possibly was surnamed Ó Maoldomhnaigh
1503 1533 Matthaeus Ó Briain Appointed on 8 March 1503; died before August 1533
1533 (Malachias O'Mallony) Appointed on 8 August 1533, but did not take effect
Sources: [6][7][8]

Bishops during the Reformation

Bishops of Kilmacduagh during the Reformation
From Until Incumbent Notes
1533 1542 Christopher Bodkin Appointed on 3 September and consecrated on 4 November 1533; accepted royal supremacy and appointed Church of Ireland Archbishop of Tuam by King Henry VIII on 15 February 1537, but continued to hold Kilmacduagh; absolved from schism by Cardinal Pole and appointed Roman Catholic apostolic administrator of Tuam and Kilmacduagh on 7 October 1555; died in office in 1572; also known as Christopher Bobkyn or Bodekin
1542 1555 Cornelius O'Dea Appointed Roman Catholic bishop by the Holy See on 5 May 1542 in opposition to Bodkin, but was unable to get possession of the see; not known if he was ever consecrated; resigned when Bodkin was absolved in 1555
Sources: [9][10][11]

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Kilmacduagh
From Until Incumbent Notes
1573 1582 Stephen Kirwan Nominated on 9 January 1572 and appointed by letters patent on 13 April 1573; translated to Clonfert on 24 May 1582; also known as Stephen Kerovan and O'Kirwan
1582 1585 See vacant
1585 (Thomas Burke) Referred as the bishop-elect in 1585, but was not consecrated
1585 1587 See vacant
1587 1625 Roland Lynch Nominated on 9 January and consecrated in August 1587; also held in commendam the see of Clonfert 1602–1625; died in December 1625
1625 1834 See part of the united bishopric of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh
1834 1976 See part of the united bishopric of Killaloe and Clonfert
since 1976 See part of the united bishopric of Limerick and Killaloe
Sources: [2][3]

Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Kilmacduagh
From Until Incumbent Notes
1576 1610 Malachy O'Moloney Translated from Killaloe on 22 August 1576; died 1610
1610 1629 See vacant
1629 unknown (Oliver Burke, O.P.) Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief on 28 November 1629
1647 1656 Hugh Burke, O.F.M. Appointed on 11 March 1647; died circa 1656
1671 unknown (Michael Lynch) Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief on 30 June 1671
1695 1713 (Ambrose O'Madden) Nominated Bishop of Killala and Administrator of Kilmacduagh on 30 August 1695; nominated Bishop of Kilmacduagh on 15 November 1703 and papal brief on 15 March 1707; he was not consecrated and probably continued as administrator; translated to Clonfert on 15 September 1713
1713 1720 See vacant
1720 unknown Francis de Burgo Appointed on 5 June and consecrated on 1 May 1720; death date or end of episcopate unknown
1723 1732 Bernard O'Hara, O.F.M. Appointed in December 1723; died before November 1732
1732 unknown Martin (Milo) Burke Appointed on 22 November 1732; consecrated on 8 March 1733; death date or end of episcopate unknown
1744 1783 Peter Kilkelly, O.P. Appointed on 22 June and consecrated on 14 October 1744; also became Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora when the two dioceses united in September 1750; died on 29 May 1783
1750 1883 See part of the united bishopric of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
since 1883 See part of the united diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
Sources: [4][5][12]

References

  1. ↑ "The Dioceses of Ireland: Territorial History". RootsWeb. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, p. 398.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Moody, Martin & Byrne 1984, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, p. 438.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, p. 435.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Moody, Martin & Byrne 1984, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, p. 390.
  6. ↑ Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, volume 2, pp. 157–158.
  7. ↑ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 361–362.
  8. ↑ Moody, Martin & Byrne 1984, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 330–331.
  9. ↑ Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, volume 2, pp. 158–159.
  10. ↑ Fryde et al. 1986, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 398 and 435.
  11. ↑ Moody, Martin & Byrne 1984, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 390 and 438.
  12. ↑ Brady 1876, The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, volume 2, pp. 159–167.

Bibliography

  • Brady, W. Maziere (1876). The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, A.D. 1400 to 1875. Volume 2. Rome: Tipografia Della Pace.
  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
  • Moody, T. W.; Martin, F. X.; Byrne, F. J., eds. (1984). Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II. New History of Ireland. Volume XI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-821745-5.