Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath

Diocese of Meath
Dioecesis Midensis
Deoise na Mí

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 1,977 sq mi (5,120 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2013)
303,000
267,831 (88.4%)
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar
Patron saint St Finian
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop The Most Reverend Dr. Michael Smith,
Bishop of Meath
Metropolitan Archbishop Eamon Martin
Map
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 belong to the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. The incumbent ordinary is the Most Reverend Michael Smith, who succeeded to the title on 16 May 1990.

Geography

Meath diocese covers most of counties Meath and Westmeath, part of Offaly along with part of counties Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan. The principal towns are Ashbourne, Drogheda, Dunboyne, Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington, Mullingar, Navan and Tullamore.

Ecclesiastical history

Early history

Although there had been abbot-bishops of Clonard since the sixth century, the diocese of Clonard proper was not formally established until 1111.[1][2][3] 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.

Lordship of Ireland

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.

19th and 20th centuries

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 cathedral removing to Mullingar, County Westmeath permanently. The diocesan School, St. Finian's College also moved to Mullingar from Navan. The incumbent bishop is Dr. Michael Smith.

The diocesan cathedral is Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar, situated near the town centre.

Ordinaries

The Most Reverend Dr. Michael Smith, the current Bishop of Meath

The following is a basic list of bishops of Meath since 1830:[4][5]

  • John Cantwell (1830–1866)
  • Thomas McNulty (1866–1898)
  • Matthew Gaffney (1899–1906)
  • Laurence Gaughran (1906–1928)
  • Thomas Mulvany (1929–1943)
  • John Francis D'Alton (1943–1946)
  • John Anthony Kyne (1947–1966)
  • John McCormack (1968–1990)
  • Michael Smith (1990–present)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cogan, Anthony (1862). The diocese of Meath: ancient and modern. 1. Dublin: J.F. Fowler.
  2. ↑ Volume 2
  3. ↑ Volume 3
  4. ↑ Diocese of Meath. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  5. ↑ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 439–440. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.

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