Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe

File:C of I Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe.png

After the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church broke communion, by decree of the Irish Parliament, the Church of Ireland became the independent State Church of the Kingdom of Ireland. It assumed possession of most Church property (and so retained a great repository of religious architecture and other items, though some were later destroyed). The substantial majority of the population remained faithful to Roman Catholicism, despite the political and economic advantages of membership in the state church. The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism. Since the formation of the Church of Ireland, it has experienced a continual process of merger of dioceses (see below), in view of declining membership. For this reason, the diocese had three cathedrals.

Prior to its own merger, the diocese was itself the result of a number of mergers of sees beginning in the seventeenth century:{{cite book|last=Galloway|first=Peter| author-link=Peter Galloway |title=The Cathedrals of Ireland|year=1992|publisher=Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University Belfast|location=Belfast|isbn=0853894523|pages=10, 48,97,142}}

File:Ardfert cathedral.jpg

File:Kilfenora Cathedral.jpg

• St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick,[http://cathedral.limerick.anglican.org/ St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick]. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
• St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe,[http://cathedral.killaloe.anglican.org/ St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe]. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
• St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert.[http://ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=information&id=126 The Cathedral Churches of Limerick and Killaloe]. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.

Five others are in ruins or no longer exist:

• St Brendan's Cathedral, Ardfert was destroyed by fire in 1641
• St Alibeus' Cathedral, Emly was demolished in 1877.
• Kilmacduagh cathedral, which is partly in ruins
• Aghadoe Cathedral, which is partly in ruins
• Kilfenora Cathedral, which is partly in ruins, dates from the 12th century.

The diocese was divided into a number of parish groups.[http://limerick.anglican.org/parishes Parish Information]. Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe website. Retrieved on 6 October 2009.

• Adare Group: St Nicholas', Adare{{•}} Croom{{•}} St Andrew's, Kilfinane{{•}} St Peter & St Paul's, Kilmallock{{•}} St Beacon's, Kilpeacon{{•}} Knockaney.
• Aughrim Group: St Catherine's, Ahascragh{{•}} Ardrahan{{•}} Holy Trinity, Aughrim{{•}} St Matthew's, Clontuskert{{•}} St John the Evangelist's, Creagh{{•}} Woodlawn, Kilconell.
• Birr Group: St Brendan's, Birr{{•}} Dorrha{{•}} Lockeen{{•}} St Ruadhan's, Lorrha.
• Clonfert (Cathedral) Group: St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert{{•}} St John the Baptist's, Donanaughta{{•}} Christ Church's, Lickmolassy{{•}} St Paul's, Rynagh.
• Cloughjordan Group: Ballingarry{{•}} Borrisnafarney{{•}} Borrisokane{{•}} St Kieran's, Cloughjordan.
• Drumcliffe (Ennis) Group: St Columba, Drumcliffe{{•}} Kilfarboy{{•}} St Fachan's, Kilfenora{{•}} St James', Kilfieragh{{•}} Kilnasoolagh{{•}} Christ Church's, Shannon.
• Kenmare Group: St Michael & All Angels', Dromod{{•}} St Patrick's, Kenmare{{•}} Church of the Transfiguration, Kilcrohane{{•}} St John the Baptist's, Valentia.
• Kilcolman (Milltown) Group: St John's, Glenbeigh{{•}} Kilcolman{{•}} St Michael's, Killorglin{{•}} St Carthage's, Kiltallagh{{•}} Knockane.
• Killaloe (Cathedral) Group: Inniscaltra{{•}} St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe[http://www.cathedral.killaloe.anglican.org St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe]. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.{{•}} St Senan's, Kiltinanlea{{•}} All Saints', Stradbally{{•}} St. Cronan's Church, Tuamgraney.
• Killarney Group: St Mary, Killarney{{•}} Holy Trinity, Muckross.
• Limerick (Cathedral) Group: St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick{{•}} Abington{{•}} St Michael's, Limerick.
• Nenagh Group: Killodiernan{{•}} St Mary's, Nenagh{{•}} Templederry.
• Rathkeale Group: St Mary's, Askeaton{{•}} Kilcornan{{•}} Kilnaughtin{{•}} Holy Trinity, Rathkeale.
• Roscrea Group: St Burchin's, Bourney{{•}} Christ Church's, Corbally{{•}} St Molua, Kyle{{•}} St Cronan's, Roscrea.
• Shinrone Group:[http://www.shinrone.killaloe.anglican.org/content/index.html Shinrone Group of Parishes]. Retrieved on 7 September 2009. Aghancon{{•}} Dunkerrin{{•}} St Finnian's, Kinnitty{{•}} St Mary's, Shinrone.
• Tralee Group: Ballymacelligott{{•}} Ballyseedy{{•}} St James's, Dingle{{•}} Kilgobbin, Camp{{•}} Killiney, Castlegregory{{•}} St John's, Tralee.
• Plus the University of Limerick.

{{main|Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe}}

{{colbegin}}

• Edwin Owen (1976–1981)
• Walton Newcombe Francis Empey (1981–1985)
• Edward Flewett Darling (1985–2000)
• Michael Hugh Gunton Mayes (2000–2008)
• Trevor Williams (2008–2014)
• Kenneth Kearon (2015–2021)

{{colend}}

• Dean of Limerick and Ardfert
• Dean of Killaloe and Clonfert
• List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kerry (formerly Ardfert and Aghadoe)
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly

{{reflist}}

• [http://limerick.anglican.org/ Official Website]
• [http://www.crockford.org.uk/section.asp?id=9 Crockford's Clerical Directory - Listings]

{{Church of Ireland dioceses}}

{{Office holders in the Diocese of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Limerick and Killaloe, Diocese of}}

Category:Religion in County Limerick

Category:Religion in County Clare

Category:Religion in County Kerry

Category:Church of Ireland in the Republic of Ireland