Catholic diocese in Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise (Latin: Dioecesis Ardachadensis et Cluanensis; Irish: Deoise Ardach agus Chluain Mhic Nóis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Dioecesis Ardachadensis et Cluanensis Deoise Ardach agus Chluain Mhic Nóis | |
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| Location | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Territory | Most of counties Longford and Leitrim and parts of counties Cavan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Armagh |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Armagh |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 940 sq mi (2,400 km2) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2015) 89,100 76,626 (86%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 1756 |
| Cathedral | St. Mel's Cathedral, Longford |
| Patron saint | St Mel |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Paul Connell, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Eamon Martin |
| Vicar General | Monsignor Patrick Early |
| Bishops emeritus | Colm O'Reilly |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| ardaghdiocese.org | |
The diocese is entirely within the Republic of Ireland and contains most of counties Longford and Leitrim, with parts of counties Cavan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. The main towns in the diocese are Athlone, Ballymahon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Edgeworthstown, Granard and Longford.
The union of the sees of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, which had been proposed in 1709, was carried into effect following the death of Stephen MacEgan, Bishop of Meath on 30 May 1756, who had been administering the see of Clonmacnoise.[1][2] Augustine Cheevers, Bishop of Ardagh, was translated to the see of Meath on 7 August 1756, and Anthony Blake was appointed as the first bishop of united see of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise on 11 August 1756.[1][2]
On Christmas Day 2009, St Mel's cathedral in Longford was destroyed by fire. Bishop O'Reilly said that the building is "just a shell" and "burned out from end to end". The bishop said construction on the cathedral began in 1840 and he described it as a flagship Cathedrals of the midlands. After a long investigation the cause of the fire was traced back to a brick lined chimney at the rear of the cathedral.[3] St Mel's was restored, reopening in 2014.
On 5 April 2023, Paul Connell was appointed the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise by Pope Francis.
The following are the current parishes in the diocese (official names in italics where they differ from the currently-used names)
