The Bishop of Leighlin was a separate episcopal

Episcopal polity

Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...

 title which took its name after the small town of Old Leighlin

Old Leighlin

Old Leighlin is a small town in County Carlow, Ireland, 3.5 km west of Leighlinbridge. The site was at one time one of the foremost monastic houses in Leinster, with 1500 monks in residence...

 in County Carlow

County Carlow

County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...

, Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

.

The title is now united with other bishoprics. In the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

, it is held by the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory

Bishop of Cashel and Ossory

The Bishop of Cashel and Ossory is the Ordinary of the United Diocese of Cashel, Waterford and Lismore with Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin in the Church of Ireland...

, whose full title is the Bishop of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin. In the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, it is held by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin...

.

History

The diocese of Leighlin was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail

Synod of Rathbreasail

The Synod of Ráth Breasail took place in Ireland in 1111. It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and parish-based church...

 in 1111. Following the Reformation

English Reformation

The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....

, there are parallel apostolic succession

Apostolic Succession

Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...

s. In the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

, Leighlin was combined with Ferns

Bishop of Ferns

The Bishop of Ferns is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Ferns in County Wexford, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:...

 in 1597 to form the united bishopric of Ferns and Leighlin

Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin

The Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Ferns and Leighlin in the Province of Dublin. The diocese comprised all of counties Wexford and Carlow and part of counties Wicklow and Laois in Ireland....

. In the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, the see was governed by bishops or vicars apostolic, and from 1678 to 1694 it was administered by the Bishops of Kildare

Bishop of Kildare

The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...

. The formal union of Kildare and Leighlin was decreed on 29 November 1694, thereby forming the united Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin...

.

Pre-Reformation bishops

List of pre-Reformation Bishops of Leighlin
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
unknown	1125	? Mael Eóin Ua Dúnacáin	Died in office
unknown	1145	Sluaigedach Ua Catháin	Died in office
bef.1152	1181	Dúngal Ua Cáellaide	Present at the Synod of Kells in 1152; died in 1181; buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin; also known as Dungall (or Donat) O'Kelly
fl. Floruit Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active... 1192		Johannes	Known to be bishop around 1192
1198	c.1201	Johannes, O.Cist.	Formerly Abbot of Monasterevin Monasterevin Situated 63 km from Dublin on the R445 road, Monasterevin has been relieved of much through traffic by the opening in 2004 of a new section of the M7 motorway bypassing the town on the N7 Dublin to Limerick route... ; consecrated at Rome by Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....  on 18 September 1198; died circa 1201; also known as John
bef.1202	1217	Herlewin, O.Cist.	Died before April 1217; buried at Dunbrody Abbey Dunbrody Abbey Dunbrody Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in County Wexford, Ireland. The cross-shaped church was built in the 13th century, and the tower was added in the 15th century. With a length of 59m the church is one of the longest in Ireland... ; also known as Hugh
c.1217	1228	Richard Fleming	Consecrated circa 1217; died before November 1228; also known as Robert Fleming
1228	1252	William	Formerly Archdeacon of Leighlin; elected bishop before November 1228; died before 21 April 1252; buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin
1252	1275	Thomas, O.S.A.	Elected before 4 September 1252; appointed 7 January 1253; received possession of the temporalities Temporalities Temporalities are the secular properties and possessions of the Christian Church. It is most often used to describe those properties that were used to support a bishop or other religious person or establishment. Its opposite description would be the spiritualities.In the Middle Ages, the...  after 9 March 1253; died 25 April 1275
1275	1309	Nicholas Chever, O.F.M.	Formerly Archdeacon of Leighlin; elected bishop before November 1275; received possession of the temporalities 7 March 1276; confirmed 28 September 1276; died 20 July 1309; also knowns as Nicholas Cheevers
1309	1320	Maurice de Blanchville	Formerly Treasurer of Kilkenny; elected bishop in 1309; received possession of the temporalities after 13 November 1309; died before November 1320; also known as Maurice de Blanchfield
1320	1348	Meiler le Poer	Formerly Precentor of Leighlin; elected bishop 5 November 1320; received possession of the temporalities 11 February 1321; consecrated at Waterford 12 April 1321; died before November 1348
1344	1346	Radulphus Ó Ceallaigh, O.Carm.	Appointed 6 February 1344 and consecrated later the same month, however, the appointment did not take effect; acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York Diocese of York The Diocese of York is an administrative division of the Church of England, part of the Province of York. It covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire, and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire....  in 1344; translated to Cashel Archbishop of Cashel The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....  9 January 1346; his surname was possibly Ó Caollaidhe
1348		William St Leger	Elected before 3 November 1348, but did not take effect
1349	1360	Thomas of Brakenberg, O.F.M.	Appointed 20 March and consecrated 30 March 1349; received possession of the temporalities 15 August 1349; died July 1360
1360	1361	Johannes	Appointed 1360; died 1361
1362		William	Appointed 14 January 1362, but was not consecrated; died later in the same year
1363	1385	John Young	Formerly Treasurer of Leighlin; appointed 20 February 1363; received possession of the temporalities 21 September 1363; died circa 12 February 1385
1385	1399	John Griffin	Formerly Chancellor of Limerick; received possession of the temporalities 2 August 1385; translated to Ossory Bishop of Ossory The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...  2 July 1399
1400	1419	Richard Bocomb, O.P.	Appointed 1 October 1400; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Exeter Diocese of Exeter The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Province of...  and Salisbury Diocese of Salisbury The Diocese of Salisbury is a Church of England diocese in the south of England. The diocese covers Dorset and most of Wiltshire and is a constituent diocese of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese is led by the Bishop of Salisbury and the diocesan synod... ; resigned before July 1419
1419	1431	Seaán Ó Maolagáin	Appointed 5 July 1419; received possession of the temporalities 1 September 1422; died 1431; buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin; also known as John Mulgan or O'Mulligan
1432	1458	Thomas Fleming, O.F.M.	Appointed 29 April 1432; continued bishop until 1458 (or possibly longer); died at Old Leighlin and was buried in a monastery in Kilkenny
1458	1464	See vacant
unknown	1464	Diarmaid	Died before February 1464
1464	1490	Milo Roche, O.Cist.	Appointed 3 February 1464; died before April 1490; buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin; also known as Milo de Rupe
1490	c.1512	Nicholas Maguire	Appointed 21 April 1490; died circa 1512; also known as Nicholas 'Magwyr'
1513	c.1523	Thomas Halsey	Appointed 20 May 1513; also was Prothonotary Prothonotary The word prothonotary is recorded in English since 1447, as "principal clerk of a court," from L.L. prothonotarius , from Greek protonotarios "first scribe," originally the chief of the college of recorders of the court of the Byzantine Empire, from Greek protos "first" + Latin notarius ; the -h-...  for Ireland and Penitentiary Apostolic Penitentiary The Apostolic Penitentiary, formerly called the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is one of the three tribunals of the Roman Curia. The Apostolic Penitentiary is chiefly a tribunal of mercy, responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins in the Catholic Church.The...  of all the English residents at Rome; attended the Fifth Council of the Lateran Fifth Council of the Lateran The Fifth Council of the Lateran was the last Ecumenical council of the Catholic Church before reformation.When elected pope in 1503, Pope Julius II , promised under oath that he would soon convoke a general council. However, as time passed the promise was not fulfilled... ; acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York Diocese of York The Diocese of York is an administrative division of the Church of England, part of the Province of York. It covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire, and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire....  in 1519; died in Westminster Westminster Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...  circa 1523; buried at the Savoy Chapel, London Savoy Chapel The Savoy Chapel or the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy is a chapel off the Strand, London, dedicated to St John the Baptist. It was originally built in the medieval era off the main church of the Savoy Palace... ; it is believed he never visited his diocese
1524	1525	Mauricius Ó Deóradháin, O.P.	Appointed 19 January 1524; he was murdered in 1525 by his archdeacon, Maurice Kavanagh (or Cavanagh); the bishop was also known as Maurice Doran or O'Deoran
1525	1527	See vacant
1527	1549	Matthew Sanders	Appointed 10 April 1527; he was considered to be friendly to the doctrines of the Reformation; died 23 (or 24) December 1549; buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin
1541		(Thomas Leverous)	Appointed 14 November 1541 on the false new of the death of Sanders, but did not take effect; he later became Archdeacon of Armagh in 1554, and Bishop of Kildare Bishop of Kildare The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...  and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Deans of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin The Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral is the head of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, elected by the Chapter of the cathedral. The office was created in 1219 or 1220, by one of several charters granted to the cathedral by Archbishop Henry de Loundres between 1218 and 1220.For centuries, the Dean of St...  in 1555

Church of Ireland succession

List of Church of Ireland Bishops of Leighlin
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1550	1554	Robert Travers	Nominated 5 August 1550; deprived by Queen Mary I Mary I of England Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...  in 1554 on the grounds of him being a married man
1555	1566/67	Thomas O'Fihelly	Translated from Achonry; appointed 30 August 1555; died 1566 or 1567 and buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin
1567	1587	Daniel Cavanagh	Nominated 10 April and appointed by letters patent 7 May 1567; died 4 April 1587 and buried at St Laserian's Cathedral, Old Leighlin
1587	1589	See vacant
1589	1597	Richard Meredith Richard Meredith (bishop) Richard Meredith was the Church of Ireland Bishop of Leighlin from 1589 until his death.-Life:...	Formerly Dean of St Patrick's, Dublin Deans of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin The Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral is the head of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, elected by the Chapter of the cathedral. The office was created in 1219 or 1220, by one of several charters granted to the cathedral by Archbishop Henry de Loundres between 1218 and 1220.For centuries, the Dean of St... ; nominated 11 January and consecrated in April 1589; died 3 August 1597 and buried in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
In 1597, the Church of Ireland see became part of the united bishopric of Ferns and Leighlin Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin The Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Ferns and Leighlin in the Province of Dublin. The diocese comprised all of counties Wexford and Carlow and part of counties Wicklow and Laois in Ireland....

Roman Catholic succession

List of Roman Catholic Bishops of Leighlin
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1549	1555	See vacant
1555	1566/67	Thomas O'Fihelly	Translated from Achonry; appointed 30 August 1555; died 1566 or 1567
1566/67	1587	See vacant
1587	1604	Francis de Ribera	Appointed 14 September 1587; he never came to Ireland; died 10 September 1604
1604	1609	See vacant
1609	unknown	Luke Archer, O.Cist.	Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief Papal brief The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...  19 January 1609
1622	unknown	Matthew Roche	Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 15 January 1622
1642	1661	Edmund Dempsey, O.P.	Appointed 10 March 1642; died circa 1661
c.1661	1678	See vacant
1678	1694	Administered by the Bishops of Kildare Bishop of Kildare The Bishop of Kildare was an episcopal title which took its name after the town of Kildare in County Kildare, Ireland. The title is no longer in use by any of the main Christian churches having been united with other bishoprics. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title has been merged with that of...
In 1694, the Roman Catholic see became part of the united Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is a Roman Catholic diocese in eastern Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin... .