Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore is a Roman Catholic diocese
which is mainly in the Republic of Ireland
although a few parishes are in Northern Ireland
. It is one of eight suffragan diocese
s which are subject to the Metropolitan
Archdiocese of Armagh. The present Bishop
is the Most Reverend Philip Leo O'Reilly
, Bishop of Kilmore
, who was installed on 15 November 1998.
; which today consists of almost all of County Cavan
, roughly the northern half of County Leitrim
, and parts of County Fermanagh
, County Meath
and County Sligo.
In the sixth century St. Felim
, the patron of the diocese, established a church at Kilmore
, about 4 miles (6 km) south of Cavan Town. In 1454, Bishop Aindrias Mac Brádaigh (Andrew McBrady) had this ancient church rebuilt and was given permission by Pope Nicholas V
to be the cathedral of the diocese. It became to be known in Irish
as An Chill Mhór (meaning The Great Church), which gave its name to the diocese, a name which has remained ever since.
, the diocese lost the cathedral and all other temporalities
. After a period of two hundred years of uncertainty, Bishop Denis Maguire (1770–98) gave new stability to the diocese and started the process of rebuilding both discipline and churches. Bishop James Browne (1827–65) continued with this work and founded the diocesan college in 1839. Bishop Patrick Lyons (1937–49) had the old Roman Catholic Cathedral in Cavan
rebuilt between 1938 and 1942, which is dedicated to Saints Patrick
and Felim
and is built in the neoclassical style
with a spire of 230 ft (70.1 m).
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
which is mainly in the Republic of 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,...
although a few parishes are in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is one of eight suffragan diocese
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
s which are subject to the Metropolitan
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
Archdiocese of Armagh. The present Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
is the Most Reverend Philip Leo O'Reilly
Philip Leo O'Reilly
Leo O'Reilly , D.D., is the current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. A native of Kill, County Cavan, he was ordained a priest in 1969. Before being appointed Bishop he served as the parish priest of Castletara , a post in which he succeeded Seán Brady, who later became Cardinal...
, Bishop of Kilmore
Bishop of Kilmore
The Bishop of Kilmore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the parish of Kilmore in County Cavan, 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:...
, who was installed on 15 November 1998.
Ecclesiastical history
The diocese was originally called Triburnia or Tybruinensis (Tir Briuin, the land of the clan of Brian, King of Connaught). It was formally established at the Synod of Kells in 1152. The boundaries of the diocese are approximately the same as those of the ancient Kingdom of BreifneKingdom of Breifne
The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne was the traditional territory for an early Irish tribal group known as the Uí Briúin Bréifne...
; which today consists of almost all of County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, roughly the northern half of County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and parts of County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Sligo.
In the sixth century St. Felim
Saint Felim
Saint Felim , an Irish Christian hermit and priest, was born, probably in Kiennacta Breagh, County Meath in the mid sixth century....
, the patron of the diocese, established a church at Kilmore
Kilmore, County Cavan
Kilmore is a civil and ecclesiastical parish of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. It is located about south-west of the county town of Cavan.-Civil parish:...
, about 4 miles (6 km) south of Cavan Town. In 1454, Bishop Aindrias Mac Brádaigh (Andrew McBrady) had this ancient church rebuilt and was given permission by Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
to be the cathedral of the diocese. It became to be known in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
as An Chill Mhór (meaning The Great Church), which gave its name to the diocese, a name which has remained ever since.
Kingdom of Ireland
During the English ReformationEnglish 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....
, the diocese lost the cathedral and all other 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 a period of two hundred years of uncertainty, Bishop Denis Maguire (1770–98) gave new stability to the diocese and started the process of rebuilding both discipline and churches. Bishop James Browne (1827–65) continued with this work and founded the diocesan college in 1839. Bishop Patrick Lyons (1937–49) had the old Roman Catholic Cathedral in Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
rebuilt between 1938 and 1942, which is dedicated to Saints Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
and Felim
Saint Felim
Saint Felim , an Irish Christian hermit and priest, was born, probably in Kiennacta Breagh, County Meath in the mid sixth century....
and is built in the neoclassical style
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
with a spire of 230 ft (70.1 m).
Ordinaries
The following is a basic list of the bishops of Kilmore since 1728.- Michael MacDonagh, O.P.Dominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
(1728–1746) - Laurence Richardson, O.P. (1747–1753)
- Andrew Campbell (1753–1769)
- Denis MaguireDenis MaguireDenis Maguire , D.D., O.F.M., was an Irish Roman Catholic churchman who served as Bishop of Dromore from 1767 to 1770 and Bishop of Kilmore 1770 to 1798.-Early:...
, O.F.M.FranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
(1770–1798) - Charles O'Reilly (1798–1800)
- James Dillon (1800–1806)
- Farrell O'Reilly (1807–1829)
- James Browne (1829–1865)
- Nicholas Conaty (1865–1886)
- Bernard Finegan (1886–1887)
- Edward MacGennis (1888–1906)
- Andrew Boylan, C.SS.R.Congregation of the Most Holy RedeemerThe Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
(1907–1910) - Patrick Finegan (1910–1937)
- Patrick Lyons (1937–1949)
- Austin Quinn (1950–1972)
- Francis McKiernan (1972–1998)
- Philip Leo O'ReillyPhilip Leo O'ReillyLeo O'Reilly , D.D., is the current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. A native of Kill, County Cavan, he was ordained a priest in 1969. Before being appointed Bishop he served as the parish priest of Castletara , a post in which he succeeded Seán Brady, who later became Cardinal...
(since–1998)