Bishop of Achonry

The Bishop of Achonry () is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Achonry in County Sligo, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 328–329, 378–379 and 412–413.

History In the sixth century, the monastery at Achonry was founded by Saint Nathy, a disciple of Saint Finnian of Clonard. The superiors of the monastery were styled abbots or bishops of Achad Cain or Achad Conaire, and in some of the Irish annals they were called bishops of Luighne. It was not until 1152 that the Diocese of Achonry was established at the Synod of Kells.

During the Reformation, the bishops changed their allegiance back and forth between the Pope and the Tudors. After the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and the other of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Church of Ireland, the see of Achonry continued as a separate title until 1622 when it combined with Killala to form the united bishopric of Killala and Achonry., The Province of Connaught, p. 97. Under the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 37), the combined sees Killala and Achonry became part of the archbishopric of Tuam in 1834. On the death of Archbishop Le Poer Trench in 1839, the Ecclesiastical Province of Tuam lost its metropolitan status and became the united bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry in the Ecclesiastical Province of Armagh., Handbook of British Chronology, p. 407., A New History of Ireland, volume IX, p. 438.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Achonry remains a separate title. The Roman Catholic bishop's seat (Cathedra) is now located at the Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nathy in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. The most recent incumbent was the Most Reverend Paul Dempsey, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry, who was appointed by Pope Francis on 27 January 2020,https://achonrydiocese.org/bishop-elect-paul-dempsey/?doing_wp_cron=1584741449.2246830463409423828125 and ordained bishop on 30 August 2020.Archbishop of Tuam to serve as Principal Consecrator at ordination of Bishop of Achonry. Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 29 August 2020.

Pre-Reformation bishops Pre-Reformation Bishops of Achonry From Until Ordinary Notesbef. 11521170Máel Ruanaid Ua RuadáinPresent at the Synod of Kells in 1152; died in officebef. 11791208Gilla na Náem Ua RuadáinResigned before 1208; died 1214; also known as Gelasiusbef. 12081219Clemens Ua Sniadaig, O.CistDied in office; also known as Carus12201227Connmach Ó TorpaigPreviously Abbot of Mellifont; elected before 10 March 1220; died 16 January 1227; buried in Mellifont Abbeyc.12271230Gilla Ísu Ó CléirigDied in office; also recorded as Gelasiusc.12311237Tomás Ó RuadáinDied in officec.12381248Áengus Ó ClúmainConsecrated in circa 1238; resigned before 14 November 1248; retired to the Boyle Abbey and died there in 1264; also known as Eugenius12481251See vacant12511265Tomás Ó MaicínElected bishop after 14 February 1251; consecrated before 20 June 1251; died in office in the spring of 126512661285Tomás Ó MiadacháinPreviously Archdeacon of Archonry; elected before 27 April 1266; consecrated 19 December 1266; died circa 27 November 1285; also known as Dionysius12861312Benedictus Ó BracáinElected after 29 April 1286; received possession of the temporalities 17 September 1286; died 19 March 1312; his surname is also recorded as O'Bran, O'Bragan and O'Brogan13121344David of KilhenyElected after 1 May 1312; received possession of the temporalities 1 August 1312; died in office13481373Nichol alias Muircheartach Ó hEadhra, O.Cist.Appointed and consecrated bishop 22 October 1348; took received possession of the temporalities 19 March 1349; died in office13741380William Andrew, O.P.Appointed 17 October 1373; received possession of the temporalities 1 August 1374; acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Canterbury in 1380; Translated to Meath1385unknownSimon, O.Cist.Appointed before 9 July 1385; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of London 1385, Winchester 1385–95, Canterbury 1386, and Lichfield 1387unknown1396Donatus Ó hEadhraDied in office; surname also recorded as O'Hara1396unknownJohannesAppointed before 13 September 1396unknown1398Tomás mac Muirgheasa Mac DonnchadhaDied in office; surname anglicised McDonagh14011409Brian mac Seaain Ó hEadhraAppointed before September 1400; consecrated after January 1401; died in office14101434Maghnus Ó hEadhra Appointed 14 April 1410; consecrated before June 1410; died after October 1434; also known as Magonius.14241436Richard Belmer, O.P. Appointed 12 April 1424; consecrated 14 June 1424; titlar Bishop of Scattery Island; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses Worcester and Hereford 1426–33; died before September 143614361442Tadhg Ó Dalaigh, O.P.Appointed 3 September 1436; died in Rome before 15 October 1442; also known as Thaddaeus and Nicholas O'Daly.14421453James Blakedon, O.P.Appointed 15 October 1442; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Salisbury, Bath and Wells, Exeter, and Worcester between 1442 and 1453; Translated to Bangor 7 February 145314491473Cornelius Ó Mochain, O.Cist.Previously Abbot of Boyle; appointed 15 October 1449; confirmed 5 April 1452; died before July 14731463unknownBrian Ó hEasdhraAppointed 2 September 1463; died before May 1484; also known as Benedictus and Bernardus.1470unknownNicholas FordenAppointed 22 April 14701475unknownRobert Wellys, O.F.M.Appointed 14 July 1473; consecrated 4 June 1475; did not get possessionunknown1492Thomas fitzRichardDied before October 149214841508Tomás Ó ConghaláinAppointed 10 May 1484; died in office1489John BustamenteSpanish monk; Preceptor of the Convent of St. Catherine, Toledo; appointed 23 September 1489, but did not take effect; also recorded as John de Bustamente1492after 1504Thomas de Rivis, O.S.A.Previously Prior of Huntingdon; appointed 8 October 1492; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Lichfield 1495, and Lincoln 1496–1504; died after 150415081522Eugenius Ó Flannagáin, O.P.Appointed 22 December 1508; died before June 152215221547Cormac Ó SnigheAppointed 15 June 1522, but did not get possession; died before June 1547 Sources:, The Province of Connaught, pp. 98–103., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 328–329.

Bishops during the Reformation Bishops of Achonry during the Reformation From Until Ordinary Notes15471555Thomas O'FihelyAppointed 16 June 1547; translated to Leighlin 30 August 155515561561Cormac O'Coyn, O.P.Perhaps nominated in 1556 by Queen Mary I, but no record of a papal appointment; died before 12 October 1561; also known as Cormac O'Quin15621603Eugene O'Hart, O.P.Formerly Prior of Sligo Abbey; appointed by Pope Pius IV on 28 January 1562; assisted in the Council of Trent; appears to have been recognized by Queen Elizabeth I in circa 1585; died in office; his surname was also recorded as O'Harte Sources:, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 378 and 412.

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession Church of Ireland Bishops of Achonry From Until Ordinary Notes16031613 See vacant 16131622Miler MagrathArchbishop of Cashel since 1571, he also held "in commendam" the bishopric of Achonry from 1613 until his death on 14 November 162216231834 See part of the Anglican bishopric of Killala and Achonry18341839 See part of the Anglican archbishopric of Tuamsince 1839 See part of the Anglican bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry Sources:, The Province of Connaught, p. 103., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 378.

Roman Catholic succession Roman Catholic Bishops of Achonry From Until Ordinary Notes16031629See vacant1629unknown(Andrew Lynch)Appointed vicar apostolic 28 November 162916311662(James Ó Fallamháin)Appointed vicar apostolic 13 January 1631; active as vicar apostolic from 1631 to 1652 (including while Louis Dillon was bishop); imprisoned between 1652 and 1660; died 16621641c.1645Louis DillonAppointed bishop 16 September 1641; died or resigned by 164516621677See vacant1677unknown(Maurice Ó Duarcáin)Appointed vicar apostolic 8 July 167716841725Hugh Mac DiarmataAppointed as vicar apostolic 21 December 1684 and as bishop 30 April 1707; died 172517251735Dominic Ó Dálaigh, O.P.Appointed 20 September 1725; consecrated 30 November 1725; died 173517351739John Ó hAirtAppointed 30 September 1735; died May 173917391758Walter BlakeAppointed 13 August 1739; died 175817581776Patrick Robert KirwanAppointed 21 August 1758; died March or April 177617761785Philip PhillipsTranslated from Killala 22 June 1776; later translated Tuam 22 November 178517851787Boetius EganAppointed 22 November 1785; translated to Tuam 15 December 178717881803Tomás Ó ConchúirAppointed 4 January 1788; consecrated April 1788; died 18 February 180318031808Charles LynaghAppointed 13 May 1803; consecrated 4 June 1804; died April or May 1808; also recorded as Charles Lynan18091817John O'FlynnAppointed 30 June 1809; consecrated 12 November 1809; died 17 July 181718181852Patrick MacNicholasAppointed 23 February 1818; consecrated 17 May 1818; died 11 February 185218521875Patrick DurcanAppointed 4 October 1852; consecrated 30 November 1852; died 1 May 187518751887Francis McCormackAppointed Coadjutor Bishop 21 November 1871; consecrated 4 February 1872; succeeded 1 May 1875; translated to Galway and Kilmacduagh 27 April 188718881911John LysterAppointed 25 February 1888; consecrated 8 April 1888; died 17 January 191119111946Patrick MorrisroeAppointed 13 May 1911; consecrated 3 September 1911; died 27 May 194619471976James FergusAppointed 15 February 1947; consecrated 4 May 1947; retired 17 March 1976; died 24 March 198919762007Thomas FlynnAppointed 30 December 1976; consecrated 20 February 1977; retired 20 November 200720072018Brendan KellyAppointed 20 November 2007; consecrated 27 January 2008; installed as Bishop of Galway 11 February 2018.20182020See vacant20202024Paul DempseyAppointed 27 January 2020; consecrated 30 August 2020; translated to Dublin 10 April 2024.Pope names Newbridge priest as Bishop of Achonry Echo Live, www.echolive.ie 27 January 2020. Sources:, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 412–413.Diocese of Achonry. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 14 January 2009.

Notes Maghnus Ó hEadhra and Richard Belmer were bishops at the same time.

Bishop of Achonry

Bron en licentie