The Bishop of Ardagh was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the village of Ardagh, County Longford in Ireland. It was used by the Roman Catholic Church until 1756, and intermittently by the Church of Ireland until 1839.Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 328–329, 378–379 and 412–413.Cotton, The Province of Ulster, pp. 179–182.

Tradition states that a monastery was founded at Ardagh by St Patrick, and that his nephew, St. Mel (died c.490), was its bishop or abbot. Although there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support it, Mel is regarded as the founder of the see.

The diocese of Ardagh was established in 1111 at the Synod of Rathbreasail as the see for east Connacht. At the subsequent Synod of Kells in 1152, its area was reduced to the territory of the Conmaicne.Galloway, The Cathedrals of Ireland.

Ardagh Cathedral was severely damaged by warfare in 1496 and was never restored. There are remains of an eighth- or ninth-century church at Ardagh, which is known as St. Mel's Cathedral, although it dates from three centuries after the saint's death, and predates the introduction of a diocesan system in Ireland.

Following the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions. In the Roman Catholic Church, the bishopric has been united with Clonmacnoise since 30 May 1756. Until the mid-19th century, the parish church of Ballymahon had served as a pro-cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. A new St Mel's Cathedral in Longford was built for the diocese between 1840 and 1856. The building was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Christmas Day 2009.

In the Church of Ireland, Ardagh was intermittently held with Kilmore between 1604 and 1633, 1661–1692 and 1693–1742, then held with Tuam 1742–1839. Ardagh was again united to Kilmore 1839–1841. Since 1841, Ardagh has been part of the bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.

Pre-Reformation bishops Pre-Reformation Bishops of Ardagh From Until Ordinary Notesbef.1152 1166 Mac Raith ua Móráin Present at the Synod of Kells in March 1152; resigned in 1166; died 1168bef.1172 1178 Gilla Crist Ua hEóthaig Called "bishop of Conmaicne"; died in 1178; also known as Christianusunknown 1188 Ua hÉislinnén Called "bishop of Conmaicne"; died in officeunknown 1216 Annud Ua Muiredaig Died in office; also known as Adam1217 1224 Robert, O.Cist. Abbot of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin until became bishop in 1217; died on 27 May 1224c.1224 c.1229 Simon Magraith Prior of Inis Mór until became bishop c. 1224; died c. 1229; also known as MacBath or MacGeoffrey1228 1230 Joseph Mac Teichthecháin Elected 1227; consecrated c. 1228; died 1230; also known as Joseph Mac Eódaig ('Magoday')c.1229 1230 Mac Raith Mac Serraig Elected and consecrated c. 1229; died 1230fl. c.1230 Thomas c.1232 1237 Gilla Ísu mac in Scélaige Ó Tormaid Elected and consecrated c. 1232; died in 1237; also known as Gelasiusc.1232 c.1237 Iocelinus, O.Cist. Elected and consecrated c. 1232; took control of temporalities on 1 March 1233; resigned before 12371238 1252 Brendán Mac Teichthecháin Elected c. 1238; resigned on 15 October 1252; died in 1255; also known as Brendán Mac Eódaig ('Magoday')1256 1288 Milo of Dunstable Elected before 20 May 1256; temporalities on 13 January 1257; died on 23 October 12881290 1322 Matha Ó hEóthaig Elected November 1289; fealty on 28 January 1290; temporalities on 8 April 1290; died in office; also known as Matthaeus1323 (Robert Wirsop, O.E.S.A.) Appointed on 5 April 1323, but did not get possession of the see; translated to Connor on 20 June 13231324 1343 Seoán Mág Eóaigh Elected before March and consecrated before 12 May 1324; died in office; also recorded as John Magee1347 1367 Eóghan alias Maolsheachlainn Ó Fearghail Elected c. 1344; consecrated c. 1347; died in office1368 1373 Uilliam Mac Carmaic Elected c. 1368; died, by a fall from his horse, before August 1373; also recorded as William MacCarmaic1373 1378 Cairbre Ó Fearghail Elected before September 1373; died in 13781373 unknown John Aubrey, O.P. Elected before September 1373; appointed on 29 April 13741392 (Henry Nony, O.P.) Appointed on 29 April 1392, but did not get possession of the see; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Exeter 1396–99, and Bath & Wells 1400; died after 14001395 1400 Comedinus Mac Brádaigh Appointed on 20 October 1395 and consecrated after 19 August 1396; died before February 1400; also known as Gilbert MacBrady1400 1416 Adam Leyns, O.P. Appointed on 15 February 1400; died June 14161416 1423 Conchobhar Ó Fearghail Elected after June 1416; appointed on 17 February 1418; consecrated on 3 February 1419; died in 14231425 1444 Risdeárd Ó Fearghail, O.Cist. Elected before January 1425; appointed on 11 January 1425; consecrated after 25 May 1425; died c. June 14441444 1445 (Mac Muircheartaigh) Elected in 1444, but not consecrated; resigned in 1455; also known as MacMurtry1445 c.1462 Cormac Mác Shamhradháin, O.S.A. Appointed on 6 November 1444; consecrated after 19 February 1445; resigned c. 14621462 Seaán Ó Fearghail Appointed on 30 July, but blocked on 26 November 14621467 1469 Donatus Ó Fearghail Appointed on 12 October 1467; died before 28 July 14691467 1479 Seaán Ó Fearghail (again) Appointed (again) on 28 July 1469; died before 14791482 1516 Uilliam Ó Fearghail, O.Cist. Appointed on 4 August 1480 and consecrated on 11 August 1482; died in 1516 Sources:Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 328–329.Cotton, The Province of Ulster, pp. 178–182.Moody, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 271–273.

Bishops during the Reformation Bishops of Ardagh during the Reformation From Until Ordinary Notes1517 1540 Rory O'Malone Known in Irish as Ruaidhrí Ó Máel Eóin; appointed by Pope Leo X on 14 December 1517; not known if he acknowledged Royal supremacy; died in 15401541 1553 Richard Ó Fearghail Nominated by King Henry VIII on 2 May 1541 and consecrated on 22 April 1542; died 15531541/53 c.1572/75Patrick MacMahon, O.F.M. Appointed by Pope Paul III on 14 November 1541 in opposition to Ó Fearghail; recognised sole bishop in 1553 when Ireland restored Papal supremacy in the reign of Queen Mary I, but after the accession of Queen Elizabeth I his position is uncertain; died c. 1572 or 1575 Sources:Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 332, 378, and 413.Moody, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 273, 339, and 395.

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession Church of Ireland Bishops of Ardagh From Until Ordinary Notes1572 (John Garvey) Nominated on 6 November 1572, but never consecrated; later became Bishop of Kilmore in 1585, and Archbishop of Armagh in 15891572 1583 See vacant1583 1601 Lysach Ó Fearghail Nominated on 4 November 1583; died before 26 April 16011604 1633 See part of the united bishopric of Kilmore and Ardagh1633 1654 John Richardson, D.D. Nominated on 8 April and consecrated in September 1633; also was Archdeacon of Derry 1622–34, then Archdeacon of Down 1639–54; left Ireland before the Rebellion of 1641; died in London on 11 August 16541654 1661 See vacant1661 1692 See part of the united bishopric of Kilmore and Ardagh1692 Ulysses Burgh, D.D. Previously Dean of Emly Cathedral; nominated bishop of Ardagh on 7 April and appointed by letters patent on 8 September 1692; consecrated at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 11 September 1692; died later in the same year1693 1742 See part of the united bishopric of Kilmore and Ardagh1742 1839 See part of the Anglican archbishopric of Tuam1839 1841 See part of the united bishopric of Kilmore and Ardaghsince 1841See part of the united bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. Sources:Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 378–379.Cotton, The Province of Ulster, pp. 182–185.Moody, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 395–396.

Roman Catholic succession Roman Catholic Bishops of Ardagh From Until Ordinary Notesc.1572/75 1576 See vacant1576 1580 Richard Brady, O.F.M. Appointed on 23 January 1576; translated to Kilmore on 9 March 15801581 1587 Edmund MacGauran Appointed on 11 September 1581; translated to Armagh on 1 July 15871580 1622 See vacant1622 c.1637 (John Gaffney) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Ardagh by papal brief 14 January 1622; died c. 16371637 unknown (Cornelius Gaffney) Named Vicar General, but no record of a papal brief appointing him Vicar Apostolic; remained as vicar general during the episcopate of Patrick Plunket1647 1669 Patrick Plunkett, O.Cist. Appointed on 11 March 1647; consecrated in March 1648; left Ireland c. 1652 and did not return until 1664; translated to Meath on 11 January 16691669 1683 (Gerard Farrell) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Ardagh by papal brief on 31 July 1669; died in June 16831688 unknown (Gregory Fallon) Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Ardagh and Bishop of Clonmacnoise; proposed on 17 May 1688; appointed by papal brief on 1 July 1697; died c. 16981696 unknown (Charles Tiernan) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Ardagh by papal brief on 6 July 16961699 unknown (Bernard Donogher) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Ardagh by papal brief on 20 August 16991709 1711 (Ambrose O'Conor O.P.) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Ardagh; proposed on 16 June 1709, but never consecrated; died on 20 February 17111718 1730 Thomas Flynn Appointed on 18 May 1718; consecrated on 15 July 1718; died on 29 January 17301730 1739 Peter Mulligan, O.E.S.A. Appointed in September 1730; papal brief on 9 May 1732; died on 23 July 17391739 1747 Thomas O'Beirne Appointed on 19 September 1739; died in February 17471747 1751 Thomas MacDermot Roe Appointed on 8 May 1747; died in February 17511751 1756 Augustine Cheevers, O.S.A. Appointed on 17 July 1751; translated to Meath on 7 August 1756since 1756 See part of the united bishopric of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Sources:Fryde, Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 412–413.Moody, Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 339–340.

Notes These two bishops appear as rival bishops, and the rivalry was continued to 1237. There was a disputed election after the death of Uilliam Mac Carmaic in 1373. Cairbre Ó Feaghail died at Avignon in 1378, and it is not certain that he ever got possession of the see. John Aubrey, O.P., friar of Trim, was one of the three rival candidates in 1373. (The third candidate was Richard O'Farrell, Dean of Ardagh). The date of Cormac Mác Shamhradháin's resignation is uncertain, but a 'Joh.', bishop-elect of Ardagh, was in Rome in 1463.

References

Bibliography

External links The Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnaois The Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh (Church of Ireland)