Style His grace First incumbent Muiredach Ua hÉnlainge Website clonfertdiocese.ie | Country Republic of Ireland Formation 1111 | |
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Cathedral St Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea | ||
The Bishop of Clonfert (Irish: Easpag Chluain Fearta) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clonfert in County Galway, Republic of Ireland.
History
The diocese of Clonfert was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111, and its boundaries were fixed at the Synod of Kells in 1152. During the Reformation, the bishops changed their allegiance back and forth between the Pope and the Crown. After the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions.
In the Church of Ireland, the title continued until 1625 when it united with Kilmacduagh forming the united see of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the title remains a separate bishopric. The current Incumbent is the Most Reverend John Kirby, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert who was appointed on 18 February 1988 and ordained bishop on 9 April 1988.