The diocesan system of Christian church government in Ireland was set up by the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111 and modified by the Synod of Kells in 1152. The country is divided into four ecclesiastical provinces each headed by an archbishop. The provinces are in turn subdivided into suffragan dioceses each headed by a bishop. The only change in this system was the creation of the Diocese of Galway in 1831 following the abolition of the Wardenship of Galway, and the merging of some dioceses (these are the ones with more than one town in the name e.g. "Down and Connor". Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ. ... The Synod of Rathbreasail took place in AD1111. ... Events The Synod of Rathbreasail marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan one Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Paschal II Baldwin VII becomes Count of Flanders Births Henry of Blois, bishop of Winchester (died 1171) Andrei Bogolyubsky, prince of Vladimir... The Synod of Kells-Mellifont took place in AD 1152, and continued the process begun at the Synod of Rathbreasail of reforming the Irish church. ... Events March 4 - Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of the Germans Eleanor of Aquitaine has her marriage to Louis VII annulled May 18 - Eleanor of Aquitaine marries Henry of Anjou Church of Ireland acknowledges Popes authority Almohad Dynasty conquers Algeria Establishment of the archbishopric of Nidaros (Trondheim), Norway... An ecclesiastical province is a unit of religious government existing in certain Christian churches. ... In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. ... A bishop is an ordained person who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... It has been suggested that Valid Bishops be merged into this article or section. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Collegiate Church of St Nicholas in the centre of Galway, Ireland was founded in 1320 and was dedicated, like many other European churches in seaports, to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of seafarers. ...

List of Dioceses

Archdiocese of Armagh Primate of All Ireland is the title held by the Archbishop of Armagh. ...

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Clogher
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Dromore
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe

Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Cashel is one of the four Archdioceses in Ireland. ...

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kerry
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore

Archdiocese of Dublin The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross is one of the diocese of the Roman Catholic Church within the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. ... Primate of Ireland is a title possessed by the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland (Anglican) Archbishops of Dublin. ...

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory

Archdiocese of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam is the ordained religious leader of the Archdiocese of Tuam and its constituent churches. ...

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala

The ancient Diocese of Kilfenora, in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel, has been administered by the Bishop of Galway, in the province of Tuam, since the late 19th century. The correct title is Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora. The Diocese of Ross was merged with the Diocese of Cork in the 1950s.

The Archbishop of Cashel and Emly resides in Thurles. Historic print depicting market day in Thurles (August 1848). ...

See also

• List of Church of Ireland dioceses

The Church of Irelands diocesan system is based on the 900-year-old system set up by the Synod of Rathbreasail. ...

External links

• The Catholic Church in Ireland (GCatholic.com)
• Dioceses of Ireland