Diocese of Achonry
Achaden(sis)
Suffragan diocese · Latin Church · Achonry, Ireland
The Diocese of Achonry is a Latin Catholic see covering parts of Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo in Ireland, dating to the early 12th century synods. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tuam and since February 2025 has been led by Bishop Kevin Doran, who also serves as Bishop of Elphin as the two dioceses move toward amalgamation.
The see
- Rank
- Suffragan diocese
- Tradition
- Latin Church
- Erected
- 1111
- Latin
- Achaden(sis)
- Patron
- St. Nathy and St. Attracta
- Annuario code
- 001000596
The see in figures
- Catholics
- 36,234
- Population
- 39,000
- Catholic share
- 92.9%
- Priests
- 41
- Catholics per priest
- 884
- Extent
- 896 km²
- Catholics per km²
- 40
of the people living within its bounds
Figures as recorded in the register, from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.
The bishop
- Bishop
- Kevin Doran
A see whose chair stands empty is recorded as vacant rather than filled with a guess. On what a bishop is, see the bishop.
The cathedral
Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen stands in Achonry, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.
On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.
The province of Tuam
A suffragan of Archdiocese of Tuam.
The sees of this province:
- Diocese of ClonfertClonfert
- Diocese of ElphinElphin
- Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh–KilfenoraGalway
- Diocese of KillalaKillala
- Archdiocese of TuamTuam
On how the Church is ordered into provinces, see the diocese.
History
In western Ireland, the Diocese of Achonry (Irish: Deoise Achadh Conaire) is a Latin Church see of the Catholic Church and one of the five suffragans of the Archdiocese of Tuam. The Irish annals frequently referred to it as the "bishopric of Luighne". Though it was not erected at the Synod of Rathbreasail, Máel Ruanaid Ua Ruadáin signed as "bishop of Luighne" at the Synod of Kells. Today the diocese counts twenty-three parishes, spread across Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
What is kept by invitation
The record above is published because it is public: what this see is, when it was erected, who holds its chair, and where it stands among its neighbours.
The working record is not. The chancery's address, telephone and email, the clergy of the see, and the hours of Mass, confession and adoration in the parishes within it are kept for members, and a person reads every request.
Sources
The see's own website · Wikipedia
This record is compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. On the method, see the keeping of the record. Whoever finds an error is asked, in charity, to write: [email protected].