Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry

Diocese of Achonry

Dioecesis Achadensis

Deoise Achadh Conaire
Location
CountryIreland
TerritoryParts of counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo
Ecclesiastical provinceTuam
Statistics
Area346 sq mi (900 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2015)
39,000 (est.)
36,234 (92.9%)
Parishes23
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
EstablishedBetween 1111 and 1152
CathedralCathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen
Patron saintNathy
Attracta
Secular priests41 (diocesan)
1 (Religious Orders)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopSede vacante
Metropolitan ArchbishopFrancis Duffy,
Archbishop of Tuam
Apostolic AdministratorKevin Doran,
Bishop of Elphin
Map
Website
achonrydiocese.org

The Diocese of Achonry (Irish: Deoise Achadh Conaire) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the western part of Ireland. It is one of the five suffragan sees of the Archdiocese of Tuam.[1] The diocese was often called the "bishopric of Luighne" in the Irish annals. It was not established at the Synod of Rathbreasail, but Máel Ruanaid Ua Ruadáin signed as "bishop of Luighne" at the Synod of Kells.[2]

At present there are twenty-three parishes in the diocese, located in Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. There are twenty-six priests involved in full-time parish ministry and four involved in secondary education.

On 27 January 2020 Pope Francis appointed Paul Dempsey — parish priest of Newbridge — as the new Bishop of Achonry.[3] He received episcopal ordination in the diocesan cathedral, which is dedicated to The Annunciation and St. Nathy, in Ballaghaderreen, on 30 August 2020.[4]

  1. ^ Diocese of Achonry. Retrieved on 14 January 2009.
  2. ^ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S. & Roy, I. (23 February 1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition, revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 328–29 and 412–13. ISBN 978-0521563505.
  3. ^ "Kildare priest appointed new Catholic bishop in west of Ireland". The Irish Times.
  4. ^ "Bishop Paul Dempsey".