Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

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Engraving of St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, as rebuilt in the 1870s and completed in 1878 St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, by Deane.jpg
Engraving of St Mary's Cathedral, Tuam, as rebuilt in the 1870s and completed in 1878

The Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry (also known as the United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry) is a former diocese in the Church of Ireland located in Connacht; the western province of Ireland. It was in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. Its geographical remit included County Mayo and part of counties Galway and Sligo. Between late 2021 and early 2022, the diocese was amalgamated into the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. [1] [2]

Contents

History

On 13 April 1834, the diocese of Killala and Achonry was united to the Archdiocese of Tuam. On the death of Archbishop Trench of Tuam in 1839, the Province of Tuam was united to the Province of Armagh and the see ceased to be an archbishopric and became a bishopric with Thomas Plunket becoming the first bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. [3]

Coat of arms

Arms of the Bishops of Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry arms.svg
Arms of the Bishops of Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

In November 2012, the Chief Herald of Ireland confirmed the following as the arms of the united diocese: [4]

Azure beneath three Gothic arches as many figures or their hands faces and feet proper, in the middle the Blessed Virgin holding upon her left arm the Child their heads circled in glory on her dexter side a bishop pontifically vested his dexter hand raised in benediction the sinister hand holding a crozier bendwise and on her sinister an angel the head circled of the second the dexter arm elevated and beneath the sinister arm a lamb of the third impaled with Gules a pastoral staff or surmounted of an open book proper.

The two coats of arms recorded in the records of Ulster King of Arms for the dioceses of Tuam and Killala are impaled, or placed side to side, on the shield. [5]

Cathedrals

Diocese Highlighted C of I Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.png
Diocese Highlighted

The bishop had two episcopal seats (Cathedra):

St. Crumnathy's Cathedral, Achonry was deconsecrated in 1998 and is now used for ecumenical events. [7]

Parishes

Prior to its amalgamation, the diocese was divided into unions (or groups) of parishes. [8]

List of bishops

Archdeacons

Reflecting a history of amalgamations within the diocese, the role of diocesan archdeacon changed over time. [10] Stephen J. McWhirter was Archdeacon for Tuam, Killala and Achonry from 2017. [11] In 2022 (coinciding with the diocese's amalgamation into the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe), McWhirter became incumbent of Rossorry Parish, Enniskillen. [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe". tlk.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2025. The United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe [..] was formed on 1st November 2021 when the Utd Dioceses of Limerick & Killaloe and the Utd Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry became amalgamated under one Bishop [..] The Right Revd Michael Burrows was appointed as our Bishop on 14th January, 2022
  2. 1 2 "Bishop Patrick Rooke lays up his crozier". churchofireland.org. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2025. On Sunday 31st October [2021], [..] Bishop Patrick Rooke laid up his crozier on the day that he retired from the active episcopate and as bishop, the last bishop, of the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. The following day, 1st November, TKA [Tuam, Killala and Achonry] became part of the larger and new United Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe
  3. ↑ Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third Edition, revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 407. ISBN   0-521-56350-X.
  4. ↑ Genealogical Office, Grants and Confirmations of Arms, Vol Aa, folio 44.
  5. ↑ Arthur Charles Fox-Davies. The Book of Public Arms (2 ed.). pp. 410–1, 792–3.
  6. ↑ "The Cathedral Churches of Tuam, Killala and Achonry". Church of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  7. ↑ "Ecumenical Carol Service in St Crumnathy's Cathedral, Achonry". Church of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "The United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry". Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  9. ↑ "Bishops Appoint the Very Revd Patrick Rooke as New Bishop of Tuam, Killala & Achonry :: Saint Patrick's Cathedral Armagh | Church of Ireland". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  10. ↑ Cotton, H. (1898). Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernicae: The succession of the prelates Volume 4. Dublin: Hodges & Smith. pp. 19–30.
  11. ↑ "Disocesan News – New Archdeacon for Killala and Achonry". churchofireland.org. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "News - Archive 2022 - New rector instituted to Rossorry Parish". clogher.anglican.org. Diocese of Clogher. 2022. The institution of the Revd Stephen McWhirter as Rector of Rossorry Parish in Clogher Diocese took place on Thursday, 3rd November [2022] [..] McWhirter had previously been Archdeacon of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
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