Diocese of Clonfert

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Bishop(s) John Kirby, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 550 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tuam Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Ireland Square Kilometers: 2,486 (960 Square Miles) Description: Parts of Galway, Offaly and Roscommon Web Site: http://homepage.eircom.net/~clonfert/ Mailing Address: Bishop's House, St. Brendan's, Coorheen, Loughrea Co., Galway, Ireland Telephone: (091)841.560 Fax: 841.818

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Tadeo O'Farrell (MacEoga), O.P. † (8 Jun 1587 Appointed - 1589 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Sigüenza)
• Ambrose O'Madden † (28 Aug 1711 Appointed - Jul 1715 Died)
• Thomas Coen † (9 Oct 1831 Succeeded - 25 Apr 1847 Died)
• John Derry † (25 Apr 1847 Succeeded - 1870 Died)
• Patrick Duggan † (2 Oct 1871 Appointed - 2 Nov 1896 Died)
• John Healy † (2 Nov 1896 Succeeded - 13 Feb 1903 Appointed, Archbishop of Tuam)
• Thomas O’Dea † (10 Jun 1903 Appointed - 29 Apr 1909 Appointed, Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh)
• Thomas P. Gilmartin † (18 Dec 1909 Appointed - 10 Jul 1918 Appointed, Archbishop of Tuam)
• Thomas O'Doherty † (3 Jul 1919 Appointed - 13 Jul 1923 Appointed, Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh)
• John Dignan † (24 Mar 1924 Appointed - 12 Apr 1953 Died)
• William J. Philbin † (22 Dec 1953 Appointed - 5 Jun 1962 Appointed, Bishop of Down and Connor)
• Thomas Ryan † (9 May 1963 Appointed - 1 May 1982 Resigned)
• Joseph Cassidy (1 May 1982 Succeeded - 22 Aug 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Tuam)
• John Kirby (18 Feb 1988 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
550	Erected		Diocese of Clonfert (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	38,393	38,796	99.0%	56	36	92	417		47	133	24	ap1951
1970	34,160	34,613	98.7%	59	18	77	443		35	176	24	ap1971
1980	33,448	33,848	98.8%	56	25	81	412		34	160	24	ap1981
1990	32,750	33,000	99.2%	64	26	90	363		26	146	24	ap1991
1999	32,200	32,600	98.8%	63	28	91	353		31	130	24	ap2000
2000	32,200	32,600	98.8%	59	28	87	370		31	128	24	ap2001
2001	32,200	32,600	98.8%	58	26	84	383		29	125	24	ap2002
2002	32,200	32,600	98.8%	56	26	82	392		29	120	24	ap2003
2003	34,800	35,300	98.6%	55	26	81	429		29	118	24	ap2004
2004	34,800	35,300	98.6%	54	26	80	435		29	114	24	ap2005
2006	35,200	35,700	98.6%	48	24	72	488		27	104	24	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Joseph Cassidy (Coadjutor Bishop: 24 Aug 1979; Bishop: 1 May 1982 to 22 Aug 1987)
• John Kirby (Bishop: 18 Feb 1988 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Thomas Coen † (Coadjutor Bishop: 26 Jan 1816; Bishop: 9 Oct 1831 to 25 Apr 1847)
• John Derry † (Bishop: 25 Apr 1847 to 1870)
• John Dignan † (Bishop: 24 Mar 1924 to 12 Apr 1953)
• Patrick Duggan † (Bishop: 2 Oct 1871 to 2 Nov 1896)
• Thomas P. Gilmartin † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1909 to 10 Jul 1918)
• John Healy † (Coadjutor Bishop: 27 Jun 1884; Bishop: 2 Nov 1896 to 13 Feb 1903)
• Thomas O’Dea † (Bishop: 10 Jun 1903 to 29 Apr 1909)
• Thomas O'Doherty † (Bishop: 3 Jul 1919 to 13 Jul 1923)
• Tadeo O'Farrell (MacEoga), O.P. † (Bishop: 8 Jun 1587 to 1589)
• Ambrose O'Madden † (Bishop: 28 Aug 1711 to Jul 1715)
• William J. Philbin † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1953 to 5 Jun 1962)
• Thomas Ryan † (Bishop: 9 May 1963 to 1 May 1982)