Kerry (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Raymond Browne, Bishop
William Murphy, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 20 December 1952
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cashel (-Emly)
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ireland
Square Kilometers: 5,300 (2,047 Square Miles)
Description: Most of Kerry and parts of Cork
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Cathedral Walk, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Telephone: (064)31.168
Fax: 31.364

Historical Details

Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe
- Latin Name: Kerriensis seu Ardfertensis et Aghadonensis
- Erected: 6th Century
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cashel (-Emly)
- Country: Ireland

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edmund of Caermarthem, O.P. † ( 1331 Appointed - )
John Fitzgerald † (20 Nov 1495 Appointed - May 1536 Died)
Rickard O’Connell † (16 Sep 1641 Appointed - 1653 Died)
Denis Moriarty † (7 Mar 1720 Appointed - 1737 Died)
Eugene O’Sullivan † (24 Apr 1739 Confirmed - 19 Sep 1743 Died)
William O’Meara † (2 Oct 1743 Confirmed - 23 Feb 1753 Confirmed, Bishop of Killaloe)
Nicholas Madgett † (23 Feb 1753 Confirmed - 1774 Died)
Francis Moylan † (8 May 1775 Appointed - 19 Jun 1787 Appointed, Bishop of Cork)
Gerard Teahan (Teaghan) † (19 Jun 1787 Appointed - 4 Jul 1797 Died)
Charles Sughrue † (9 Feb 1798 Appointed - 29 Sep 1824 Died)
Cornelius Egan † (29 Sep 1824 Succeeded - 22 Jul 1856 Died)
David Moriarty † (22 Jul 1856 Succeeded - 1 Oct 1877 Died)
Daniel McCarthy † (21 Jun 1878 Appointed - 23 Jul 1881 Died)
Andrew Higgins † (23 Dec 1881 Appointed - 1 May 1889 Died)
John Coffey † (27 Aug 1889 Appointed - 14 Apr 1904 Died)
John Mangan † (8 Jul 1904 Appointed - 1 Jul 1917 Died)
Charles O’Sullivan † (10 Nov 1917 Appointed - 29 Jan 1927 Died)
Michael O’Brien † (20 Jun 1927 Appointed - 4 Oct 1952 Died)
Denis J. Moynihan † (10 Feb 1952 Appointed - 17 Jul 1969 Retired)
Eamon Casey (17 Jul 1969 Appointed - 21 Jul 1976 Appointed, Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh)
Kevin McNamara † (22 Aug 1976 Appointed - 15 Nov 1984 Appointed, Archbishop of Dublin)
Diarmaid (Dermot) O’Súilleabháin (O’Sullivan) † (29 Mar 1985 Appointed - 27 Aug 1994 Died)
William Murphy (17 Jun 1995 Appointed - 2 May 2013 Retired)
Raymond Browne (2 May 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe
6th Century	Erected		Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe (erected)
Diocese of Kerry
20 December 1952	Name Changed	Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe	Diocese of Kerry

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe

1950 158,586 160,891 98.6% 150 12 162 978 40 672 52 ap1951

Diocese of Kerry

1970 125,500 127,000 98.8% 141 12 153 820 74 610 51 ap1971

1980 126,500 129,000 98.1% 137 11 148 854 51 630 53 ap1981

1990 129,000 130,000 99.2% 141 12 153 843 45 479 54 ap1991

1999 124,350 127,950 97.2% 124 16 140 888 36 350 54 ap2000

2000 127,850 130,000 98.3% 129 14 143 894 32 306 54 ap2001

2001 128,850 131,000 98.4% 131 12 143 901 26 328 54 ap2002

2002 128,850 131,000 98.4% 125 12 137 940 29 312 54 ap2003

2003 128,850 131,000 98.4% 120 12 132 976 29 305 54 ap2004

2004 128,850 131,000 98.4% 121 11 132 976 27 299 54 ap2005

2006 130,000 136,000 95.6% 116 11 127 1,023 24 270 54 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Kerry (o Ardfert) e Aghadoe
1950	158,586	160,891	98.6%	150	12	162	978	40	672	52	ap1951
Diocese of Kerry
1970	125,500	127,000	98.8%	141	12	153	820	74	610	51	ap1971
1980	126,500	129,000	98.1%	137	11	148	854	51	630	53	ap1981
1990	129,000	130,000	99.2%	141	12	153	843	45	479	54	ap1991
1999	124,350	127,950	97.2%	124	16	140	888	36	350	54	ap2000
2000	127,850	130,000	98.3%	129	14	143	894	32	306	54	ap2001
2001	128,850	131,000	98.4%	131	12	143	901	26	328	54	ap2002
2002	128,850	131,000	98.4%	125	12	137	940	29	312	54	ap2003
2003	128,850	131,000	98.4%	120	12	132	976	29	305	54	ap2004
2004	128,850	131,000	98.4%	121	11	132	976	27	299	54	ap2005
2006	130,000	136,000	95.6%	116	11	127	1,023	24	270	54	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Raymond Browne (Bishop: 2 May 2013)
Eamon Casey (Priest: 17 Jun 1951; Bishop: 17 Jul 1969 to 21 Jul 1976)
Dermot Clifford (Priest: 22 Feb 1964 to 17 Dec 1985)
William Crean (Priest: 20 Jun 1976 to 24 Nov 2012)
William Murphy (Priest: 18 Jun 1961; Bishop: 17 Jun 1995 to 2 May 2013)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Edmund of Caermarthem, O.P. † (Bishop: 1331 - )
John Coffey † (Bishop: 27 Aug 1889 to 14 Apr 1904)
Cornelius Egan † (Coadjutor Bishop: 11 May 1824; Bishop: 29 Sep 1824 to 22 Jul 1856)
John Fitzgerald † (Bishop: 20 Nov 1495 to May 1536)
Andrew Higgins † (Bishop: 23 Dec 1881 to 1 May 1889)
Nicholas Madgett † (Bishop: 23 Feb 1753 to 1774)
John Mangan † (Bishop: 8 Jul 1904 to 1 Jul 1917)
Daniel McCarthy † (Bishop: 21 Jun 1878 to 23 Jul 1881)
Kevin McNamara † (Bishop: 22 Aug 1976 to 15 Nov 1984)
David Moriarty † (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Mar 1854; Bishop: 22 Jul 1856 to 1 Oct 1877)
Denis Moriarty † (Bishop: 7 Mar 1720 to 1737)
Francis Moylan † (Bishop: 8 May 1775 to 19 Jun 1787)
Denis J. Moynihan † (Priest: 13 Jun 1909 to 5 Jul 1941; Bishop: 10 Feb 1952 to 17 Jul 1969)
Michael O’Brien † (Bishop: 20 Jun 1927 to 4 Oct 1952)
Rickard O’Connell † (Bishop: 16 Sep 1641 to 1653)
William O’Meara † (Bishop: 2 Oct 1743 to 23 Feb 1753)
Diarmaid (Dermot) O’Súilleabháin (O’Sullivan) † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1985 to 27 Aug 1994)
Charles O’Sullivan † (Priest: 6 Jul 1884; Bishop: 10 Nov 1917 to 29 Jan 1927)
Eugene O’Sullivan † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1739 to 19 Sep 1743)
Charles Sughrue † (Bishop: 9 Feb 1798 to 29 Sep 1824)
Gerard Teahan (Teaghan) † (Bishop: 19 Jun 1787 to 4 Jul 1797)

Diocese of Kerry

Dioecesis Kerriensis