ACHONRY, DIOCESI DI - Enciclopedia Cattolica, Vol. I, p. 161

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

Achonry, Diocese of. – In Ireland.
The name derives from the Gaelic Achadh Chonnair, meaning ‘field of Connaire’. The origin of the diocese dates back to the first half of the 6th century, when St Finian of Clonard founded a church and monastery on land donated by the prince of the Connaire family. The first bishop of A. is considered to be his disciple Nath, first superior of the monastery, who became the patron saint of the diocese. His feast is celebrated on 9 August. Of the three Irish bishops who attended the Council of Trent, one was the bishop of A., Eugene O’Hart.
The diocese comprises 22 parishes, two of which belong to the episcopal table; 41 churches and chapels; one institute of brothers; nine convents of religious. There are 68 priests; the Catholic population is about 61,500 souls.

BIBL.: J. Lanigan, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, Dublin: W. Boyd, Annals of the Four Masters, ed. O’Donovan, Dublin 1856; W. M. Brady, Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, Rome 1876.