ARDAGH, DIOCESE of. — In central Ireland (Eire). The name derives from the Gaelic Ardachadh, “high field.” In 454, St. Patrick founded a church and monastery at Ardachadh, appointing St. Mel as its first bishop and superior. The feast of St. Mel, patron of the diocese, is celebrated on 6 February. In 1729 the diocese of Clonmacnoise was united with that of A. At Clonmacnoise there was a monastery founded by St. Ciaran in 544, one of the most renowned in medieval Ireland. The two united dioceses comprise 41 parishes and 114 diocesan priests, caring for 84,529 faithful.
BIBL.: J. Lanigan, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, Dublin 1829; J. Monahan, Records of A. and Clonmacnoise, there 1886; J. Healy, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars, there 1890. Dionisio Mac Daid