ARDAGH, DIOCESE OF. — In central Ireland (Eire). The name derives from the Gaelic Ardachadh, “high field.” In 454 St. Patrick founded a church and a monastery at Ardachadh, appointing St. Mel as its first bishop and superior. The feast of St. Mel, patron of the diocese, is celebrated on February 6. In 1729 the diocese of Clonmacnoise was united with that of Ardagh. At Clonmacnoise there was a monastery founded by St. Ciaran in 544, one of the most renowned of medieval Ireland. The two united dioceses comprise 41 parishes and 114 diocesan priests, in charge of 84,520 faithful.
BIBL.: J. Lanigan, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, Dublin 1829; J. Monahan, Records of A. and Clonmacnoise, 1886; J. Healy, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars, 1890.