DUBLINO (DUBLIN), ARCHDIOCESE of. — In Ireland. The name derives from the Gaelic Duibblin, meaning black spring. The territory of the archdiocese was visited by St. Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, who established bishops in the district. The saint organized the Irish Church on an episcopal basis; but approximately a century after his death (461), this state of affairs was replaced by an organization based on monasticism, which he himself had introduced. This means that the abbot of the monastery became the spiritual moderator of the adjoining territory. In many cases he was a bishop; otherwise he had a bishop in his community who performed the episcopal functions. This system continued until the 12th century, when a synod in 1100 finally organized the Irish Church on a diocesan basis, as in the rest of the European continent. Since the episcopal see of D. was founded only in 1038, and since, on the other hand, we have no record of monasteries in D. for the preceding period, it must be concluded that those designated as bishops of D. before this time belonged to monastic communities in the surrounding territory. Among these early bishops, St. Livinus and St. Runold, the first bishop of Mechelen, should be remembered. Both died martyrs in Belgium; the former in 663 and the latter in 775.
The city of D. was founded by the invading Danes in 852, and a Danish kingdom remained there for the following three centuries. Around the middle of the 10th century these pagan raiders opened themselves to the influence of the Catholic faith through the monks of Nortumbria, a Danish kingdom in England. In 1038, Donatus, an Irishman, became the first bishop of D. But since the Danes had received the Gospel from England, they regarded Canterbury as their spiritual metropolis; therefore Donatus and his four immediate successors were consecrated by the archbishop of that see.
This dependence ended when, in 1331, D. was erected as a metropolitan see by an Irish synod presided over by a papal legate.
In 1169 the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place, and D. soon became one of its conquests. The archbishop during this period was St. Lorcan or Tuathail (anglicized as Laurence or Teolo), distinguished by his pastoral zeal, patriotism, and charity. He died at Eu in Normandy in 1180, while he was going to the aid of his people, and was canonized by Honorius III in 1226.
In 1185 it was established that the diocese of Glendalech, founded by St. Goengen (or Kevin) in the 6th century, would be united with D. after the death of its bishop in office, which occurred in 1214.
After St. Lorcan, the archbishops of D. were, for a period of four centuries, all of English origin, appointed by the monarch of that country. Many of these archbishops refused to recognize the primatial rights of Armagh, obtaining papal bulls in support of their position. On the other hand, Armagh (v.) had on their side rights that had existed for several centuries and that were likewise sanctioned by the Holy See. An attempt was made in Rome in 1353 to settle the controversy, and it was decided that the archbishop of Armagh would be called Primas totius Hiberniae, while that of D. simply Primas Hiberniae, following the example of the prelates of Canterbury and York in England. But the dispute did not end, and even in the 18th century the archbishop of Armagh reserved the right of appeal over D.
Among the archbishops of the Reformation period, Pietro Talbot, who died in prison in 1680, deserves mention. His cause for beatification is in progress.
Precious liturgical manuscripts are preserved in Trinity College, among them the «Book of Armagh» of the year 807; others are held in the Royal Irish Academy, including the Stowe missal (v. LITURGIA).
The archdiocese, covering 3184 sq. km., comprises 90 parishes, 170 churches, 1 auxiliary bishop, 446 diocesan priests and 578 religious priests, and 3 seminaries; 40 communities of lay religious and 139 convents of nuns. Of a total population of 709,729 inhabitants, 639,542 are Catholics (1949). The cathedral is dedicated to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.