KILMORE, Diocese of. - It comprises almost the whole Irish county of Cavan, and parts of those of Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sligo. The episcopal residence is at Cullis (Cavan); the diocese is a suffragan of Armagh.
Out of 102,350 inhabitants the diocese counts 87,947 Catholics (census of 1936), distributed in 42 parishes with 139 secular priests and 9 regulars, one seminary, 3 male religious communities and 12 female ones.
The first known bishop is St. Felim, who lived at the beginning of the 6th century, who is also the patron of the diocese (feast on 9 Aug.). Until the 15th century, the bishops of K. are referred to as "episcopi Brefinae", because the diocese corresponded roughly to the ancient district of Brefney; and sometimes also as "bishops of Triburna", from the name of the small town that was the episcopal residence. Bishop Andrew Mac Brady (1445-55) rebuilt the primitive church of St. Felim, nearby, at Triburna, making it his cathedral; from the Irish title given to it, Cill-mor (= great church), the name of K. was derived for the whole diocese. During the centuries of Protestant persecution, bishops and clergy had to endure grave difficulties. The most famous convent of the diocese is that of St. Mary's at Cavan, founded in 1300 by the O'Reilly family and entrusted to the Dominicans, whom the Franciscans succeeded in 1393. Under the reign of James I the convent was confiscated and plundered. The Premonstratensian Canons Regular have the priory of the Most Holy Trinity at Kilnacrott (Mountmugant). The present bishop is Msgr. Guinn, consecrated in 1950. His predecessor Msgr. P. Lyons built a magnificent church at Cavan.
Bibliography7 works
Benigno Millett