MEATH, Diocese of. - A suffragan diocese of Armagh, territorially the largest in Ireland; it comprises most of the counties of Meath, Westmeath and Offaly, and part of those of Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan.
Out of a total of 126,450 inhabitants (1936) it counts 120,643 Catholics. The diocese has 66 parishes and 144 churches with 160 secular priests and 37 regulars: a minor seminary, St-Finian's College, Mullingar; the Jesuits have a house of studies at Tullamore, the Fathers of St. Columban one at Navan, the Franciscans the Seraphic College of Multyfarnham, the Salesians an agricultural college at Warreston (county Meath). In the diocese there are also Carmelites and Camillians, as well as 19 communities of nuns. The diocese has 210 primary schools and 13 secondary schools.
The present diocese of M. embraces, in extent, almost the whole of the ancient Kingdom of M., which in ancient times comprised eight episcopal sees: Clonard, Duleek, Kells, Trim, Ardbraccan, Dunhaughlin, Slane, Fore. The most important was Clonard, which grew up around the famous monastery of the same name, founded by St. Finian in the 6th century. At the national Synod held at Kells in 1153, the dioceses were reduced to three: Clonard, Duleek and Kells. After some time Duleek and Kells were united to Clonard; the bishop of these united dioceses was made first a suffragan of Armagh and began to bear the title of "bishop of M." The patron is St. Finian, whose feast falls on 12 December.
Before the so-called reform, many of the bishops were English, since M. lay in the district known by the name of the Pale. Two of the most famous, during the period of persecution, were the Cistercian William Walsh (d. 1577) and the Franciscan Patrick Tyrrel (d. 1692). The episcopal residence is Mullingar, where a splendid new cathedral, dedicated to Christ the King, was erected.
Bibliography6 works
Benigno Millett