Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross


The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, also referred to as the United Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross is a diocese in the Church of Ireland. The diocese is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin. It is the see of the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the result of a combination of bishoprics of Cork and Cloyne in 1429, Cork and Cloyne and Ross in 1583, the separation of Cork and Ross and Cloyne in 1660 and the re-combination of Cork and Ross and Cloyne in 1835.

History of the Diocese of Cork

The Diocese of Cork was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail on an ancient bishopric founded by Saint Finbarr in 876. On 30 July 1326, Pope John XXII, on the petition of King Edward II of England, issued a papal bull for the union of the bishoprics of Cork and Cloyne, the union to take effect on the death of either bishop. The union should have taken effect on the death of Philip of Slane in 1327, however, bishops were still appointed to each separate bishopric. The union eventually took place with Jordan Purcell appointed bishop of the united see of Cork and Cloyne in 1429. Following the Reformation, the diocese was again split and from 1583, Ross and Cork shared a bishop. In 1835 Cloyne was merged with "Ross and Cork".

History of the Diocese of Cloyne

The diocese of Cloyne has its origins in the monastic settlement founded by St Colman in the 6th century. Cloyne was not one of the dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail, but a bishop of Cloyne was ruling the diocese by 1148, which was recognized at the Synod of Kells in March 1152. The see was merged with Cork to form the Diocese of Cork and Cloyne in 1429.

History of the Diocese of Ross

This see was founded by St. Fachtna, and the place-name was variously known as Roscairbre and Rosailithir. St. Fachtna founded the School of Ross as well as the see; and his death occurred about 590, on 14 August, on which day his feast is celebrated. At that time the chiefs of the tuath were the O'Leary, known as Uí Laoghaire Ruis Ó gCairbre. By 1160, Ross was an independent bishopric. In 1207, the Norman King, John of England, granted the cantred of Rosailithir to David Roche, regardless of the claims of the native chief, the O'Driscoll, but the episcopal manors were left undisturbed. In 1306, the value of the bishop's mensa was 26 marks, while the cathedral was valued at 3 marks; and the tribal revenue of the see was but 45 pounds sterling. The number of parishes was 29, divided into 3 divisions; and there was a Cistercian abbey, Carrigilihy ; also a Benedictine Priory at St. Mary's, Ross. The Franciscans acquired a foundation at Sherkin Island from the O'Driscolls in 1460.
Blessed Thady MacCarthy was appointed Bishop of Ross in 1482, but was forcibly deprived of his see in 1488. However, he was translated to the united bishopric of Cork and Cloyne in 1490; was again a victim of political intrigues, and died a confessor at Ivrea in 1492, being beatified in 1895. In 1517 the revenue of the diocese was but 60 marks. At that date the chapter was complete with 12 canons and 4 vicars, and there were 27 parishes, including three around Berehaven.
Following the Reformation, the merged dioceses of "Cork and Cloyne" were again split with Ross and Cork sharing a bishop from 1583 onwards.

Cathedrals

Diocese of Cork

The Diocese of Cork comprises 14 parishes with 40 churches
The Diocese of Cloyne comprises 5 parishes with 19 churches.
The Diocese of Ross comprises 3 parishes with 13 churches.