The reorganisation of Ireland’s Catholic dioceses has begun, starting with the six dioceses in the Western region of Connacht being merged into three. The Archdiocese of Tuam now oversees Killala; Elphin has taken control of Achonry; and Galway has taken over Clonfert. There is speculation that similar reorganisation is imminent in the other territories corresponding to Ulster, Munster and Leinster, currently being managed by the Archdioceses of Armagh, Cashel and Dublin, respectively.
The changes have been prompted by factors such as a declining priest population, waning mass attendance, an upsurge in civil weddings and a drop in church funds. The average age of the clergy is now in the early 70s and retirement is at 75, contributing to the decreasing numbers.
The reconfiguration was announced on a Wednesday at Tuam’s Catholic Cathedral in Co Galway by the papal nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor. It is noteworthy that this decision was made without consulting either the clergy of Achonry or Killala or the laity in either diocese. Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor has only been in Ireland for less than a year, having previously served in various locations including Ethiopia, Brazil, Thailand, Rome, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mauritania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This move seems logical considering the total Catholic population in the six Connacht dioceses is approximately 462,000, whereas the Archdiocese of Dublin alone has a congregation of 1.12 million people. Other changes include the Bishop of Achonry, Paul Dempsey, being moved to Dublin and becoming the second Auxiliary Bishop, alongside Bishop Donal Roche, who was appointed last month to support the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell.
Bishop Dempsey was raised in Athy, within Co Kildare, part of the Dublin Archdiocese. According to Archbishop Farrell, the newly-appointed Auxiliary is familiar with the area and is expected to contribute significantly to unifying the Church in our country due to his novel concepts, fervent dedication, amicable disposition, demonstrated connection with the local populace, and his past service in the western region of Ireland.
In the Ulster region, specifically the Armagh metropolitan region of the Catholic Church, two out of the nine dioceses currently lack bishops. Since 2018, Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Archbishop of Armagh and Catholic Primate, has taken on the role of Administrator for the small Co Down Dromore diocese, following the resignation of previous Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey amidst controversy involving Fr Malachy Finnegan, a late paedophile.
Recently, Alan McGuckian, previous Bishop of Raphoe in Co Donegal, assumed position as the Bishop of Down and Connor in Belfast, while Msgr Kevin Gillespie was named the Administrator in Raphoe. There are speculations that the Raphoe and Diocese of Derry might be consolidated upon the retirement of the current Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, who will turn 75 in April next year.
Also, Larry Duffy, Bishop of Clogher (primarily Monaghan), is slated for retirement in 2026. Within Munster, Bishop William Crean of Cloyne (mainly Co Cork) diocese is also due for retirement in 2026. Prior to Bishop Crean’s appointment in 2013, Dermot Clifford, the then Archbishop of Cashel, had assumed the role of Administrator of Cloyne after Bishop John Magee’s resignation in 2010 which was triggered by a controversy over his handling of priest child sex abuse allegations.
For most other Catholic bishops in Ireland, retirement is still a few years away, so the combining of other dioceses is anticipated to be a slow progression over the next few decades. In tandem with recent announcements, Ireland now possesses 21 bishops serving in its 26 Catholic dioceses, plus two additional Auxiliary Bishops in Dublin and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Router serving in Armagh.
Inherited from the Synod of Ráth Breasail in the 12th century, the Church of Ireland originally had an equal number of dioceses, but it has since downsized to 11, governed by two archbishops stationed in Dublin and Armagh. In 2021, a transformative event occurred with the creation of the United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick, and Killaloe. This was achieved by consolidating the previously individual United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe, and Tuam, Killala, and Achonry under a common bishop.
The new diocese is consequently extensive, graphically encompassing almost one-third of Ireland. Its geographical span includes parts of the midlands, west and southwest, running from south Kerry on the west coast up to Co Sligo’s boundaries and incorporating counties such as Mayo, Galway, Clare, and portions of Sligo, Limerick, Kerry, majority of Tipperary, some of Offaly and a snippet of Roscommon.
The elected bishop of the newly formed United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe is Michael Burrows, holding the full title of Bishop of Tuam, Killala, Achonry, Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh, and Emly. In an official ceremony spanning April and May 2022, Bishop Burrows was inaugurated in all six cathedrals belonging to the United Diocese.