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Diocese of Achonry Dioecesis Achadensis Deoise Achadh Conaire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Territory | Parts of countiesMayo,Roscommon andSligo |
| Ecclesiastical province | Tuam |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 346 sq mi (900 km2) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 23 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | Between1111 and1152 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen |
| Patron saint | Nathy Attracta |
| Secular priests | 41 (diocesan) 1 (Religious Orders) |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Kevin Doran |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam |
| Apostolic Administrator | Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| achonrydiocese.org | |
TheDiocese of Achonry (Irish:Deoise Achadh Conaire) is aLatin Churchdiocese of theCatholic Church in the western part ofIreland. It is one of the fivesuffragansees of theArchdiocese of Tuam.[1] The diocese was often called the "bishopric ofLuighne" in theIrish annals. It was not established at theSynod of Rathbreasail, but Máel Ruanaid Ua Ruadáin signed as "bishop of Luighne" at theSynod of Kells.[2]
At present there are twenty-three parishes in the diocese, located in Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. There are twenty-six priests involved in full-time parish ministry and four involved in secondary education.
On 27 January 2020 Pope Francis appointedPaul Dempsey — parish priest of Newbridge — as the new Bishop of Achonry.[3] He received episcopal ordination in the diocesan cathedral, which is dedicated to The Annunciation and St. Nathy, inBallaghaderreen, on 30 August 2020.[4] However, in response to a wider reorganization of diocesan leadership within the ecclesiastical province of Tuam, Bishop Dempsey was appointed auxiliary bishop of Dublin on April 10, 2024. Subsequently, Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin was appointed as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Achonry. On 16 February 2025, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Doran as the new bishop of the Diocese of Achonry, in addition to his responsibilities as bishop of the Diocese of Elphin, effectively uniting the two dioceses in persona episcopi.[5]
The dioceses of Achonry and Elphin are currently in the process of full amalgamation. This initiative began in April 2024, when the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, announced Pope Francis's decision to initiate a process of closer cooperation and consultation between the two neighboring dioceses, with the intention of eventually merging them. A similar process was proposed for the dioceses of Tuam and Killala. In November 2024, Bishop Doran issued a pastoral message outlining the journey toward amalgamation and summarizing feedback from consultations held in both dioceses. Decisions reached include joint pilgrimages, collaborative formation programs, and the establishment of a working group to facilitate the merger process. As of February 2025, the dioceses are actively working towards full amalgamation, aiming to pool resources and enhance pastoral care for the faithful.
The diocese covers parts of countiesMayo,Roscommon andSligo. The largest towns areCharlestown,Kiltimagh andSwinford.
List of bishops since theReformation:[2][6]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "The Diocese of Achonry".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
53°54′13″N8°34′40″W / 53.9036°N 8.5779°W /53.9036; -8.5779
