Diocese of Limerick, Ireland

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Munchin (January 3), Saint Ita (January 15)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1000: Established as Diocese of Limerick / Limericien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Canterbury)
1152: Became suffragan of Cashel
1188: Gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Inniscathy

Contact Info

Address: Diocesan Offices, Henry Street, Limerick, Ireland

Phone: (061)31.58.56

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1979.10)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2013.01.10 – ...):

Bishop Brendan Leahy (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Limerick (Roman Rite)

Bishop Brendan Leahy (63)
(2013.01.10 – ...)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland)

Born:	1960.03.28 (Dublin, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1986.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.04.14

Priest of Dublin (Ireland) (1986.06.05 – 2013.01.10)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (2013.01.10 – ...)

Bishop Donal Brendan Murray (83)
(1996.02.10 – 2009.12.17)

Bishop emeritus of Limerick (Ireland)

Veritas in Caritate

Born:	1940.05.29 (Dublin, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1966.05.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.04.18

Priest of Dublin (Ireland) (1966.05.22 – 1982.03.04)

Titular Bishop of Glenndálocha (1982.03.04 – 1996.02.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin (Ireland) (1982.03.04 – 1996.02.10)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1996.02.10 – 2009.12.17)

Bishop Jeremiah Newman
(1974.05.17 – 1995.04.03)

Born:	1926.03.31
Ordained Priest:	1950.06.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.07.14
Died:	1995.04.03 († 69)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1974.05.17 – 1995.04.03)

Bishop Henry Murphy
(1958.07.01 – 1973.10.08)

Veritas in Caritate

Born:	1912.05.19
Ordained Priest:	1936.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.08.31
Died:	1973.10.08 († 61)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1958.07.01 – 1973.10.08)

Bishop Patrick O’Neill
(1945.12.15 – 1958.03.27)

Born:	1891.02.08
Ordained Priest:	1915.06.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.02.24
Died:	1958.03.27 († 67)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1945.12.15 – 1958.03.27)

Bishop David Keane
(1923.12.29 – 1945.03.14)

Born:	1871.02.27 (Scotland)
Ordained Priest:	1895.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1924.03
Died:	1945.03.14 († 74)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1923.12.29 – 1945.03.14)

Bishop Denis Hallinan
(1918.03.10 – 1923.07.02)

Born:	1849.11.14
Ordained Priest:	1874
Consecrated Bishop:	1918.03.10
Died:	1923.07.02 († 73)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1918.03.10 – 1923.07.02)

Bishop Edward Thomas O’Dwyer
(1886.05.18 – 1917.08.19)

Born:	1842
Ordained Priest:	1867.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1886.06.29
Died:	1917.08.19 († 74)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1886.05.18 – 1917.08.19)

Bishop George Butler
(1864.06.04 – 1886.02.03)

Born:	1815.02.13 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1838.11.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1863.07.25
Died:	1886.02.03 († 70)

Titular Bishop of Cydonia (1861.06.13 – 1864.06.04)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1861.06.13 – 1864.06.04)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1864.06.04 – 1886.02.03)

Bishop John Ryan
(1828.03.17 – 1864.06.04)

Born:	1784.11 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1810.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1825.12.11
Died:	1864.06.04 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Myrina (1825.09.30 – 1828.03.17)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1825.09.30 – 1828.03.17)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1828.03.17 – 1864.06.04)

Bishop Charles Tuohy
(1814.10.04 – 1828.03.17)

Born:	1754 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1780
Consecrated Bishop:	1815.04.23
Died:	1828.03.17 († 73)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1814.10.04 – 1828.03.17)

Bishop John Young
(1796.06.19 – 1813.09.22)

Born:	1746.03 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1769.09.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1793.05.20
Died:	1813.09.22 († 67)

Titular Bishop of Maxula (1793.01.03 – 1796.06.19)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1793.01.03 – 1796.06.19)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1796.06.19 – 1813.09.22)

Bishop Denis Conway
(1779.02.25 – 1796.06.19)

Born:	(Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:	1779.06.20
Died:	1796.06.19

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1779.02.25 – 1796.06.19)

Bishop Daniel Kearney
(1759.11.27 – 1778.01.24)

Born:	(Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:	1760.01.27
Died:	1778.01.24

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1759.11.27 – 1778.01.24)

Bishop Robert Lacy
(1737.08.30 – 1759.08.04)

Consecrated Bishop:	1638.02.23
Died:	1759.08.04

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1737.08.30 – 1759.08.04)

Bishop Cornelius O’Keeffe
(1720.03.07 – 1737.05.04)

Died:

1737.05.04

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1720.03.07 – 1737.05.04)

Bishop John O’Mollony
(1698.01.24 – 1702.09.03)

Consecrated Bishop:	1672.03
Died:	1702.09.03

Bishop of Killaloe (Ireland) (1671.05.26 – 1698.01.24)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1698.01.24 – 1702.09.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Killaloe (Ireland) (1698.01.24 – 1702.09.03)

Bishop James Dowley
(1676.05.04 – 1685.01)

Died:

1685.01

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1676.05.04 – 1685.01)

Bishop Edmund O’Dwyer
(1646.05.23 – 1654.04.05)

Consecrated Bishop:	1645.05.07
Died:	1654.04.05

Titular Bishop of Calama (1645.02.06 – 1646.05.23)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1645.02.06 – 1646.05.23)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1646.05.23 – 1654.04.05)

Bishop Richard Arthur
(1620.05.18 – 1646.05.23)

Consecrated Bishop:	1623.09
Died:	1646.05.23

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1620.05.18 – 1646.05.23)

Bishop Cornelius O’Boyle
(1582.08.20 – 1591)

Died:

1591

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1582.08.20 – 1591)

Bishop Hugh Lacy
(1556.11.24 – 1580)

Died:

1580

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1556.11.24 – 1580)

Bishop John Quin (Seaán Ó Cuinn), O.P.
(1524.10.21 – 1551.04.09)

Died:

1554

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1524.10.21 – 1551.04.09)

Bishop John Folan (John O’Phelan)
(1489.04.24 – 1522.01.30)

Died:

1522.01.30

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1489.04.24 – 1522.01.30)

Bishop John Dunowe
(1486.11.13 – 1489)

Died:

1489

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1486.11.13 – 1489)

Fr. Richard Stakpoll
(1486.09.18 – 1486.11.13 not possessed)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1486.09.18 – 1486.11.13 not possessed)

Bishop Thomas Arthur
(1469.07.14 – 1486.07.19)

Consecrated Bishop:	1469.09.10
Died:	1486.07.19

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1469.07.14 – 1486.07.19)

Bishop William Creagh (William Russell)
(1458.04.19 – 1469)

Died:

1469

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1458.04.19 – 1469)

Bishop Thomas Leger, O.E.S.A.
(1456.05.10 – 1456.11.23)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1456.05.10 – 1456.11.23)

Bishop John Mothel, O.E.S.A.
(1426.10.07 – 1458.04)

Died:

1468

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1426.10.07 – 1458.04)

Bishop Conchobhar Ó Deadhaidh (Cornelius O’Dea), O.F.M.
(1400 – 1425)

Died:

1434.07.27

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1400 – 1425)

Bishop Bernardus Ó Conchobhair
(1399 – 1399 not possessed)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1399 – 1399 not possessed)

Bishop of Ross (Ireland) (1399 – 1399)

Bishop Peter Curragh
(1369.02.19 – 1399)

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1369.02.19 – 1399)

Bishop of Ross (Ireland) (1399 – 1399)

Bishop Stephen Wall (Stephen de Valle)
(1360 – 1369.02.19)

Died:

1379.11.10

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1360 – 1369.02.19)

Bishop of Meath (Ireland) (1369.02.19 – 1379.11.10)

Bishop Stephen Lawless
(1354 – 1359.12.28)

Consecrated Bishop:	1354
Died:	1359.12.28

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1354 – 1359.12.28)

Bishop Maurice de Rochfort (Maurice de Rupe)
(1336 – 1353.06.09)

Consecrated Bishop:	1337.04.06
Died:	1353.06.09

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1336 – 1353.06.09)

Bishop Eustace de l’Eau (Eustace de Aqua)
(1312 – 1336.05.03)

Died:

1336.05.03

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1312 – 1336.05.03)

Bishop Robert de Dundonald
(1302 – 1311.05.03)

Died:

1311.05.03

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1302 – 1311.05.03)

Bishop Gerald le Mareshall
(1273 – 1302.02.10)

Died:

1302.02.10

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1273 – 1302.02.10)

Bishop Robert of Emly
(1251 – 1272.09.08)

Died:

1272.09.08

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1251 – 1272.09.08)

Bishop Hubert de Burgo, O.E.S.A.
(1224 – 1250.09.14)

Died:

1250.09.14

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1224 – 1250.09.14)

Bishop Edmund
(1208? – 1222)

Died:

1222

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1208? – 1222)

Bishop Donnchad Ua Briain (Donatus)
(1190 – 1207)

Died:

1207

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1190 – 1207)

Bishop Brictius
(1167 – 1189?)

Died:

1189?

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1167 – 1189?)

Bishop Torgesius
(1152? – 1167)

Died:

1167

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1152? – 1167)

Bishop Erolb (Harold)
(1140 – 1151)

Died:

1151

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1140 – 1151)

Bishop Patricius
(1140 – 1148)

Died:

1148

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1140 – 1148)

Bishop Gilli alias Gilla Espaic (Gilbert)
(1106? – 1140)

Died:

1145

Bishop of Limerick (Ireland) (1106? – 1140)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop George Butler (1861.06.13 – 1864.06.04)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop John Ryan (1825.09.30 – 1828.03.17)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop John Young (1793.01.03 – 1796.06.19)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Edmund O’Dwyer (1645.02.06 – 1646.05.23)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Limerick, Limerick, Munster
Former Cathedral (now Protestant church): Cathedral of St Mary, Limerick, Limerick, Munster

Churches by City (94)

Kerry (↙), Killaloe (↑), Cashel and Emly (→), Cloyne (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 2,100 km²

Population: 151,228 Catholics (81.9% of 184,739 total)

Pastoral Centres: 60 parishes

Personnel: 135 priests (100 diocesan, 35 religious), 278 religious (58 brothers, 220 sisters), 1 seminarian