Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is one of the five suffragan sees of the Archdiocese of Tuam. The diocese was often called the "bishopric of Luighne" in the Irish annals. It was not established at the Synod of Rathbreasail, but Máel Ruanaid Ua Ruadáin signed as "bishop of Luighne" at the Synod of Kells.
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. The most recent bishop, Brendan Kelly, was appointed on 20 November 2007 and ordained on 27 January 2008. He was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh on 11 December 2017.
In January 2020 Pope Francis appointed Fr Paul Dempsey, Parish Priest of Newbridge, as the new Bishop of Achonry. Fr Dempsey's episcopal ordination was scheduled for April 2020 but has been delayed until the summer of the same year due to the Covid19 outbreak.The Cathedral, dedicated to The Annunciation and St. Nathy, is in Ballaghaderreen and was built in the 1850s.Geography
The diocese covers parts of counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The largest towns are Charlestown, Kiltimagh and Swinford.Ordinaries
List of bishops since the Reformation:
