Kildare and Leighlin (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Past and Present Ordinaries

St. Conleth † ( 490 Ordained Bishop - 3 May 519 Died)
Malachie O’Byrn † ( 1160 Appointed - 1 Jan 1177 Died)
Nehemias † ( 1177 Appointed - 1195 Died)
Cornelius MacGelany † ( 1206 Appointed - 1223 Died)
Ralph de Bristol † ( 1223 Appointed - 24 Aug 1232 Died)
John di Taunton † ( 1233 Succeeded - 1258 Died)
Simon di Kilkenny † ( 1258 Appointed - 20 Apr 1272 Died)
Nicholas Cusack, O.F.M. † (27 Nov 1279 Appointed - 5 Sep 1299 Died)
Walter Leveau † ( 1300 Appointed - Nov 1332 Died)
Richard Hulot † (13 Oct 1335 Appointed - 24 Jun 1352 Died)
Thomas Giffard † (31 Dec 1352 Appointed - 25 Sep 1365 Died)
Robert of Aketon, O.E.S.A. † (2 May 1366 Appointed - )
John Madock † (11 Nov 1404 Appointed - 1431 Died)
William Fitzedward † (8 Aug 1431 Appointed - 1446 Died)
Geoffrey Hereford, O.P. † (23 Aug 1447 Appointed - 1464 Died)
Richard Lang † (Aug 1464 Appointed - 28 Jul 1474 Resigned)
David Conel † (28 Jul 1474 Appointed - 1475 Died)
James Wall, O.F.M. † (5 Apr 1475 Appointed - 1485 Resigned)
Edward Lane † (7 Jul 1480 Appointed - 1513 Died)
Thomas Dillon † (24 Aug 1526 Appointed - Jul 1529 Died)
Walter Wellesley, O.S.A. † (1 Jul 1529 Appointed - 18 Oct 1539 Died)
Donald O’Beachan, O.F.M. † (16 Jul 1540 Appointed - Sep 1540 Died)
Thaddeus Reynolds † (11 Nov 1540 Appointed - 1555 Died)
Thomas Leverus † (30 Aug 1555 Appointed - 1577 Died)
Donatus Dowling † (11 Mar 1621 Appointed - )
Roche MacGeoghegan, O.P. † (12 Feb 1629 Appointed - 1641 Died)
James Dempsey † (24 Nov 1665 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Patrick Dempsey † (30 Jun 1671 Appointed - 23 Feb 1682 Died)
Mark Forstall (Forestal), O.S.A. † (30 Jun 1676 Appointed - 17 Feb 1683 Died)
Edward Wesley † (2 Aug 1683 Appointed - 1691 Died)
John Dempsey † (8 Feb 1694 Appointed - 16 Jun 1707 Died)
Dominic Edward Murphy † (14 Sep 1715 Appointed - 1 Sep 1724 Confirmed, Archbishop of Dublin)
Bernard Dunne † (16 Dec 1724 Confirmed - 26 Aug 1733 Died)
Stephen Dowdall † (22 Dec 1733 Confirmed - 12 Feb 1737 Died)
James O’Gallagher † (18 May 1737 Confirmed - May 1751 Died)
James O’Keeffe † (19 Jan 1752 Confirmed - 18 Sep 1787 Died)
Daniel Delany † (18 Sep 1787 Succeeded - 9 Jul 1814 Died)
Arthur Murphy † (4 Oct 1814 Appointed - 1815 Resigned)
Michael Corcoran † (20 Mar 1815 Appointed - 22 Feb 1819 Died)
James Doyle, O.S.A. † (27 Aug 1819 Appointed - 15 Jun 1834 Died)
Edward Nolan † (8 Aug 1834 Appointed - 14 Oct 1837 Died)
Francis Haly † (10 Jan 1838 Appointed - 19 Aug 1855 Died)
James Walshe † (29 Feb 1856 Appointed - 5 Mar 1888 Died)
James Lynch, C.M. † (5 Mar 1888 Succeeded - 19 Dec 1896 Died)
Patrick Foley † (19 Dec 1896 Succeeded - 24 Jul 1926 Died)
Matthew Cullen † (25 Mar 1927 Appointed - 2 Jan 1936 Died)
Thomas Keogh † (8 Aug 1936 Appointed - 25 Sep 1967 Retired)
Patrick Lennon † (25 Sep 1967 Appointed - 10 Dec 1987 Resigned)
Laurence Ryan † (10 Dec 1987 Succeeded - 4 Jun 2002 Resigned)
James Moriarty † (4 Jun 2002 Appointed - 22 Apr 2010 Resigned)
Denis Nulty (7 May 2013 Appointed - )

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Kildare
519	Erected		Diocese of Kildare (erected)
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
1678	United	Diocese of Kildare Diocese of Leighlin	Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
7 January 1977	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin (Greenhills, Brownstown, Logstown, Kilcullen Bridge, Carnalway, Swordlestown South, and Mullaghboy)	Archdiocese of Dublin
7 January 1977	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Dublin (Central and western part of Naas East and the eastern part of Tipper West)	Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

1950 122,936 132,091 93.1% 143 79 222 553 176 675 50 ap1951

1970 130,300 137,000 95.1% 148 94 242 538 250 612 51 ap1971

1980 155,000 162,000 95.7% 141 91 232 668 217 484 54 ap1981

1990 167,025 176,313 94.7% 139 97 236 707 212 385 55 ap1991

1999 171,194 183,187 93.5% 123 89 212 807 143 363 56 ap2000

2000 181,807 192,759 94.3% 126 79 205 886 128 337 56 ap2001

2001 183,105 194,683 94.1% 128 87 215 851 129 332 56 ap2002

2002 185,581 196,846 94.3% 124 89 213 871 126 334 56 ap2003

2003 190,068 203,386 93.5% 117 43 160 1,187 5 69 280 56 ap2004

2004 191,222 204,204 93.6% 114 43 157 1,217 70 296 ap2005*

2006 205,185 220,427 93.1% 114 78 192 1,068 102 301 56 ap2007

2013 240,900 256,600 93.9% 97 75 172 1,400 143 269 56 ap2014

2016 256,213 273,921 93.5% 95 74 169 1,516 8 91 210 56 ap2017

2019 262,250 286,360 91.6% 107 16 123 2,132 8 37 173 55 ap2020

2021 256,186 280,446 91.3% 99 8 107 2,394 11 25 131 56 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
1950	122,936	132,091	93.1%	143	79	222	553		176	675	50	ap1951
1970	130,300	137,000	95.1%	148	94	242	538		250	612	51	ap1971
1980	155,000	162,000	95.7%	141	91	232	668		217	484	54	ap1981
1990	167,025	176,313	94.7%	139	97	236	707		212	385	55	ap1991
1999	171,194	183,187	93.5%	123	89	212	807		143	363	56	ap2000
2000	181,807	192,759	94.3%	126	79	205	886		128	337	56	ap2001
2001	183,105	194,683	94.1%	128	87	215	851		129	332	56	ap2002
2002	185,581	196,846	94.3%	124	89	213	871		126	334	56	ap2003
2003	190,068	203,386	93.5%	117	43	160	1,187	5	69	280	56	ap2004
2004	191,222	204,204	93.6%	114	43	157	1,217		70	296		ap2005*
2006	205,185	220,427	93.1%	114	78	192	1,068		102	301	56	ap2007
2013	240,900	256,600	93.9%	97	75	172	1,400		143	269	56	ap2014
2016	256,213	273,921	93.5%	95	74	169	1,516	8	91	210	56	ap2017
2019	262,250	286,360	91.6%	107	16	123	2,132	8	37	173	55	ap2020
2021	256,186	280,446	91.3%	99	8	107	2,394	11	25	131	56	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Robert of Aketon, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 2 May 1366)
Abraham Brownrigg, S.S.S. †
Edmund Burke † (Priest: 1776 to 1787)
Michael Comerford † (Coadjutor Bishop: 2 Nov 1888 to 19 Aug 1895)
David Conel † (Bishop: 28 Jul 1474 to 1475)
St. Conleth † (Bishop: 490 to 3 May 519)
John Joseph Conroy †
Michael Corcoran † (Bishop: 20 Mar 1815 to 22 Feb 1819)
Matthew Cullen † (Bishop: 25 Mar 1927 to 2 Jan 1936)
Paul Cullen †
Nicholas Cusack, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 27 Nov 1279 to 5 Sep 1299)
Ralph de Bristol † (Bishop: 1223 to 24 Aug 1232)
Daniel Delany † (Priest: 1770; Coadjutor Bishop: 13 May 1783; Bishop: 18 Sep 1787 to 9 Jul 1814)
James Dempsey † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Nov 1665 - Did Not Take Effect)
John Dempsey † (Bishop: 8 Feb 1694 to 16 Jun 1707)
Patrick Dempsey † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jun 1671 to 23 Feb 1682)
Thomas Dillon † (Bishop: 24 Aug 1526 to Jul 1529)
Stephen Dowdall † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1733 to 12 Feb 1737)
Donatus Dowling † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1621)
James Doyle, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 27 Aug 1819 to 15 Jun 1834)
Bernard Dunne † (Bishop: 16 Dec 1724 to 26 Aug 1733)
James Bernard Dunne †
John Dunne †
William Fitzedward † (Bishop: 8 Aug 1431 to 1446)
Patrick Foley † (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Mar 1896; Bishop: 19 Dec 1896 to 24 Jul 1926)
Mark Forstall (Forestal), O.S.A. † (Bishop: 30 Jun 1676 to 17 Feb 1683)
Thomas Galberry, O.E.S.A. †
Thomas Giffard † (Bishop: 31 Dec 1352 to 25 Sep 1365)
Francis Haly † (Bishop: 10 Jan 1838 to 19 Aug 1855)
Geoffrey Hereford, O.P. † (Bishop: 23 Aug 1447 to 1464)
Richard Hulot † (Bishop: 13 Oct 1335 to 24 Jun 1352)
Thomas Keogh † (Priest: 13 Jun 1909; Bishop: 8 Aug 1936 to 25 Sep 1967)
Simon di Kilkenny † (Bishop: 1258 to 20 Apr 1272)
Andrew Killian †
Edward Lane † (Bishop: 7 Jul 1480 to 1513)
Richard Lang † (Bishop: Aug 1464 to 28 Jul 1474)
Patrick Lennon † (Priest: 19 Jun 1938; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 May 1966; Bishop: 25 Sep 1967 to 10 Dec 1987)
Walter Leveau † (Bishop: 1300 to Nov 1332)
Thomas Leverus † (Bishop: 30 Aug 1555 to 1577)
James Lynch, C.M. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Apr 1869; Bishop: 5 Mar 1888 to 19 Dec 1896)
Cornelius MacGelany † (Bishop: 1206 to 1223)
Roche MacGeoghegan, O.P. † (Bishop: 12 Feb 1629 to 1641)
John Madock † (Bishop: 11 Nov 1404 to 1431)
Patrick Francis Moran †
James Moriarty † (Bishop: 4 Jun 2002 to 22 Apr 2010)
Arthur Murphy † (Bishop: 4 Oct 1814 to 1815)
Dominic Edward Murphy † (Bishop: 14 Sep 1715 to 1 Sep 1724)
Edward Nolan † (Bishop: 8 Aug 1834 to 14 Oct 1837)
Donald O’Beachan, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 16 Jul 1540 to Sep 1540)
Malachie O’Byrn † (Bishop: 1160 to 1 Jan 1177)
James O’Gallagher † (Bishop: 18 May 1737 to May 1751)
John Joseph O’Gorman, C.S.Sp. †
James O’Keeffe † (Bishop: 19 Jan 1752 to 18 Sep 1787)
Richard O’Reilly † (Coadjutor Bishop: 20 Jun 1781 to 26 Feb 1782)
James Quinn †
Thaddeus Reynolds † (Bishop: 11 Nov 1540 to 1555)
Laurence Ryan † (Priest: 17 Jun 1956; Coadjutor Bishop: 17 Jul 1984; Bishop: 10 Dec 1987 to 4 Jun 2002)
John di Taunton † (Bishop: 1233 to 1258)
James Wall, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 5 Apr 1475 to 1485)
James Walshe † (Bishop: 29 Feb 1856 to 5 Mar 1888)
Walter Wellesley, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1529 to 18 Oct 1539)
Edward Wesley † (Bishop: 2 Aug 1683 to 1691)
Nehemias † (Bishop: 1177 to 1195)

Source(s)

Diocese of Kildare
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 1, Page 222
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 2, Page 142, and Page 143
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 185
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 212
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 231, and Page 232
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 222, to Page 223
Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 248
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 227
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 160, and Page 161

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Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

Dioecesis Kildariensis vel Darensis et Leighliensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)