Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonard
# Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonard

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonard (English, Irish Gaelic? Cluain Iraird ) was a medieval diocese (originally abbey nullius) in Ireland until its 1202 suppression, which became a modern Latin Catholic titular see.

## History

The see of Clonard has its origins in the 520 established of the Abbacy nullius of Clonard, a typically Irish 'abbey-bishop', the major one of a cluster including Duleek, Trim, Kenlis (= Kells), Ardbraccan, Dunsaghlin, Slane and Foure, some of which are at least as old.

* In 1111 it was formally promoted as proper Diocese of Clonard, having gained territory from the suppressed Abbacy nullius of Dunshaughlin, when the synod of Rathbreasail chose it and Duleek (short-lived, see below) to be stabilized as regular bishoprics.
* It gained territory in 1152 from the suppressed Abbacy nullius of Trim when the synod of Kells deployed in Ireland the continental model of territorially stable diocesan sees like i cotinetal Europe, precursor of the present bishopric of Meath, as suffragans of the (now primatial) Archdiocese of Armagh
* It gained territory in 1160 from the suppressed Diocese of Duleek (cfr. supra)
* Title doubled in 1174 as Diocese of Clonard / Meath by newly elected bishop Eugene, the first to cal himself Bishop of (men of) Meath. Apparently Meath enjoyed an honorary "primatial" status amongst the suffragans in the province.
* Suppressed in 1202, its territory being reassigned to establish the persisting Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath, the episcopal see being transferred from Clonard to Trim(cfr. supra).

    No residential incumbents available

## Titular see

In 1969 the diocese was nominally restored as Latin Titular bishopric of Cluain Iraird (Curiate Italian) / Clonard / Clonerden(sis) (Latin adjective).

It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :

    BIOS TO ELABORATE
* René Toussaint, O.M.I. (1970.05.21 – 1976.07.23)
* Austin Bernard Vaughan (1977.05.24 – 2000.06.26)
* Michael Francis Burbidge (2002.06.21 – 2006.06.08)
* Timothy Costelloe, S.D.B. (later Archbishop) (2007.04.30 – 2012.02.20)
* (2014.06.14 – ...): Peter John Byrne, Auxiliary Bishop of New York (USA)
