The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
History Until the early twelfth century, the Kingdom of Meath had been divided into eight small monastic episcopal sees, which were located at Clonard, Duleek, Kells, Trim, Ardbraccan, Dunshaughlin, Slane, and Fore. By the time of the Synod of Rathbreasail, held in 1111, the last five had been united to the see of Clonard. Duleek was still recognized as a separate bishopric at the Synod of Kells, held in 1152, but disappeared not long after that date. The see of Kells was ruled together with Breifne (later Kilmore) in the second half of the twelfth century, but after 1211 Kells was incorporated into the diocese of Meath.
During the twelfth century, the bishops of Clonard were frequently called the "bishop of Meath" or "bishop of the men of Meath." Bishop Simon Rochfort transferred his seat from Clonard to Trim in 1202 and the title "bishop of Meath" became the normal style.
Following the Reformation, there were two parallel apostolic successions. In the Church of Ireland, the bishopric of Clonmacnoise became part of Meath in 1569. In 1976, the bishoprics of Meath and Kildare were combined to become the united bishopric of Meath and Kildare.
Alone of English and Irish Anglican bishops, the bishop is styled "The Most Reverend", for historical reasons.
In the Catholic Church, Meath is still a separate title. The Catholic bishop's seat is located at Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar. The current bishop is the Most Reverend Thomas Deenihan Bishop of Meath, who succeeded to the title on 18 June 2018.
Pre-Reformation bishops
Bishops of Clonard
Diocesan Bishops of ClonardFromUntilOrdinaryNotes bef. 1096 1117 Máel Muire Ua DúnáinConsecrated a monastic bishop at Clonard Abbey before 1096. Became the first diocesan bishop of Clonard when the diocese was established in 1111. Died in office on 24 December 1117. 1133 1140 Eochaid Ua CellaigAlso known as Eochaid O'Kelly. Became bishop before 11 November 1133 and styled as the bishop of the men of Meath. Died in office. bef. 1152 1173 Étrú Ua MiadacháinAlso known as Eleuzerius or Eleutherius. Present at the Synod of Kells in 1152. Died in office. bef. 1177 1191 Echthigern Mac Máel ChiaráinAlso known as Eugenius. Became bishop before March 1177, and at first styled bishop of Cluain-irairt (Clonard), but subsequently adopted the title bishop of Meath. Died in office. 1192 1224 Simon RochfortElected in 1192. Died in office before August 1224. After the Episcopal see was transferred from Clonard to Newtown near Trim by Bishop Simon Rochfort in 1202, the title "Bishop of Meath" became the normal style. Source(s):, The Province of Ulster, p. 111., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 339, 367–368., Maps, Genealogies, Lists, p. 285., History of the Diocese of Meath, p. 61-62.
Bishops of Meath Pre-Reformation Bishops of MeathFromUntilOrdinaryNotes 1224 1226 Dónán Dé (bishop-elect)Also known as Deodatus. Elected in August 1224, but was not consecrated. Died after 21 October 1226. 1227 1230 Ralph PetitFormerly Archdeacon of Meath. Elected before 30 March 1227 and received possession of the temporalities on that date. Died in office circa 28 September 1230. 1231 1252 Richard de la CornerFormerly a canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Elected and consecrated in 1231. Died in office before 29 June 1252. 1253 Geoffrey Cusack, O.F.M.Elected and consecrated before July 1253. Resigned in July 1253 and died before October 1254. 1254 1282 Hugo of TaghmonReceived possession of the temporalities on 23 December 1252, confirmed by Pope Innocent IV on 31 October 1254, and consecrated after June 1255. Also was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. Died in office before 30 January 1282. bef. 1283 1286 Walter de FulburnAppointed by Archbishop Nicol of Armagh, elected and consecrated before January 1283, however, Fulburn but did not get possession of the see. Translated to Waterford on 12 July 1286. 1286 1320 Thomas St LegerFormerly Archdeacon of Kells. Elected before 5 November 1282, but was not successful and took his claim to Rome where eventually appointed by Pope Honorius IV on 12 July 1286. Consecrated on 3 November 1287. Died in office in December 1320. 1321 1327 Seoán Mac CearbaillAlso known as John MacCarwill or O'Carroll. Translated from Cork on 20 February 1321 and received possession of the temporalities on 23 June 1322. Translated to Cashel on 19 January 1327. 1327 1349 William of St Paul, O.Carm.Appointed on 16 February 1327, consecrated circa the same month, and received possession of the temporalities on 24 July 1327. Died in office in July 1349. 1349 1352 William St LegerFormerly Archdeacon of Meath. Appointed on 5 October 1349, received possession of the temporalities on 24 February 1350, and consecrated on 2 May 1350. Died in office on 24 August 1352. 1353 1367 Nicholas Allen, O.S.A.Elected before 9 January 1353 and appointed on that date, consecrated on 31 January 1353, and received possession of the temporalities on 15 March 1353. Died in office on 15 January 1367. 1369 1379 Stephen de ValleAlso known as Stephen Wall. Translated from Limerick on 19 February 1369, received possession of the temporalities on 15 February 1370 and again on 6 September 1373. Died in office on 10 November 1379. 1380 1385 William Andrew, O.P.Translated from Achonry in 1380 and received possession of the temporalities on 12 November 1380. Acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Canterbury 1380. Died in office on 28 September 1385. 1386 1400 Alexander PetitAlso known as Alexander de Balscot. Translated from Ossory on 10 March 1386. Died in office on 10 November 1400. 1401 1412 Robert MontayneAppointed on 7 February and consecrated before 13 September 1401. Died in office on 24 May 1412. 1412 1430 Edward DantseyAppointed on 31 August 1412 and received possession of the temporalities on 11 April 1413. Died in office on 4 January 1430. 1430 1433 William HadsorAppointed on 29 May 1430. Died in office on 28 May 1433. 1433 1450 William SilkElected before 30 August 1433, appointed on 22 September 1434, and consecrated after 14 October 1434. Died in office on 9 May 1450. 1450 1459 Edmund Oldhall, O.Carm.Appointed on 7 August 1450. Died in office on 9 (or 29) August 1459. 1460 1482 William SherwoodAppointed on 26 March 1460. Died in office on 3 December 1482. 1483 1507 John Payne, O.P.Appointed on 17 March 1483, received possession of the temporalities on 16 July 1483, and consecrated before 4 August 1483. Died in office on 6 May 1507. 1507 1512 William RokebyAppointed on 28 May 1507. Translated to Dublin on 28 January 1512. 1512 1523 Hugh Inge, O.P.Appointed on 28 January 1512. Translated to Dublin on 27 February 1523. 1523 1529 Richard Wilson, O.S.A.Appointed on 27 February 1523. Resigned before September 1529. Source(s):, The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, volume 1, pp. 233–235., The Province of Ulster, pp. 111–115., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 367–369., Maps, Genealogies, Lists, pp. 285–286.
Bishops during the Reformation Bishops of Meath during the ReformationFromUntilOrdinaryNotes 1529 1554 Edward StaplesAppointed by Pope Clement VII on 3 September 1529. Accepted royal supremacy in 1536, although no action was taken against him by Pope Paul III. Deprived by Queen Mary I on 29 June 1554 and died circa 1560. 1554 1560–77 William Walsh, O.Cist.Appointed by Cardinal Pole on 22 November 1554. Deprived of the Church of Ireland temporalities by Queen Elizabeth I in 1560. In the Roman Catholic Church, his appointment by Cardinal Pole was confirmed in a consistory on 6 September 1564. Died in exile in Spain on 4 January 1577. Source(s):, The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, volume 1, pp. 234–238., The Province of Ulster, p. 115., Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 369, 402, and 439.
Post-Reformation bishops
Church of Ireland succession