Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
diocese of the Catholic Church in Ireland
The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Irish: Deoise na Gaillimhe, Chill Mhic Duaich agus Chill Fhionnúrach) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in the west of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam. The deanery of Kilfenora, previously a diocese in its own right, lies in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. The ordinary is Bishop Michael Duignan who was appointed on 11 February 2022.
Geographic remit
The geographic remit of the see includes the City of Galway, parts of the county of Galway and the northern coastal part of County Clare. Large population centres include Ennistymon, Oranmore and Oughterard. The cathedral church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas.
Ecclesiastical history
The diocese has its origins in the ancient monastery of Kilmacduagh and the Wardenship of Galway (1484–1831). Following the abolition of the Wardenship (see Edmund Ffrench) by the Holy See in 1831, the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Galway was appointed in the same year.
In 1866, Bishop John McEvilly of Galway was made Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.
The public source identifies “Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora” as diocese of the Catholic Church in Ireland. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Roman, Catholic and Diocese.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora”, the useful work is to connect “diocese of the Catholic Church in Ireland” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 21, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q655559. VIAF identifies the subject as 315945155. 2 of 3 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2022, 1484, 1831 and 1866.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora primary sources, Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora archive and Roman research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora”?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.