Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin


The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in eastern Ireland. It is one of three suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin. On 7 May 2013, Denis Nulty was appointed bishop of the diocese.

Geographic remit

The united diocese includes virtually all of County Carlow, most of County Kildare and parts of counties Offaly, Laois, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow. The largest towns in the diocese are Carlow, Edenderry, Kildare, Naas, Newbridge, Portarlington and Portlaoise.

History

These two dioceses continued to be separate from their foundation until 1678, when, owing to the extreme tenuity of the episcopal revenues, the bishopric of Leighlin was given in commendam by the Holy See to the Bishop of Kildare. The Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the town of Carlow.
Today, with the help of enthusiastic lay people, the diocese is actively engaged in nurturing the faith of local youth. A key example of this is its involvement in the John Paul II Awards. The award was launched by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Giuseppe Lazzarotto on 7 November 2006 in the Diocese of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is dedicated to Pope John Paul II due to the strong beliefs and confidence he had in the youth of the world today.

Deaneries and parishes

The united Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is divided into seven deaneries, each divided into a number of parishes or group parishes.
DioceseDeaneryParishes or Group Parishes
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of BorrisBorris
Graignamanagh
Leighlin
Bagenalstown
Myshall
Paulstown
St. Mullin's
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of CarlowArless
Askea
Bennekerry
Carlow Cathedral
Doonane
Graiguecullen
Tinryland
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of KildareAllen
Balyna
Carbury
Curragh Camp
Kildare
Monasterevin
Rathangan
Suncroft
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of NaasCaragh
Clane
Cooleragh & Staplestown
Kilcock
Kill
Naas
Newbridge
Sallins
Two Mile House
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of PortarlingtonClonaslee
Clonbullogue
Daingean
Edenderry
Emo
Killeigh
Mountmellick
Portarlington
Rhode
Rosenallis
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of PortlaoiseAbbeyleix
Ballinakill
Ballyadams
Ballyfin
Mountrath
Portlaoise
Raheen
Stradbally
Diocese of
Kildare and Leighlin
Deanery of TullowBallon
Baltinglass
Clonegal
Clonmore
Rathvilly
Hacketstown
Tullow

Ordinaries

The following is a basic list of the Bishops of Kildare and Leighlin.