| Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
| Meath | |
| Latin: | Dioecesis Midensis |
| Local: | Deoise na Mí |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Territory: | Most of counties Meath, Westmeath part of Offaly along with part of counties Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan. |
| Province: | Province of Armagh |
| Area Sqmi: | 1,977 |
| Population: | 303,000 |
| Population As Of: | 2013 |
| Catholics: | 267,831 |
| Catholics Percent: | 88.4 |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Rite: | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral: | Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar |
| Patron: | St Finian |
| Bishop: | Thomas Deenihan |
| Metro Archbishop: | Eamon Martin |
| Emeritus Bishops: | Michael Smith |
| Map: | Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath map.png |
| Website: | dioceseofmeath.ie |
The Diocese of Meath (la|Dioecesis Midensis; ga|Deoise na Mí) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church that is located in the middle part of Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Armagh. Thomas Deenihan has been bishop of the diocese since 2 September 2018.
Meath diocese covers most of counties Meath and Westmeath, part of Offaly along with part of counties Longford, Louth, Dublin and Cavan. The principal towns are Ashbourne, Bettystown, Drogheda, Dunboyne, Laytown, Kells, Mornington, Mullingar, Navan and Tullamore.
Although there had been abbot-bishops of Clonard since the sixth century, the diocese of Clonard proper was not formally established until 1111.[1] [2] [3] It was one of the twenty-four dioceses established by the Synod of Rathbreasail. The diocese covered roughly the western part of the Kingdom of Meath with the bishop's seat located at Clonard Abbey.
During the twelfth century the bishops of Clonard acquired most of Meath as their territory, and frequently used the title "bishop of Meath" or "bishop of the men of Meath". After Bishop Simon Rochfort transferred his seat from Clonard to Trim in 1202, the normal style became the "Bishop of Meath". From 1778 until the late 19th century it had its seat in Navan, County Meath.
Charles Stewart Parnell's relationship with Mrs Katharine O'Shea led to the Bishop of Meath having a letter read at masses in the diocese in condemnation of the relationship. As Parnell was popular, this caused a backlash which eventually led to the cathedral removing to Mullingar, County Westmeath permanently. The diocesan school, St. Finian's College also moved to Mullingar from Navan.
The diocesan cathedral is Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar, situated near the town centre.
See main article: Bishop of Meath. The following is a basic list of bishops of Meath since 1830:[4] [5]
The serving Vicars general as of 2020 are Declan Hurley, administrator of Navan parish and Joseph Gallagher, Parish priest of Tullamore.[7]