Papers relating to the metropolitan provinces of Cashel, Dublin and Tuam (in their pre-1833 definition, minus Elphin).

The significance of the yeare 1833 as a watershed, and the subtraction of the diocese of Elphin, require initial explanation.

Under the terms of the Church Temporalities Act of 1833, the archbishopric of Tuam was due to be reduced from the status of a bishopric on the death of its then incumbent (which took place in 1839). From 1839, the metropolitan provinces of Armagh and Tuam became merged, with Primate Lord John George Beresford and his successors as Archbishops of Armagh becoming metropolitans of the combined provinces. In 1841, again under the Church Temporalities Act and following the death of the current incumbent, the bishopric of Elphin was merged with that of Kilmore and Ardagh (itself representing a merger of an earlier date). At the same time Elphin became part of the metropolitan province of Armagh , having previously been part of Tuam. However, the basis on which the records were compiled makes it necessary to treat Elphin as if it had been part of Armagh the whole time.

Cashel, Emly, Lismore and Waterford
The papers relating to the archdiocese of Cashel (which became a diocese after 1833) and the dioceses of Emly, Lismore and Waterford, all in the metropolitan province of Cashel, run - with many gaps - from 1629-1945, and mainly comprise formal documents, apart from letters to and from Sir Richard Nagle about Tallow church, Co. Waterford, 1689, and a letter from Nathaniel Foy, Bishop of Waterford, to William King, Bishop of Derry, 1697.

Aghadoe, Ardfert and Limerick
Papers relating to these three dioceses, also in the metropolitan province of Cashel, are few and far between and fall within the period c.1700-1960.

Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Papers relating to the dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, also in the province of Cashel, include a licence to consecrate the Bishop of Cloyne, 1638, and a licence to consecrate the Bishops of both Cork and Clonfert, 1722.

Killaloe, Clonfert, Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh
Papers relating to these dioceses, in the metropolitan province of Tuam, run - with many gaps - from 1772 to 1962, and include a visitation return for Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, 1850.

Dublin, Kildare and Glendalough
Papers relating to the archdiocese of Dublin and the dioceses of Kildare and Glendalough, all in the metropolitan province of Dublin, are more numerous and date from 1240, 1424, 1586, 1605 and 1660-1969.

They include papers about St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and its cathedral functionaries, among them: two copies of Archbishop Luke's grant of the tithes of Stillorgan to the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity, 1240; a copy of a paper about the tithes of fish payable to the Church of the Holy Trinity, 1424; a copy of King James I's charter to the Church of the Holy Trinity, 1605; a list of 'Prebends of St Patrick's church seized', 1689; a legal case paper about the tithes of Stillorgan, [c.1760]; and a petition from the Dean and Chapter against the proposed transfer of Marsh's Library to the new National Gallery of Ireland, [c.1865].

There are also papers about Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and its cathedral functionaries, including: rentals and other papers about the income of the deanery of Christ Church and bishopric of Kildare (which were held in commendam), 1660-1746 and 1807; legal case papers about the claims of the Archdeacon of Christ Church, 1809-1810; and papers of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners about the precentorship of Christ Church, 1836.

Papers about individual parishes in Dublin, Kildare and Glendalough are as follows: Swords, Malahide, etc, 1761; St Thomas's, Dublin, 1762; Kilcullen, 1774; St Andrew's, [Dublin?], 1780-1784; Wicklow, 1828; and Rathfarnham, 1967.

There are also papers of Primate Lord John George Beresford, who was Archbishop of Dublin, 1820-1822, before his translation to the primacy, 1802, 18201-1822 and 1824, mainly concerning compensation paid by archbishops of Dublin to the representatives of their predecessors for money spent on improving the palace at Tallaght, the see house in St Stephen's Green, etc, and in building a courthouse and marshalsea in the parish of St Sepulchre's.

Ferns, Leighlin and Ossory
The papers relating to the dioceses of Ferns, Leighlin and Ossory, all in the metropolitan province of Dublin, fall within in the years 1675-1938 and are all formal or very miscellaneous in content.

Tuam, Achonry and Killala
There are a few papers relating to Tuam, Achonry and Killala prior to 1839, when they became part of the metropolitan province of Armagh and so fell to be visited by the Archbishop of Armagh. These are dated 1757, c.1780 and 1808. With these exceptions, papers in this section consist of formal documents about the election and enthronement of Bishops of the (by then) united dioceses of Tuam, Achonry and Killala, 1866-1970, and visitation returns and other visitation papers, 1850, 1853, 1862, 1865 and 1868.

 

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