The '''Synod of Rathbreasail''' took place in AD1111. It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and Parish-based church. Many Irish Roman_Catholic and Church_of_Ireland (protestant) dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod. The synod established two provinces, with archbishoprics at Armagh and Cashel. Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses. The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined, however. The synod also brought the existing see of Waterford, subject to Canterbury, under the authority of the Archbishop of Cashel. It was the third of four great reforming Irish Synods, the other three were at Cashel (1101), Kells (1152) and Cashel again (1172). ==Dioceses established== The following dioceses were established by the synod: *Armagh *Cashel *Ardagh: East Connacht *Ardstraw: Cehel Tír Eogain (except Inis Eogain) *Clogher: Approximating to Kingdom of Uí Chremthainn *Clonard: West Meath † *Clonfert: Territory of the Uí Maine *Connor: Territory of Dalriada *Cong was named as one of the five dioceses for Connacht, but no names of bishops have been recorded. *Cork *Down: Territory of Ulidia *Duleek: East Meath † *Elphin: East Connacht *Emly *Ferns *Glendalough *Kildare *Kilkenny (subsequently renamed Ossory): Territory of Osraige *Killala: Territory of the Uí Fiachrach *Killaloe: Territory of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne *Leighlin: One of five dioceses for Leinster *Limerick *Raphoe: Tír Conaill and Inis Eogain *Ratass: Territories of the Ciarraighe, Corco Duibne and Eoganacht Locha Léin (moved to Ardfert by 1117) *Tuam: One of five dioceses in Connacht *Diocese_of_Waterford: already in existence, but had been subject to the Archdiocese_of_Canterbury prior to 1111 The Diocese of Dublin acknowledged the jurisdiction of Canterbury until 1096, but was not included in the list of dioceses at the synod. It was not incorporated into the system of Irish dioceses until 1152. †At the Synod of Uisneach, convened by the abbot of Clonmacnaoise later in 1111, the See of Duleek was supressed, West Meath assigned to a new Diocese_of_Clonmacnaoise and East Meath to Clonard. It appears, however, that a number of Bishops of Duleek were appointed before 1160. ==References== *Peter Galloway, ''The Cathedrals of Ireland'', Belfast 1992 ==External Links== *The Dioceses of Ireland, Territorial History (Rootsweb) Category:1111 Category:History_of_Ireland Category:Religion_in_Ireland