Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry

On 13 April 1834, the diocese of Killala and Achonry was united to the Archdiocese of Tuam. On the death of Archbishop Trench of Tuam in 1839, the Province of Tuam was united to the Province of Armagh and the see ceased to be an archbishopric and became a bishopric with Thomas Plunket becoming the first bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. Coat of arms In November 2012, the Chief Herald of Ireland confirmed the following as the arms of the united diocese: Azure beneath three Gothic arches as many figures or their hands faces and feet proper, in the middle the Blessed Virgin holding upon her left arm the Child their heads circled in glory on her dexter side a bishop pontifically vested his dexter hand raised in benediction the sinister hand holding a crozier bendwise and on her sinister an angel the head circled of the second the dexter arm elevated and beneath the sinister arm a lamb of the third impaled with Gules a pastoral staff or surmounted of an open book proper. The two coats of arms recorded in the records of Ulster King of Arms for the dioceses of Tuam and Killala are impaled, or placed side to side, on the shield. ==Cathedrals==

The bishop had two episcopal seats (Cathedra): • St. Mary's Cathedral, Tuam • St. Patrick's Cathedral, Killala. St. Crumnathy's Cathedral, Achonry was deconsecrated in 1998 and is now used for ecumenical events. ==Parishes==

Prior to its amalgamation, the diocese was divided into unions (or groups) of parishes. Achonry Union: • St. George's Church, Tubbercurry • Rathbarron Church Aughaval Group: • Holy Trinity Church, Achill Sound • Christ Church, Castlebar • St. Thomas' Church, Dugort • St. Thomas' Church, Knappagh • Turlough Church • Holy Trinity Church, Westport Ballisodare Union: • Holy Trinity Church, Ballisodare • St. Paul's Church, Colloney • Ballymote, Emlaghfad Galway & Kilcummin: • St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway • Kilcummin Church, Oughterard Killala Union: • St. John's Church, Ballycastle • St. Mary's Church, Crossmolina • St. Patricks Cathedral, Killala Kilmoremoy Union: • St. Michael's, Ballina • Killanley Church, Castleconnor • St. Anne's Easkey • Straid Church, Foxford • Kilglass Church Omey Union: • Christ Church, Clifden • Holy Trinity Church, Errislannan • St. Thomas' Church, Moyard • St. Mary's Church, Roundstone Skreen Union: • Christ Church, Dromard • St. Mary's Church, Kilmacshalgan • Skreen Church Tuam Union: • St. John the Baptist's Church, Aasleagh • St. Mary's Church, Cong • St. Mary's Cathedral, Tuam ==List of bishops==

• Hon. Thomas Plunket (1839–1866) • Hon. Charles Brodrick Bernard (1867–1890) • James O'Sullivan (1890–1913) • Hon. Benjamin John Plunket (1913–1919) • Arthur Edwin Ross (1920–1923) • John Orr (1923–1927) • John Mason Harden (1928–1931) • William Hardy Holmes (1932–1938) • John Winthrop Crozier (1939–1957) • Arthur Hamilton Butler (1958–1969) • John Coote Duggan (1970–1985) • John Robert Winder Neill (1986–1997) • Richard Crosbie Aitken Henderson (1998–2011) • Patrick William Rooke (2011–2021) ==Archdeacons==

Reflecting a history of amalgamations within the diocese, the role of diocesan archdeacon changed over time. Stephen J. McWhirter was Archdeacon for Tuam, Killala and Achonry from 2017. In 2022 (coinciding with the diocese's amalgamation into the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe), McWhirter became incumbent of Rossorry Parish, Enniskillen. ==See also==