Diocese of Ossory - Catholic Parishes

Diocese of Ossory - Catholic Parishes Maps Diocese of Ossory
County Kilkenny Ireland Genealogy

1: Aghaboe (Laois)

2: Aghaviller (once part of Ballyhale)

3: Ballycallan (once called Kilmanagh)

4: Ballyhale

5: Ballyragget (united with Donaghmore)

6: Borris-in-Ossory (Laois)

7: Callan

8: Camross (Laois)

9: Castlecomer

10: Castletown (Laois)

11: not assigned

12: Clara (once part of Gowran)

13: Clogh (once part of Castlecomer)

14: Conahy

15: Danesfort

16: Dunamaggan

17: Durrow (Laois)

18: Ferrybank (part of Slieverue)

19: Freshford

20: Galmoy (once part of Erke)

21: Glenmore (once part of Slieverue)

22: Gowran

23: Inistioge

24: Johnstown (once part of Erke)

25: Kilmacow

26: Lisdowney

27: Mooncoin (once called Rathkieran)

28: Muckalee

29: Mullinavat (once part of Kilmacow)

30: Rathdowney (Laois)

31: Rosbercon

32: Seir Keiran (Offaly)

33: St. Canice's

34: St. John's

35: St. Mary's

36: St. Patrick's

37: Slieverue

38: Templeorum (once called Fiddown)

39: Thomastown

40: Tullaherin (once part of Thomastown)

41: Tullaroan (once part of Freshford)

42: Urlingford

43: Windgap (once called Killamery).

(Click on map for County Kilkenny parish records)
(Also view the more detailed parish maps)
Areas within County Kilkenny, but not in the Diocese of Ossory.

44: part of Doonane, diocese of Leighlin

45: part of Gortnahoe, diocese of Cashel

46: Graignamanagh, diocese of Leighlin

47: Grangesilvia (now Paulstown and Goresbridge), diocese of Leighlin

48: part of Leighlinbridge, diocese of Leighlin

See the Diocese of Ossory home page
Read about the history of the Diocese of Ossory
Read about the history of County Kilkenny
Read about the history of the kingdom of Ossory
Ecclesiatical Districts - 14th & 15th centuries
Geographic description of Catholic parishes - early 20th century

Historical Reference:

Prior to the Reformation, there were about 130 parishes in the Diocese of Ossory, according to Rev. Carrigan.
In 1669 Newtown, or roughly the Civil Parish of Earlstown, was a separate Catholic parish, and became part of Callan after that.
In 1669 Mooncoin and Fiddown were united as the Catholic parish of Fiddown, and were divided again by 1692. Fiddown later became known as Templeorum catholic parish.
In 1700 there were 23 Catholic parishes in County Kilkenny.
In 1751 the large and ancient parish of Castlecomer was divided into Castlecomer and Muckalee.
In 1761 and 1776 the division of the large parish of Kilmacow into two parts, Kilmacow and Rossinan, was of brief duration.
In 1762 the large parish of Ballyragget was divided, placing Ballyouskill with the parish of Durrow. In 1764 Ballyouskill was made a separate parish. By 1766 it was again united to Ballyragget.
In 1781 the townland of Rathgarry was removed from Castlecomer and united with the parish of Ballinakill.
In 1784 the townlands of Grigueooly and Great Oak were united to the parish of Kilmanagh (aka Ballycallan).
In 1800 there were 29 parishes in the Diocese of Ossory.
In 1826 the parish of Windgap was made a distinct Catholic parish, originally comprising the Civil Parishes of Killamery, Tullahought and one-third of Kilmoganny, formerly part of the Catholic parishes of Killamery and part of Dunamaggan.
In 1831 the parish of Clough was first formed, from the townlands of Aghatubrid otherwise Chatsworth, Clough, Cloneen, Coolaleen, Crutt, Kill, Tourtane and Mooneenroe, formerly part of Castlecomer Catholic parish. In 1840 the townlands of Gorteen and Moonteen were annexed from Muckalee.
The parish of Conahy was developed from cuttings from Ballyragget (1832) and Muckalee (1840) parishes.
In 1839 the townlands of Gorteenahyla and Ballylehaun were taken from Galmoy (aka Erke, or Johnstown) and added to Lisdowney.
In 1840 the townland of Inchakill, in the civil parish of Mayne, was taken from Conahy and added to the Catholic parish of Muckalee.
In 1840 the following townlands were taken from Muckalee and added to the Catholic parish of Castlecomer: Ballycomey, Ballyhimmin, Clashduff, Clashduff Upper and Lower, Aghamucky, Dromgoole, Smithstown, the remainder of Coolbawn, and about 300 acres of the west of Cruttenclogh.
About 1842 Mullinavat was made a distinct Catholic parish, originally comprising of the civil parishes of Kilbeacon, Killahy and Rossinan, and formerly part of Kilmacow Catholic parish. In 1946 the townslands of Clonassy, Listrolin and Rochestown were annexed from Mooncoin.
In 1843 Tullaroan was made a distinct Catholic parish, formerly part of Freshford Catholic parish.
In 1846-7 Glenmore was made a distinct Catholic parish, formerly part of Slieverue Catholic parish.
In 1847 Tullaherin was made a distinct Catholic parish, formerly part of Thomastown Catholic parish. At that time Tullaherin did not include the Chapel of Bennettsbridge or that area of the parish north of the Gowran Road. These were added from Danesfort in 1857 to form the parish of today.
In September, 1847, Ballyhale was made a distinct Catholic parish, formerly part of Aghavillar Catholic parish.
In May, 1851, the townland of Killashoolan and part of Barna were taken from Galmoy (aka Erke, or Johnstown) and added to Freshford Catholic parish.
About 1852 the Catholic parish of Clara was created from the old Catholic parish of Gowran.
In 1861 the Catholic parishes of Galmoy and Johnstown were created from the old Catholic parish of Erke (also called either the parish of Galmoy or the parish of Johnstown, depending on the period).
In 1873 the following townlands were taken from Muckalee and added to Castlecomer: Knocknadoge and part of Banse (east of Dysart Bridge).
In 1910 there were 41 Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Ossory. View this link for a geographic description of each parish.
In 1970 Ferrybank was made a distinct Catholic parish, formerly part of Slieverue Catholic parish.
In 2001 there were 42 Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Ossory, which included Aghaboe, Aghaviller, Ballycallan, Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Borris-in-Ossory, Callan, Camross, Castlecomer, Castletown, Clara, Clogh, Conahy, Danesfort, Dunamaggan, Durrow, Ferrybank, Freshford, Galmoy, Glenmore, Gowran, Inistioge, Johnstown, Kilmacow, Lisdowney, Mooncoin, Muckalee, Mullinavat, Rathdowney, Rosbercon, St. Canice's, St. John's, St. Mary's, St. Patrick's, Seir Kieran, Slieverue, Templeorum, Thomastown, Tullaherin, Tullaroan, Urlingford and Windgap.

Further Reference:

Catholic Records:

Catholic Parish Map

Civil Parishes:

Administrative Divisions

County Kilkenny Home Page

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