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Synod of Ráth Breasail

December 11, 2023

The Synod of Ráth Breasail (or Rathbreasail; Irish: Sionad Ráth Bhreasail) was a synod of the Catholic Church in Ireland that took place in Ireland in 1111.[1] It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and parish-based church. Many present-day Irish dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod.

Map of dioceses in medieval Ireland

Background edit

Viking raids on Ireland began around the start of the 9th century, and had a devastating effect on the Irish church. These disruptions, along with secular impositions by the invaders, produced a decline in Christian religious observance and the moral standards established by Saint Patrick and other early missionaries. Apathy towards these Christian teachings increased, causing many parts of Ireland to return to paganism by the 11th century, weakening Christianity's grasp on the populace.

Gradually, as the onslaughts of the Danes became less frequent, there was a revival of religious education, which prepared the way for the religious reforms of the 12th century.[2]

History edit

It was the second of four great reforming Irish synods; the other three were at Cashel (1101 and 1172), and Kells-Mellifont (1152). Rathbreasail is near Mountrath, County Laois, a suitably central place for such an important meeting, however, the location of the synod is not certain, and sites in counties Armagh, Laois, Tipperary and Cork have been suggested as possible locations. Ó Murchada (1999) argues in favour of a location near the townland of Clonbrassil about 4 miles southwest of Templemore, Co. Tipperary in the present-day parish of Drom & Inch.[3]

It was convened by the papal legate, Gille, Bishop of Limerick.[4] Gille is not mentioned in the Irish Annals, possibly because Limerick was then a Hiberno-Norse city. Its purpose was the Romanising of the Irish Church, and, in particular, the establishment of diocesan episcopacy.[2]

The synod was attended by no fewer than fifty bishops, three hundred priests and three thousand laymen, including King Murtough O'Brien. There were no representatives of the provinces of Connaught and Leinster, in which the Reform movement had not yet established itself.[2] The synod's deliberations were prompted by the Gregorian Reform and guided by the relatively new powers of the Papacy as defined in Dictatus papae (1075–87) and Libertas ecclesiae (1079).

The Council established two provinces: Armagh and Cashel. Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses. The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined, however. The synod also made the See of Waterford a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cashel having previously been a Danish city subject to Canterbury.

Dioceses established edit

The following 24 dioceses were established by the synod:

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 the Synod of Kells in 1152.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Diarmuid Ó Murchadha,Placename Material from Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn; ÉIGSE (2005) p. 93: http://www.nui.ie/eigse/pdf/vol35/eigse35.pdf
  2. ^ a b c Lawlor, H.J., St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh, The Macmillan Company, London, 1920
  3. ^ Ó Murchada (1999) "Where was Ráith Breasail?" in Tipperary Historical Journal
  4. ^ Fleming J., "Gille of Limerick, architect of a medieval church" Four Courts Press, Dublin 2001.

References edit

External links edit

  • The Dioceses of Ireland, Territorial History (Rootsweb)
  • Wexford Placename Project

December 11, 2023
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The Synod of Rath Breasail or Rathbreasail Irish Sionad Rath Bhreasail was a synod of the Catholic Church in Ireland that took place in Ireland in 1111 1 It marked the transition of the Irish church from a monastic to a diocesan and parish based church Many present day Irish dioceses trace their boundaries to decisions made at the synod Map of dioceses in medieval Ireland Contents 1 Background 2 History 3 Dioceses established 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBackground editViking raids on Ireland began around the start of the 9th century and had a devastating effect on the Irish church These disruptions along with secular impositions by the invaders produced a decline in Christian religious observance and the moral standards established by Saint Patrick and other early missionaries Apathy towards these Christian teachings increased causing many parts of Ireland to return to paganism by the 11th century weakening Christianity s grasp on the populace Gradually as the onslaughts of the Danes became less frequent there was a revival of religious education which prepared the way for the religious reforms of the 12th century 2 History editIt was the second of four great reforming Irish synods the other three were at Cashel 1101 and 1172 and Kells Mellifont 1152 Rathbreasail is near Mountrath County Laois a suitably central place for such an important meeting however the location of the synod is not certain and sites in counties Armagh Laois Tipperary and Cork have been suggested as possible locations o Murchada 1999 argues in favour of a location near the townland of Clonbrassil about 4 miles southwest of Templemore Co Tipperary in the present day parish of Drom amp Inch 3 It was convened by the papal legate Gille Bishop of Limerick 4 Gille is not mentioned in the Irish Annals possibly because Limerick was then a Hiberno Norse city Its purpose was the Romanising of the Irish Church and in particular the establishment of diocesan episcopacy 2 The synod was attended by no fewer than fifty bishops three hundred priests and three thousand laymen including King Murtough O Brien There were no representatives of the provinces of Connaught and Leinster in which the Reform movement had not yet established itself 2 The synod s deliberations were prompted by the Gregorian Reform and guided by the relatively new powers of the Papacy as defined in Dictatus papae 1075 87 and Libertas ecclesiae 1079 The Council established two provinces Armagh and Cashel Each province consisted of twelve territorial dioceses The boundaries of the dioceses were only vaguely defined however The synod also made the See of Waterford a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cashel having previously been a Danish city subject to Canterbury Dioceses established editThe following 24 dioceses were established by the synod Armagh Ardagh East Connacht Ardstraw territory of the Cenel nEogain excluding Inishowen Cashel Clogher Approximating to Kingdom of Ui Chremthainn Clonard West Meath Clonfert Territory of the Ui Maine Connor Territory of the Dal nAraidi Cong was named as one of the five dioceses for Connacht but no names of bishops have been recorded Cork Down Territory of the Dal Fiatach Duleek East Meath At the Synod of Uisneach convened by the abbot of Clonmacnoise later in 1111 the See of Duleek was suppressed West Meath was assigned to a new Diocese of Clonmacnoise and East Meath to Clonard It appears however that a number of bishops of Duleek were appointed before 1160 Elphin East Connacht Emly Ferns or Loch Garman Wexford Haven Glendalough Kildare Kilkenny subsequently renamed Ossory Territory of Osraige Killala Territory of the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe Killaloe Territory of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne Leighlin One of five dioceses for Leinster Limerick Raphoe Tir Conaill and Inis Eogain Ratass Territories of the Ciarraighe Corco Duibne and Eoganacht Locha Lein 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 1111The 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 the Synod of Kells in 1152 See also editGregorian ReformNotes edit Diarmuid o Murchadha Placename Material from Foras Feasa Ar Eirinn EIGSE 2005 p 93 http www nui ie eigse pdf vol35 eigse35 pdf a b c Lawlor H J St Bernard of Clairvaux s Life of St Malachy of Armagh The Macmillan Company London 1920 o Murchada 1999 Where was Raith Breasail in Tipperary Historical Journal Fleming J Gille of Limerick architect of a medieval church Four Courts Press Dublin 2001 References editPeter Galloway The Cathedrals of Ireland Belfast 1992 Geoffrey Keating Foras Feasa Book I II Geoffrey Keating http www ucc ie celt published G100054 text089 html The History of Ireland http www ucc ie celt published T100054 text090 html MacErlean John 1914 Synod of Raith Breasail Boundaries of the Dioceses of Ireland A D 1110 or 1118 Archivium Hibernicum Vol 3 1914 pp 1 33External links editThe Dioceses of Ireland Territorial History Rootsweb Wexford Placename Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Synod of Rath Breasail amp oldid 1184917719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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