# Bishop of Ferns

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Episcopal title of Ireland

Bishop of Ferns Bishopric catholic Coat of arms Incumbent Gerard Nash Since 11 June 2021 Style Your Grace Location Country Ireland Information First holder Ceallach Ua Colmáin Established Early 12th century Cathedral St. Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy Website ferns.ie

- [Christianity portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianity)

The **Bishop of Ferns** ([Irish](/source/Irish_language): *Easpag Fhearna*)[1] is an [episcopal](/source/Episcopal_polity) title which takes its name after the village of [Ferns](/source/Ferns%2C_County_Wexford) in [County Wexford](/source/County_Wexford), [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland). In the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) it remains a separate title, but in the [Church of Ireland](/source/Church_of_Ireland) it has been united with other bishoprics.

## History

The diocese of Ferns or Loch Garman was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the [Synod of Rathbreasail](/source/Synod_of_Rathbreasail) in 1111. Subsequently, the centre of the diocese was located at Ferns due to the influence of [Diarmaid mac Murchadha](/source/Diarmaid_mac_Murchadha).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] It comprised roughly the ancient territory of the [Uí Cheinnselaig](/source/U%C3%AD_Cheinnselaig) with the bishop's seat ([cathedra](/source/Cathedra)) located at [Ferns Cathedral](/source/Ferns_Cathedral). During the later medieval period the church at [New Ross](/source/New_Ross) enjoyed quasi-cathedral status.[2][3]

Following the [Reformation](/source/Reformation_in_Ireland), there are parallel [apostolic successions](/source/Apostolic_succession). In the [Church of Ireland](/source/Church_of_Ireland), Ferns was united with [Leighlin](/source/Bishop_of_Leighlin) in 1597 to form the [bishopric of Ferns and Leighlin](/source/Bishop_of_Ferns_and_Leighlin).[4][5]

In the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church), the bishopric of Ferns continues as a separate title.[6][7] The current Incumbent is the Most Reverend [Gerard Nash](/source/Gerard_Nash_(bishop)), Bishop of the [Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ferns), who was [appointed](/source/Appointment_of_Catholic_bishops) by the [Holy See](/source/Holy_See) on 11 June 2021 and was [ordained bishop](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on 5 September 2021.

## Pre-Reformation bishops

List of pre-Reformation Bishops of Ferns[2][3] From Until Incumbent Notes unknown 1117 Ceallach Ua Colmáin Died in office unknown 1125 Máel Eoin Ua Dúnacaín May have been bishop of Ferns or Leighlin, but was called bishop of Uí Chennselaig in the Annals of the Four Masters; died in office at Leighlin fl. 1161–62 1182 Joseph Ua h-Áeda Known to be bishop around 1160 and 1161; died in office c.1186 1223 Ailbe Ua Maíl Mhuaidh, O.Cist. Formerly Abbot of Baltinglass; elected bishop circa 1186; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of Winchester in 1201 and 1214; died 1 January 1223; also known as Albinus, Albin O'Mooley and Alpin O'Moelmhuaidh 1223 1253 John of St John Formerly Treasurer of Limerick; elected before 6 July 1223 and consecrated before 2 April 1224; died before October 1253. He was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland for many years 1254 1258 Geoffrey of St John Formerly Treasurer of Limerick; elected before March 1254; received possession of the temporalities after 16 March 1254; died before May 1258; he was possibly brother of the previous bishop 1258 1282 Hugh of Lamport Formerly Treasurer of Ferns Cathedral; elected before 11 July 1258; received possession of the temporalities 27 September 1258; died 15 May 1282 1282 1304 Richard of Northampton Formerly a Canon of Killaloe and Dean of Ferns; elected 28 July 1282; received possession of the temporalities 13 October 1282; consecrated in 1283; died 13 January 1304 and buried in Ferns Cathedral 1304 Simon of Evesham Elected after 12 March 1304; consecrated 22 June 1304; died 1 September 1304 1305 1311 Robert Walrand Elected after 14 February 1305; consecrated after 13 April 1305; died 17 November 1311 1312 1346 Adam of Northampton Elected before 14 March 1312; received possession of the temporalities 14 March 1312; consecrated 18 June 1312; died 29 October 1346 1347 Hugh of Saltu Formerly a Canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; elected before 10 March and consecrated 8 April 1347, but was deprived of the see later in the same year; also known as Hugh of Leixlip 1347 1348 Geoffrey Grandfield, O.E.S.A. Appointed 5 March and consecrated at Avignon in June 1347; received possession of the temporalities 15 November 1347; died of the plague 22 October 1348; also known as Geoffrey Grosseld 1349 John Esmond Elected and consecrated in 1349, but did not get possession of the see due to a prior papal reservation; deprived in the same year; later successively appointed Bishop of Emly on 28 February 1356 1350 1362 William Carnells, O.P. Appointed 19 April and consecrated 1350; received possession of the temporalities 15 October 1350; also was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland; died in July 1362 1363 1400 Thomas Dene Formerly Archdeacon of Ferns; appointed bishop before 15 April and consecrated 18 June 1363; received possession of the temporalities 27 August 1363; died 27 August 1400 1400 1415 Patrick Barrett, O.S.A. Formerly a Canon of Kells Priory; appointed 10 December 1400 and consecrated in the same month; received possession of the temporalities 11 April 1401; also was Lord Chancellor of Ireland; died 10 November 1415 1418 1457 Robert Whittey Formerly Precentor of Ferns Cathedral; appointed 16 February 1418; excused from further attendance at the Irish Parliament or the Privy Council in 1450, on account of his great age and infirmity; resigned 5 October 1457; died 1458 1451 Tadhg O'Beirn, O.S.A. Appointed 8 October 1451, but did not take effect 1457 1479 John Purcell I Appointed 4 October 1457; died before October 1479 1479 1503 Laurence Neville Formerly a Canon of Ferns; appointed 26 October 1479 and received possession of the temporalities 20 May 1480; died 1503 1505 1509 Edmund Comerford Formerly Dean of Kilkenny; consecrated at Ferns Cathedral in 1505; died 15 April 1509 1510 1519 Nicholas Comyn Appointed bishop before 20 January 1510 and consecrated at St Paul's Cathedral, London on that date; translated to Waterford and Lismore in 1519 1519 1539 John Purcell II Appointed 13 April and consecrated at Rome 6 May 1519; died 20 July 1539

## Post-Reformation bishops

### Church of Ireland succession

List of Church of Ireland Bishops of Ferns[4][5] From Until Incumbent Notes 1539 1566 Alexander Devereux [A] Last Abbot of Dunbrody; elected bishop by the dean and chapter in 1539 and confirmed by King Henry VIII; consecrated at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin 14 December 1539; died in Fethard-on-Sea before 19 August 1566 1566 1578 John Devereux Dean of Ferns; nominated 10 October and appointed by letters patent 19 October 1566; died in 1578 and was buried at St Mary's Church in Wexford 1579 (James Proctor) Appointed by letters patent 11 April 1579, but died before consecration 1579 1582 See vacant 1582 1597 Hugh Allen Translated from Down and Connor; appointed by letters patent 24 May 1582; became Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin when the two dioceses where united in 1597. In 1597, the Church of Ireland see became part of the united bishopric of Ferns and Leighlin

### Roman Catholic succession

List of Roman Catholic Bishops of Ferns[6][7][8] From Until Incumbent Notes 1539 1541 See vacant 1541 Bernard Ó Dónaill, O.F.M Appointed 30 March 1541; translated to Elphin 3 June 1541 1541 1542 Gabriel de S. Serio, O.S.B. Translated from Elphin 3 June 1541; died 5 May 1542 unknown 1566 Alexander Devereux [B] Appointed by King Henry VIII in 1539, but was not deprived in the reign of Queen Mary I; died in Fethard-on-Sea before 19 August 1566 1566 1582 See vacant 1582 1587 Peter Power Appointed 27 April 1582; died 1587 1587 1607 See vacant 1607 unknown Daniel Drihin Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 17 November 1607 1624 1636 John Roche (bishop) Appointed 29 April 1624; died 9 April 1636 1636 1645 See vacant 1645 1678 Nicholas French Appointed 6 February and consecrated 23 November 1645; also appointed auxiliary bishop of Santiago de Compostela 1652–1666, Paris 1666–1668, and Ghent 1668–1678; died 23 August 1678 1678 1683/84 See vacant 1683/84 1687 Luke Wadding Appointed coadjutor bishop of Ferns on 12 May 1671, but did not accept the post until late 1672; consecrated bishop of Ferns, probably in June 1683; died 1687[9] 1687 1697 See vacant 1697 1709 Michael Rossiter Appointed 1 July 1697; possibly died 1709 1709 1728 John Verdon Appointed 14 September 1709; died circa 1728 1729 1744 Ambrose Ó Ceallacháin, O.F.M. Appointed 26 September 1729; died 8 August 1744 1745 1786 Nicholas Sweetman Appointed 25 January 1745; died 19 October 1786 1786 1814 James Caulfield Appointed coadjutor bishop 26 February and consecrated 7 July 1782; succeeded 19 October 1786; died 14 January 1814 1814 1819 Patrick Ryan Appointed coadjutor bishop 2 October 1804 and consecrated 2 February 1805; succeeded 14 January 1814; died 9 March 1819 1819 1849 James Keatinge Appointed coadjutor bishop 6 December 1818; succeeded 9 March and consecrated 21 March 1819; died 7 September 1849 1849 1856 Myles Murphy Appointed 19 November 1849 and consecrated 10 March 1850; died 13 August 1856 1857 1875 Thomas Furlong Appointed 9 January and consecrated 22 March 1857; died 12 November 1875 1876 1884 Michael Warren Appointed 13 or 14 March and consecrated 7 May 1876; resigned 22 April 1884; died 22 April 1885 1884 1917 James Browne Appointed 6 or 8 July and consecrated 14 September 1884; died 21 June 1917 1917 1938 William Codd Appointed 7 December 1917 and consecrated 25 February 1918; died 12 March 1938 1938 1963 James Staunton Appointed 10 December 1938 and consecrated 5 February 1939; died 26 or 27 June 1963 1964 1983 Donal Herlihy Appointed 30 October and consecrated 15 November 1964; died 2 April 1983 1984 2002 Brendan Oliver Comiskey, SS.CC. Formerly auxiliary bishop of Dublin 1979–1984; appointed bishop of Ferns 4 or 11 April 1984; resigned 6 April 2002 2006 2021 Denis Brennan Appointed 1 March and consecrated 23 April 2006; retired 11 June 2021.[10][11] 2021 present Gerard Nash Appointed 11 June and consecrated 5 September 2021.[11]

## Notes

- [**A**](#ref_Note1A) [**B**](#ref_Note1B) Alexander Devereux was bishop of both successions.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ainm_1-0)** ["WADDING, Luke (1588–1657)"](http://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=1391). *ainm.ie* (in Irish). Retrieved 10 September 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fryde355_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fryde355_2-1) Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). *Handbook of British Chronology* (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 355–356. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-56350-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-56350-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cotton331_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cotton331_3-1) Cotton, Henry (1848). *The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland*. Fasti ecclesiae Hiberniae. Vol. 2, The Province of Leinster. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. pp. 331–334.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fryde393_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fryde393_4-1) Fryde, ibid., p. 393.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cotton334_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cotton334_5-1) Cotton, ibid., pp. 334–335.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fryde428_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fryde428_6-1) Fryde, ibid., pp. 428–429.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cathhierferns_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cathhierferns_7-1) ["Diocese of Ferns"](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dfern.html) *[Catholic-Hierarchy.org](/source/Catholic-Hierarchy.org)*. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 12 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GCathFerns_8-0)** ["Diocese of Ferns"](http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/fern0.htm) *GCatholic.org*. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 5 September 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Crosbie, Barry (October 2009). ["Wadding, Luke"](https://www.dib.ie/biography/wadding-luke-a8830). *Dictionary of Irish Biography*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bpbrennan_10-0)** [Bishop Denis Brennan](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bbrend.html). *Catholic Hierarchy*. Retrieved 7 September 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HSPO_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HSPO_11-1) ["Resignations and Appointments"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/06/11/0376/00826.html). *Holy See Press Office*. Holy See. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021. (in Italian)

v t e Catholic Church in Ireland Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Dioceses Province of Armagh: Archdiocese of Armagh Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Diocese of Clogher Diocese of Derry Diocese of Down and Connor Diocese of Dromore Diocese of Kilmore Diocese of Meath Diocese of Raphoe Province of Cashel: Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Diocese of Cloyne Cork and Ross Diocese of Kerry Diocese of Killaloe Diocese of Limerick Diocese of Waterford and Lismore Diocese of Kilfenora Province of Dublin: Archdiocese of Dublin Diocese of Ferns Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese of Ossory Province of Tuam: Archdiocese of Tuam Diocese of Achonry Diocese of Clonfert Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh Diocese of Elphin Diocese of Killala Bishops Archbishop of Armagh (Eamon Martin) Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise (Paul Connell) Bishop of Clogher (Lawrence Duffy) Bishop of Derry (Donal McKeown) Bishop of Down and Connor (Noel Treanor) Bishop of Dromore (sede vacante) Bishop of Kilmore (Martin Hayes) Bishop of Meath (Thomas Deenihan) Bishop of Raphoe (Alan McGuckian) Archbishop of Cashel and Emly (Kieran O'Reilly) Bishop of Cloyne (William Crean) Bishop of Cork and Ross (Fintan Gavin) Bishop of Kerry (Raymond Browne) Bishop of Killaloe (Fintan Monahan) Bishop of Limerick (Brendan Leahy) Bishop of Waterford and Lismore (Alphonsus Cullinan) Archbishop of Dublin (Dermot Farrell) Bishop of Ferns (Gerard Nash) Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (Denis Nulty) Bishop of Ossory (Niall Coll) Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Killala (Francis Duffy) Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Michael Duignan) Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin (Kevin Doran) Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Apostolic Visitor (Kenneth Nowakowski) Churches Armagh Cathedral Belfast Cathedral Cavan Cathedral Derry Cathedral Letterkenny Cathedral Longford Cathedral Monaghan Cathedral Mullingar Cathedral Newry Cathedral Cobh Cathedral Cork Cathedral Ennis Cathedral Killarney Cathedral Limerick Cathedral Skibbereen Cathedral Thurles Cathedral Waterford Cathedral Carlow Cathedral Dublin Cathedral Enniscorthy Cathedral Kilkenny Cathedral Ballaghaderreen Cathedral Ballina Cathedral Galway Cathedral Loughrea Cathedral Sligo Cathedral Tuam Cathedral List of Catholic churches in Ireland See also Knock Shrine St Patrick's Purgatory St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth List of monastic houses in Ireland List of Catholic schools in Ireland by religious order List of saints of Ireland Apostolic Nunciature to Ireland Holy See–Ireland relations Catholicism portal Ireland portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bishop of Ferns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Ferns) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_of_Ferns?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.