Dear Spin A Web Team,

Thank you for your letter of the 9th February. Much as I would love to write something to commend Clonmacnoise, it is unfortunately not in my diocese! In the Church of Ireland, it is part of the Diocese of Meath, so you should write to the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Revd R.L. Clarke, Bishop's House, Moyglare, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

I know that in the Roman Catholic Church it is joined to Ardagh (Bishop Colm O'Reilly), but it never was in the Church of Ireland.

I don't know how much history of the diocese of Clonmacnoise you have been able to discover, but the records I have show that it dates from somewhere about 546 or 547. St Kiaran, the founder of the abbey, might have been bishop for a short time, but if he was he was followed very quickly by St Tigemach, who died in 549. It continued as an independent diocese in the Church of Ireland until 1569, when it was added to Meath. Presumably it was added to Ardagh in the Roman Catholic Church around that time as well, but Bishop O'Reilly could help you there.

I hope all goes well with your website. Let me know when it is up and running so that I can "surf, into it on the computer.

With all good wishes,

Yours sincerely,