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From: "Jane O'Brien" <>
Subject: The Roman Catholic Church Ireland in 1931
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 14:00:53 +0100

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND ( in 1931)
The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland is governed by four Archbishops, whose
sees are in Armagh, Dublin, Cashel and Tuam, and twenty four Bishops ; they
are all nominated by the Pope, generally out of a list of three names
submitted to him by the Parish priests and Chapter of the vacant diocese,
and reported on by the Archbishop and Bishops of the Province. The diocesan
dignitaries are the Vicars-General of whom there are one, two or three,
according to the extent of the diocese, who have special disciplinary and
other powers; Vicars Forane, whose functions are more restricted; the
Archdeacon, and the Parish priests and Administrators. All of these as well
as the Curates are appointed by the Bishop. The whole of the clergy are
supported solely by the voluntary contributions of their flocks. The
Episcopal emoluments arise from the mensal parish or two, the incumbency of
which is retained y the Bishop, from marriage licences and from the
cathedraticum, an annual sum,varying from £1 to £10 paid by each Parish
Priest, Administrator and Curate in the Diocese. The 2,428 civil parishes
in Ireland are amalgamated into 1,116 ecclesiastical parishes or unions.

The incomes of the Parish Priests arise from fees on marriages, baptisms and
deaths, on Easter and Christmas dues and from incidental voluntary
contributions, either in money or labour. The number of Priests in Ireland
in 1853 was 2,291 (of whom 1,222 were educated at Maynooth College) and the
number in 1873 was 3,157. The Curates of the Parish priests form more than
half of the whole clerical strength; and scattered through cities and towns
are 70-80 communities of Priests of various religious orders or rules, hence
called Regulars who minister to their own churches, and though without
Parochial jurisdiction greatly aid the secular clergy. All the places of
public worship are built and maintained by subscriptions,legacies and
collections. There are numerous monasteries and convents; the latter are
supported partly by sums, usually from £300 to £500, paid by those who take
the vows in them, and partly by fees for the education of the daughters of
respectable Roman Catholics. Various communities of Monks and Nuns also
devote themselves to the gratuitous education of the children of the poor.
Candidates for clerical ordination, formerly under the necessity of
obtaining their education in continental colleges are now chiefly educated
at home.

According to the 1836 Catholic Registry and Directory there were 27
Dioceses in Ireland and approximately 3000 Priests: 960-970 Parish Priests,
1500 Curates and 500 Regular Clergy.

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• The Roman Catholic Church Ireland in 1931 by "Jane O'Brien" <>