Description

Tracing the Stem: Killala Bishops by Brendan Hoban is the second volume in the Readings in Killala Diocesan History series. Drawing on decades of historical research, Hoban reconstructs the succession of bishops who served the Diocese of Killala, offering the most complete account currently available of the diocese’s episcopal history.

The title reflects the long-standing challenge of tracing the line of bishops from St. Muredach, traditionally regarded as the first Bishop of Killala, through the medieval, early modern, and modern periods. While records from the earliest centuries are fragmentary, Hoban carefully assembles evidence from ecclesiastical archives, Vatican sources, local records, and historical scholarship to produce a continuous narrative wherever possible.

The book features detailed biographies of the bishops, placing each within the political, religious, and social context of their time. It examines:

• The origins and development of the Diocese of Killala
• Medieval and post-Reformation episcopal succession
• The impact of the Penal Laws on the Catholic Church
• Nineteenth-century Catholic revival and reform
• Twentieth-century bishops and the changes following the Second Vatican Council
• The evolving role of bishops in serving the people of Mayo and west Sligo

Among the many notable figures profiled are Francis Kirwan, John MacHale, Patrick O’Boyle, Thomas McDonnell, and John Fleming, whose leadership helped shape the religious and cultural life of the region across different eras.

Rich in historical detail yet written in an accessible style, the book combines biography, church history, and local heritage. It provides valuable insight into the development of Catholicism in the west of Ireland and serves as an important reference for readers interested in ecclesiastical history, County Mayo, and the Diocese of Killala.

Ideal for local historians, genealogists, students of Irish Church history, and anyone interested in the religious and cultural heritage of Mayo and west Sligo, Tracing the Stem: Killala Bishops is a significant contribution to the historical record of one of Ireland’s oldest dioceses.