THE cathedral of Waterford, dedicated to the Blessed Trinity, was first built by the Ostmen, and by Malchus, the first bishop, after his return from England, from his consecration, about 1096. Lismore was united to Waterford in 1363.

The church of this latter see was founded by St. Carthage, circa 636, and Cormac, the son of Muretus, king of Munster, repaired it before 1130. Of the ancient fame of the city of Lismore, the writer of the life of St. Carthage says: "Lismore is a famous and holy city, half of which is an asylum, into which no woman dare enter; but it is full of cells and holy monasteries, and religious men in great numbers abide there; and thither holy men flock together from all parts of Ireland; and not only from Ireland, but also from England and Britain, being desirous to remove from thence to Christ. The city is built upon the banks of a river, formerly called Nem, but now Alban-more, that is, the Great River, in the territory of Nan-Deci, or Decies."

There was a see at Ardmore, founded by St. Declan, in the infancy of the Irish Church, but it was united to Lismore, soon after the arrival of the English.

By the provisions of the Church Temporalities Act, the united see of Waterford and Lismore was united to Cashel and Einly, on the decease of the then prelate, Dr. Bourke. See below.

BISHOPRIC OF CORK, CLOYNE, AND ROSS.

THERE is little to be found in ancient writers concerning the foundation of the cathedral of Cork, but it is generally ascribed to St. Barror Finbarr, in the seventh century. Through length of time the church became quite ruinous, but some years ago it was completely rebuilt, and is now a handsome structure.

Cork and Cloyne were united by pope Martin V. about 1430; and the see of Ross was united to the two in 1583, and the bishops were styled “Cork, Cloyne, and Ross," as at present. In 1638, Cloyne was separated by the appointment of a distinct bishop; but, after the Restoration, they were again united, and continued so until 1678, when Cloyne once more had a bishop of its own. The sees of Cork and Ross now remained in the hands of one prelate for upwards of a century and a half. On the occurrence of a vacancy at Cloyne in 1835, the provisions of the Church Temporalities Act came into force, and the bishoprics became united in the triple form they again bear. The

combined diocese comprises almost the whole of the county of Cork. It is in the province of Dublin.

BISHOPRIC OF CLOYNE.

(Now united to the now conjoined see of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross.)

THIS see was founded in the sixth century by St. Colman (the son of Linin), a man of learning and piety, and a disciple of St. Finbarr, bishop of Cork: he was himself the first bishop of it. Who his immediate successors in the see were, it is difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain; nor can anything be said, with certainty, of the bishops, until after the arrival of the English.

On the death of Dr. Brinkley in 1835, this see, conformably with the provisions of the late Church Temporalities Act, was finally united to Cork and Ross.

THE cathedral was, most likely, founded by St. Fachnan, who flourished in the beginning of the sixth century, and who "lived in a monastery of his own erection." He was called Fachnan Mongach, or "the Hairy," having been born with hair; and was abbot of a monastery in the island of Molanfid, near the town of Youghal, formerly called DarInis. There a city grew up, in which was always a large seminary for scholars, called

1 Ross signifies a verdant plain, or, as some say, a place where heath and broom grow; and Ailithri, a pilgrimage, the place having been anciently much resorted to in pilgrimage. It is now called Ross-carberry, from the barony, or tract of country wherein it is situated.

Ross-Ailithri. When the cathedral was founded, or who was the first bishop of it, it is impossible to ascertain. It seems probable, however, that Fachnan was the first bishop. There are no records of this see until after the arrival of the English, when they are found to be in some measure satisfactory.

BISHOPRIC OF DERRY AND RAPHOE.

THE see of Derry, when first founded, was placed at Ardfrath, whence it was translated to Maghera, and in 1158 was removed to Derry, and Flathbert O'Brolcan, abbot of Derry, a learned and charitable man, made bishop of it. Flathbert built the cathedral in 1164; and the edifice becoming ruinous, was rebuilt by the colony of Londoners who settled here in the reign of James I.

Raphoe was united to Derry by the Church Temporalities Act, passed August 14, 1833. The combined diocese includes the counties of Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone with a small part of Antrim. The see is suffragan to Armagh.