On 29 July 1438, plans for a permanent union of the sees of Down and Connor were submitted to King Henry VI of England for his sanction.[2] Exactly twelve months later, 29 July 1439, Pope Eugene IV issued a papal bull stating that Down and Connor were to be united on the death or resignation of either bishop. In 1442, Bishop John Sely of Down was deprived of his see by Pope Eugene IV,[3][4] thereby effecting the union of the two dioceses. John Fossade, who had been bishop of Connor since 1431, became the bishop of the united see of Down and Connor in late 1442. However, due to strong opposition to the union in the diocese of Down, three more bishops of Down were appointed, two whilst Fossade was alive and one after his death. It was not until the appointment of Thomas Knight that the two sees were finally united under one bishop.
John Festade; appointed Bishop of Connor in 1431; became Bishop of Down and Connor in 1442, however, due to local opposition, he did not get full control; died in the spring of 1450.
1453
1469
Thomas Knight' OSB
Appointed 24 August 1453; consecrated 31 May 1456; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of London 1459–63; died before July 1469.
1469
1480
Tadhg Ó Muirgheasa
Thaddaeus; appointed 10 July; consecrated 10 September 1469; died after July 1480.
1483
1519
Tiberio Ugolino
Appointed thrice: 14 February 1483, 12 September 1484 and 1 September 1485; consecrated 12 March 1489; died before April 1519
Appointed 16 April 1520; accepted royal supremacy in 1539; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of Ely 1539–1541; resigned c. 1541; died after 19 October 1547.
Papal appointee from 1539, he accepted royal supremacy and was confirmed by letters patent 8 May 1542; retained possession during the reign of Queen Mary I; probably attended the 1560 parliament and took the Oath of Supremacy;[11] died c. 1559–63.
Formerly Dean of Cashel; nominated to Down and Connor and to Dromore 24 January; appointed to all three by letters patent 16 May 1607; resigned 20 January 1612.
Nominated 26 August; consecrated 18 October 1667; translated to Clogher 19 September 1672; he was the younger brother of Richard Boyle, Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin.
Nominated 29 August; consecrated 28 September 1672; deprived on 21 March 1694 for continued non-residence, neglect and other offences against ecclesiastical law; died in August 1697.
Translated from Clonfert and Kilmacduagh; nominated 24 February 1752; appointed by letters patent 21 March 1752; translated to Cashel 1 September 1752.
Appointed 16 June 1539; accepted royal supremacy in 1541, but remained in possession of the see during the reign of Queen Mary I; probably attended the 1560 parliament and took the Oath of Supremacy;[11] died c. 1559–63.
Cotton, Henry (1850). The Province of Connaught. Fasti Ecclesiae Hiberniae: The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland. Vol. 4. Dublin: Hodges and Smith.
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, Reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
