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Both Cashel and Emly dioceses have their origins in the
early Christian period in Ireland. Saint Ailbe's famous
monastic settlement at Emly most likely pre-dated the arrival
of Saint Patrick in Ireland. The origins of the diocese
of Cashel are more obscure. As an important political centre,
it is likely that Cashel had its own bishop from an early
date. While Emly was the leading ecclesiastical centre in
Munster for a number of centuries, the growing importance
of the Eoghanacht dynasty ensured Cashel's increasing prominence
in Church affairs. |
