Diocese in Ireland; includes the greater part of the County of
Limerick and a small portion of Clare, and has an area,
approximately, of about 500,000 acres. It corresponds with the
ancient territory of Hy Fidhgheinte. St. Patrick visited the
district, and was followed in the work of converting the natives
by St. Senan, who lived in the sixth century and who was at one
time Abbot of Scattery Island. In the same century lived St.
Munchin, the patron of the diocese, who established a monastery
and school at Mungret. This school became so famous that at one
time it had 1,500 students. An offshoot from Mungret was a
hermitage at Kill-Munchin, near Limerick. Thither St. Munchin
retired, and there he spent his closing years, and, no doubt,
from this hermitage and from Mungret the spiritual needs of the
surrounding district were supplied. But as yet there was no city
of Limerick, and no diocese till after the Danes came. Quick to
discern the advantageous position of the place for trade and
commerce, they settled the