Cornelius O’Dea, Archdeacon of Killaloe, was appointed Bishop of Limerick in the year 1400. Cornelius was an energetic, liberal, and pious prelate, who spent his life in promoting the interest of religion in his diocese. In 1426 he resigned the bishopric and retired into private life, having thus an opportunity of devoting the close of his years exclusively to the service of God. He died on the 27th July, 1434.
Three valuable artefacts from Bishop O’Dea exist
to this day, having been handed down through his successors. The three
items are a Mitre, Crozier
and a manuscript now titled the Black
Book of Limerick.