Nicholas Conaty

Who is Nicholas Conaty?

Dr. Nicholas Conaty, was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop for the Diocese of Kilmore.

He was born in 1820 to John Conaty and his wife Honora Brady and educated at Kilmore Academy before completing his clerical studies in Maynooth College. Conaty was ordained a priest in 1848, and appointed co-adjutor Bishop of Kilmore in 1863, and Bishop of Kilmore in 1865 succeeding Dr James Browne. Before becoming a bishop he was a professor in Kilmore Diocesan Seminary, he also taught at All Hallows College Dublin, and served as parish priest in Knocktemple, Co. Cavan.

He established the new diocesan seminary and school St. Patrick's College, Cavan and employed the renowned church architect William Hague on its building and other church buildings in the diocese. He brought the Poor Clares to Cavan in the 1860s.

He dies on the 17th of January 1886 and was succeeded by Bishop Bernard Finegan, who had been the parish priest of Drumlane, Cavan.