Patrick Kelly

Who is Patrick Kelly?

Patrick Joseph Kelly was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Benin City in Nigeria.

A native of Barnacragh, Ballinasloe, his grandparents lived on the Seymour estate at Clontuskert. Trained as a missionary priest, Kelly joined the SMA, attending the seminary at Blackrock Road, Cork City. Ordained there on the 29 June 1921, he spent much of his religious life in Nigeria. Many of his colleagues died on the missions.

He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Western Nigeria and Titular Bishop of Thignica by the Holy See on 11 December 1939 and was consecrated at St. Michael's Church, Ballinasloe on 2 June 1940, but was unable to return to Africa due to World War II until 1941. He aided in the construction of dozens of schools and churches in the diocese. There were 157 schools in 1939; in 1973, there were 786.

His title changed to Vicar Apostolic of Asaba-Benin in 1943 and Bishop of Benin City in 1950. He retired in 1973 and died in 1991, two weeks before his 97th birthday.