Leonard Boyle

Who was Leonard Boyle?

Father Leonard Eugene Boyle, OP, OC was an Irish and Canadian scholar in medieval studies and palaeography and was the first Irish and North American Prefect of the Vatican Library in Rome from 1984 to 1997.

Born in Ballintra, County Donegal, Ireland. Boyle spent some years in Tralee following the death in 1940 of his older brother John. The latter was a member of the police and drowned while on holiday in Ballybunion, Co. Kerry July 1940 and acted as Boyle's father following the death of his mother 1933. Leonard was educated in Irish and entered the Dominican Order in 1943. He was ordained a priest in 1949 having received his doctorate in Oxford. He frequently visited Tralee, where a number of his family still reside, and he was involved in many projects in the town. His immense knowledge and expertise in historical and archaeological issues was freely given in order to enhance the town. Of particular concern was his hope that the site of the original Dominican Priory at the centre of the town be conserved for future archaeological excavation.