James Donnelly

Who was James Donnelly?

James Donnelly was Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Clogher in the Archdiocese of Armagh in Ireland.

Born in Scotstown, County Monaghan, he studied in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and was a priest in the Diocese of Clogher ordained in June 1846. He was a Professor in the Diocesan College of St Macartan's College in 1848 and Professor in the Irish College in Paris before being appointed Parish Priest of Roslea in County Fermanagh. He was appointed as Co-adjutor Bishop of Clogher on 11 December 1864, and succeeded automatically to the See following the death of Bishop Charles McNally. He was ordained bishop on 26 February 1865. He died in office in on 28 December 1893 having served as bishop of his diocese for almost twenty-nine years. Donnelly was succeeded by Bishop Richard Owens.

Donnelly supervised the erection of St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan, work started by his predecessor, Bishop Charles McNally. The Cathedral was consecrated on 21 August 1892 in the presence of the bishops of Ireland.