James Donnelly
Encyclopedia
The Most Reverend Dr. James Donnelly (12 January 1823 – 28 December 1893) was Roman Catholic Bishop
of the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland
.
Born in Scotstown
, County Monaghan
, he was a priest in the Diocese of Clogher ordained in June 1846. He was a 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. Dr. Donnelly was succeeded by Bishop Richard Owens
.
Bishop Donnelly is best remembered for having 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.
Bishop Donnelly was also to the fore in organising the Catholics of his diocese to assert their political clout and was instrumental in the formation in March 1874 of the County Monaghan Liberal Registration Association to ensure that the maximum number possible of Catholic voters were registered for elections. He used the priests of the diocese as a means of organising the Catholic vote. His relationship with the local landlord in Monaghan town, Lord Rossmore, was stormy. The bishop took the side the tenants in their quest for security of tenure and, later, land ownership. Lord Rossmore responded by withdrawing the rights to the use of a quarry that was being used for stone to build the new Cathedral. Nonetheless, this does not represent the total picture of Donnelly's relations with the ascendancy. He was on good terms with other local landlords and with officials at local and national level. He was also on good terms with Lady Rossmore and her mother, both of whom converted to Catholicism
.
When the Vatican I was held in 1869-70 Bishop Donnelly attended for the full duration of the Council. He supported the declaration on Papal Infallibility
. During his many visits to Rome
and to the European continent generally he collected statuary and other items for the new Cathedral.
Bishop Donnelly maintained very detailed records including a Journal or Diary which is in the possession of the Diocese of Clogher.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Born in Scotstown
Scotstown
Scotstown is a village in the townland of Bough in north County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland. Scotstown is located in the parish of Tydavnet, along the River Blackwater, Scotstown being the village closest to the river's source...
, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he was a priest in the Diocese of Clogher ordained in June 1846. He was a 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. Dr. Donnelly was succeeded by Bishop Richard Owens
Bishop Richard Owens
Richard Owens was a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Clogher, Ireland. He was appointed the Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher on 6 July 1894, following the death of his predecessor, James Donnelly....
.
Bishop Donnelly is best remembered for having supervised the erection of St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan, work started by his predecessor, Bishop Charles McNally
Bishop Charles McNally
Charles McNally was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher in Ireland.Born at Ardaghy, County Monaghan, he was a priest in the Diocese of Clogher ordained on 13 June 1813...
. The Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
was consecrated on 21 August 1892 in the presence of the bishops of Ireland.
Bishop Donnelly was also to the fore in organising the Catholics of his diocese to assert their political clout and was instrumental in the formation in March 1874 of the County Monaghan Liberal Registration Association to ensure that the maximum number possible of Catholic voters were registered for elections. He used the priests of the diocese as a means of organising the Catholic vote. His relationship with the local landlord in Monaghan town, Lord Rossmore, was stormy. The bishop took the side the tenants in their quest for security of tenure and, later, land ownership. Lord Rossmore responded by withdrawing the rights to the use of a quarry that was being used for stone to build the new Cathedral. Nonetheless, this does not represent the total picture of Donnelly's relations with the ascendancy. He was on good terms with other local landlords and with officials at local and national level. He was also on good terms with Lady Rossmore and her mother, both of whom converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
.
When the Vatican I was held in 1869-70 Bishop Donnelly attended for the full duration of the Council. He supported the declaration on Papal Infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
. During his many visits to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and to the European continent generally he collected statuary and other items for the new Cathedral.
Bishop Donnelly maintained very detailed records including a Journal or Diary which is in the possession of the Diocese of Clogher.