James Donnelly (12 January 1823 – 28 December 1893) was

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...

of the Diocese of Clogher in the Archdiocese of Armagh in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. Born in

Scotstown Scotstown () is a village in the townland of Bough () in north County Monaghan, Ireland. Scotstown is located in the parish of Tydavnet, along the Monaghan Blackwater, Scotstown being the village closest to the river's source. Scotstown is ce ...

County Monaghan County Monaghan ( ; ga, Contae Mhuineacháin) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of Border strategic planning area of the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County C ...

, 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 The Irish College in Paris (french: Collège des Irlandais, links=no, la, Collegium Clericorum Hibernoram) was for three centuries a major Roman Catholic educational establishment for Irish students. It was founded in the late 16th century, and c ...

before being appointed Parish Priest of Roslea in County Fermanagh. He was appointed as Coadjutor 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.Bishop Donnelly consecrates the new cathedral
The

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominatio ...

was consecrated on 21 August 1892 in the presence of the bishops of Ireland. Donnelly 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. Donnelly was on good terms with other local landlords and with officials at local and national level, and with Lady Rossmore and her mother, both of whom converted to

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. When the

Vatican I Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

was held in 1869-70 Bishop Donnelly attended for the full duration of the council. He supported the declaration on

Papal Infallibility Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope when he speaks '' ex cathedra'' is preserved from the possibility of error on doctrine "initially given to the apos ...

. During his many visits to

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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.

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Roman Catholic bishops of Clogher 1823 births 1893 deaths Christian clergy from County Monaghan 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth People from Clogher {{Ireland-RC-bishop-stub

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