New bishop appointed to Ardagh and Clonmacnois

The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois has a new bishop

Mullingar native Fr Paul Connell, a priest of the Diocese of Meath, has this morning been appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

It brings to an end a 15-month period when the diocese was without a permanent bishop, following the appointment of Francis Duffy as Archbishop of Tuam.

The diocese includes Ferbane, Cloghan and Banagher, Leamonaghan and Clonmacnois parishes in Offaly.

The news of this Episcopal appointment has just been announced by Monsignor Julien Kaboré, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland, in Saint Mel’s Cathedral, Longford, Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

Following this announcement, Mass is being celebrated by Archbishop Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois; Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath; Bishop-elect Paul Connell; Monsignor Julien Kaboré; Father Tom Healy, Diocesan Administrator of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, and clergy of the diocese.

Bishop-elect Paul Connell, a native of Mullingar, was born on January 27, 1958, the second of four children to Thomas and Philomena Connell. He attended St Mary’s CBS primary school in Mullingar and Saint Finian’s College, Mullingar, before entering Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he completed his seminary training in 1982.

Bishop-elect Connell was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, on 20 June 1982. Following ordination, he was briefly attached to Rochfortbridge parish before being appointed to the staff of Saint Finian’s College, completing his Higher Diploma in Education in 1983. He became Vice-President of the College in 1989 and served as President and Principal from 1998 to 2019.

In January 2019, he resigned his position as Principal of Saint Finian’s, whilst remaining as its President. This following his appointment as Executive Secretary of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference, based in Columba Centre of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. In 2020, he was appointed by Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, as Chancellor of the Diocese of Meath.

In August 2021 he was appointed as Administrator of the Parish of Multyfarnham.

His predecessor and now Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy said: "Father Paul brings to his new position a wealth of experience in Catholic education at both local and national levels. His role, until now, as Chancellor in the Diocese of Meath, together with his work as Principal of a large diocesan secondary school, and his pastoral experience, has already equipped him for the responsibilities involved in leading a diocese.

"Father Paul is well respected by the priests and people of his native diocese which he has served for more than forty years. I know, from experience, that he will receive a warm welcome from the parishioners, religious and priests of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois."

Father Tom Healy, who has been Diocesan Administrator of Ardagh and Clonmacnois in the absence of a bishop, said: "It is fifteen months since we said farewell to Archbishop Francis Duffy on his transfer to the Archdiocese of Tuam - so we are very pleased that Pope Francis has appointed a new shepherd to lead us at this time.

"Father Paul hails from the neighbouring Diocese of Meath, and has family roots in our diocese, so I feel that we are welcoming a near neighbour and hope that his transition to Ardagh and Clonmacnois will be a smooth and happy experience for him."