Pope Francis appoints new Bishop to historic diocese taking in large parts of Offaly

Pope Francis has appointed Father Paul Connell, a priest of the Diocese of Meath, as the new Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. 

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

Bishop-elect Paul Connell, a native of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was born on 27 January 1958, the second of four children to Thomas and Philomena Connell. 

He began his primary education with Mrs Katherine Mullaly before attending Saint Mary’s CBS primary school in Mullingar.

In 1970, he commenced his secondary education in Saint Finian’s College, Mullingar, sitting his Leaving Certificate in 1975.  From Saint Finian’s he entered Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he completed his seminary training in 1982.  He was awarded a BA in 1978, followed by a BD in the Pontifical University in 1981.  The following year he was recipient of the Gilmartin prize in Ecclesiastical History from the Pontifical University.

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 succeeded as President and Principal in 1998.  From 1992 to 1994 he completed an evening Masters in Local History in NUI Maynooth, and was awarded a doctorate in history by the university in 2002.  Subsequently, Bishop-elect Connell spent a number of years lecturing part-time in Ecclesiastical History at the Milltown Institute of Theology, Dublin, and has published a number of works in the area of local history.

Bishop-elect Connell remained as President and Principal of Saint Finian’s College until 2019.  Under his direction the college became a co-educational secondary school in 2003, and its boarding school closed in 2007. 

In addition, he was President of the national support body for secondary schools, the Secretariat for Secondary Schools, from 2013 to 2018.  In January 2019, he resigned his position as President 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.

Since his appointment to Saint Finian’s in 1982, Father Paul has held the position of chaplain in Saint Mary’s Hospital, Mullingar (Cluain Lir).  For many years during the summer months he has worked in the dioceses of All Saints and Saint Gabriel’s in the Archdiocese of Miami, USA, and more recently in the parish of Saint Gregory, San Diego.  In August 2021 he was appointed as Administrator of the Parish of Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath.

Speaking this morning, Bishop-elect Connell stated, "I am also deeply honoured to be appointed bishop of this historic diocese at the heart of Ireland whose Christian life is deeply rooted in the tradition of Saint Ciaran and Saint Mel.  And at its centre, this beautiful Cathedral, risen from the ashes, a true expression of the resilience, faith and loyalty of the people of this diocese.  A diocese blessed with a most varied and beautiful landscape.  I look forward to visiting and getting to know all its parish communities. Of course, I too have strong roots in this diocese.  All my mother’s people, Bigleys, Browns, Butlers, Dunnings, Feeneys, and Gleesons come from the Cornamaddy area of Athlone, Athlone town and Hodson Bay in the Elphin diocese.  I have many very happy childhood memories of visits to Athlone and Cornamaddy.

"As a Church we live in interesting times, facing many challenges.  Our society is in danger of losing the sense of the sacred, above all the truth that we come from God and will some day return to God.  As we look around we see difficulties for the Church on all sides.  The temptation to despair is great but we must rather take courage, place our trust in the Lord and move together along the synodal path that we are at present exploring.  Only in this way can we fulfil our mission to preserve the faith and hand it on to future generations. 

"It has been a unique privilege for me to have spent a great part of my ministry working with young people.  It gives me great delight to see young people here this morning. In the words of Pope Francis, to follow Christ is to love, care and respect each other but also to love, care and respect the world around us, to protect our common home.  It is a message that clearly resonates with young people.

"I am very grateful to Archbishop Francis Duffy and Bishop Colm O’Reilly for their presence here this morning.  I hope and trust that I can adequately follow in their footsteps, as I know that their service to this diocese is remembered here with great fondness and gratitude.  I am equally grateful to Bishop Tom Deenihan and Bishop Michael Smith for their presence.  I deeply appreciate Bishop Tom’s friendship and support.  I have enjoyed greatly working with him over the last five years and certainly have gained some insight from him into the task ahead.  In particular his dedication and commitment to Catholic education is remarkable."