It may not be widely known but the first resident Bishop of New York was a native of Slane.
Born in Monknewtown, Bishop John Connolly was a Dominican professor in Rome in 1814 when he was appointed Bishop of New York by Pope Pius VII. At the time of Mons. Connolly’s arrival USA, the diocese covered all of New York and part of New Jersey, with four priests, three churches, and approximately 15,000 Catholics, most of them Irish. He served as Bishop of New York until his death in 1825, aged 74 years old.
On Tuesday 10 October 2017, another episcopal native of Slane, Bishop Denis Nulty, celebrated Mass in St Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where Bishop Connolly is buried.
Bishop Nulty was joined by Bishop Michael Smith and several members of a delegation from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth who are attending a series of fundraising events in the city on behalf of the national seminary.
