Hugh Connolly (priest)

Hugh Gerard Connolly BA, BD, STL, STD, is the current President of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland.

Born in September 1961, Father Hugh Connolly is a native of Burren near Warrenpoint, Co Down and is a priest of the Diocese of Dromore with the ecclesiastical title Monsignor.

Father Connolly was schooled at the Abbey Grammar in Newry before commencing his studies for the priesthood in Maynooth, gaining a BA(Honours)(NUI) degree in French before studying Theology degree BD(Maynooth), he was ordained in Maynooth in May 1987. He completed postgraduate doctoral studies in moral theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome in 1991.

Rev. Dr. Connolly worked as a lecturer in Moral Theology in Maynooth, becoming Professor in 2007, he has also lectured in St. Patrick's, Carlow College.

He was Executive Secretary of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference from 1991 to 1997. He published a book on The Irish Penitentials in 1995 and in 2002 published the volume Sin in the "New Century Theology" series.

He served as Registrar (2001–2006) at the Pontifical University Maynooth and as Vice President of St Patrick's College (1999-2007). On 10 August 2007, the Trustees of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, announced the appointment of Father Connolly as President of the College. He was reappointed for a second term on 29 May 2012 at the summer meeting of the College Trustees.

In March 2011 Connolly denied rumors that Maynooth Seminary may be closing. "Media reports today about the possible closure of the seminary are without foundation. The media outlet leading with this incorrect story was sent a reply from us yesterday and its absence from the published copy is disappointing and damaging". A year later when the Summary of the finding of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland was published there was in fact no reference whatever to seminary closures. In his capacity as Rector of the National Seminary Connolly has spoken frequently on the vocations question in Ireland.

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