Micheál Ledwith

Micheál Ledwith (whose first name is often reported as Michael) was a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Ferns in County Wexford from 1967 to 2005. After a promising academic start he was promoted rapidly and served for a time as Dean of St Peter's Diocescan College in Wexford. In 1977 he was appointed to a senior lectureship in Dogmatic Theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth under the College President, Dr Tomás Ó Fiaich. He remained at Maynooth for the next 16 years and advanced quickly up the ladder of offices, serving a term as Dean of the Faculty of Theology, before being appointed to the Chair of Systematic theology and later a College Vice-President. In 1985 Dr Ó Fiaich, by then Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh and one of the trustees of Maynooth, approved his appointment to the post of President of Maynooth, which office carried an ex officio Pro-Vice-Chancellorship of the National University of Ireland and membership of the Conference of the Heads of Irish Universities.

The Presidency of Maynooth, at that time, was a senior position within the Catholic Church and considered the gateway to glowing career. Ledwith, appointed at 44, proved a capable administrator at Maynooth and was seen as a rising star; immediately prior to his resignation he presided over the separation of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth and the Pontifical College. Intelligent, urbane and charming he was regarded within the church as a progressive and it was expected that he would soon be appointed to a diocese. In 1988 the See of Dublin became vacant following the sudden death of Archbishop Kevin McNamara, and Ledwith was mentioned in the press as a likely successor. His name was submitted to Rome as one of three possible candidates. There was considerable surprise following the appointment of a relatively low-profile University College Dublin academic, Professor Desmond Connell.

...
Wikipedia