Patrick Kelly (bishop of Benin City)
Patrick Joseph Kelly (Bishop), Bishop of Benin City, 31 August 1894 - 18 August 1991.
A native of Barnacragh, Ballinasloe. His grandparents lived on Seymour estate, Clontuskert.
Trained as a missionary priest, Kelly joined the SMA (Society for African Missions), attending the seminary at Blackrock road, Cork. Ordained there 29 June 1921, he spent much of his religious life spent in Nigeria. Many of his colleges died young on the missions. He was consecrated bishop at St. Michael’s Church, Ballinasloe, on the 2 June 1940, but was unable to return to Africa because of World War II until 1941. He was notable for aiding in the construction of dozens of schools and churches in the diocese. There were 157 schools in 1939; in 1973, there were 786. He retired in 1973.