Monsignor John J. Hanly, R.I.P.

Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Carousel

The death has occurred  of the former Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, Monsignor John J. Hanly.

A native of Oldcastle parish, he was educated at Rockwell, St Finian’s College and the Pontifical Irish College, Rome and was ordained in Rome in 1957.  He completed his Doctorate in Ecclesiastical History at the Gregorian University in 1961, writing his Doctoral thesis on“The Conflict Between Blessed Oliver Plunkett and Archbishop Peter Talbot“.  In 1979 he published, with translation and commentary, “The Letters of St Oliver Plunkett”. In 1960 he was appointed to the staff of St Finian’s College, Mullingar and in 1966 was appointed Director of Studies at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome.  He was appointed Vice-Rector in 1968 and Rector in 1980.  During his time in Rome, he was postulator of the Cause of Blessed Oliver Plunkett, the process being completed when the saint was canonised by Blessed Paul VI in 1975. In the 1970s he was appointed Postulator of the Causes of the Irish Martyrs (17 of whom were beatified in 1992 including Blessed Margaret Ball) and of Catherine McAuley and Nano Nagle. Monsignor  Hanly was appointed Parish Priest of Laytown-Mornington in September 1987.  He served as Vicar Forane from 1999 until 2006.  He moved to Carnaross as Parish Priest in September 2008. He died on Wednesday 20 January 2016 after a short illness in Navan Hospital.

The community of the Irish College sympathises with the family of Monsignor John and with the Bishop and Priests of the Diocese of Meath, as well as the faithful of the Parish of Carnaross where Monsignor John had been Parish Priest until his death.