Brendan Kelly

Brendan Kelly (born 20 May 1946) is an Irish former Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora between 2018 and 2022.

Early life and education Kelly was born in Derrybrien, County Galway on 20 May 1946, the second of nine children to Seán Kelly, a primary school teacher, and his wife Annie. He attended primary school at Craughwell National School and secondary school at St. Mary's College, before studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, completing a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1967 and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1970.

Kelly was an ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh on 20 June 1971.

He undertook a sabbatical year to serve as chaplain to the L'Arche community in Cuise-la-Motte, France, before returning to Ireland in 1996, when he was appointed as the parish priest in Lisdoonvarna/Kilshanny. He admitted his surprise and pleasure at his appointment, and promised to concentrate his initial efforts on becoming acquainted with the clergy and laity of the diocese, while the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Seán Brady, described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people".

Kelly was consecrated by Cardinal Brady on 27 January 2008 in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen.

Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh Kelly was subsequently appointed Bishop-elect of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator-elect of Kilfenora by Pope Francis on 11 December 2017. He was installed on 11 February 2018 in the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway.

In accordance with canon law, Kelly submitted his episcopal resignation to the Dicastery for Bishops on his 75th birthday on 20 May 2021.

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