Michael Harty

Michael Anthony Harty (6 February 1922 – 8 August 1994) was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Killaloe between 1967 and 1994.

Early life Harty was born in Lismore House, Toomevara, County Tipperary, on 6 February 1922, one of seven children to Patrick Harty, a farmer, and his wife Eileen (née Cleary). He attended primary school in Ballinree National School between 1928 and 1934, where he was known to be a very prominent scholar, and secondary school as a boarder in St Flannan's College between 1934 and 1939, where he won scholarships on the results of his Intermediate and Leaving Certificate examinations.

Harty entered St Patrick's College, Maynooth in 1939, obtaining Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Languages and Literature in September 1942, and Theology in 1945. He was ordained to the priesthood in the College Chapel, Maynooth, County Kildare on 23 June 1946.

Presbyteral ministry Following his ordination, Harty undertook postgraduate studies at St Patrick's College, obtaining a Licentiate of Canon Law in June 1948 and later a Doctorate in Divinity. He also obtained a higher diploma in education from University College, Galway. as well as The New Irish Supplement for the Missal and Breviary and The Lectionary for Week-days. He was also a founding subscriber and regular contributor to The Furrow, as well as the Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Christus Rex and Doctrine and Life. He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Armagh, William Conway, on 19 November in the Pro-Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis.

Following a series of renovations – including a significant re-ordering of the building in 1973 to make it suitable for the new liturgical changes ensuing from the Second Vatican Council – and 100 years after it was first declared a pro-cathedral, Harty solemnly dedicated Ennis Cathedral as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe on 18 November 1990.

Death Harty died suddenly at his sister's home in Dublin on 8 August 1994, having attended the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals in Croke Park the previous day, as he had a lifelong interest in Gaelic games. After Cahal Daly, he was the longest-serving member of the Catholic hierarchy in Ireland at his death.

His alma mater, Ballinree National School, was renamed in his honour.