Roman Catholic Bishop. A native of Cookstown, Francis Lenny frequented St. Patrick's colleges of Armagh and Maynooth and was ordained priest on June 21, 1953. Pursuing his studies in ancient classes and canon law in Maynooth and the Dunboyne Institute, in July 1955 he was named secretary to Cardinal John D'Alton, primate of Ireland, and upon his death in 1963, proceeded in the same position with his successor, Cardinal William Conway. Appointed parish priest in Kilmore in 1972, less than two years later Lenny was named auxiliary for the archdiocese of Armagh, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Rotdon from Cardinal Conway on June 16, 1974. Financial secretary to the Bishops' Financial and General Purposes Committee, upon Conway's death became vicar capitular of the archdiocese until Tomás Ó Fiaich was named his successor. A well known canonist and it was he who transferred a major relic of Saint Oliver Plunkett from Downside Abbey to Ireland in 1975, presently preserved in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, Plunkett's birthplace. A man of great charity and deep disposition, he experienced great opposition from members of the Protestant community of Mullavilly, refusing to leave the village despite threats received, his bungalow was maliciously set on fire, dying from injuries received complicated by a heart attack at the early age of forty nine. Dressed in chasuble and mitre, he was laid to rest in a simple solid oak coffin following the celebration of a funeral mass celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, presided by Archbishop Ó Fiaich which saw the participation of thousands.
Roman Catholic Bishop. A native of Cookstown, Francis Lenny frequented St. Patrick's colleges of Armagh and Maynooth and was ordained priest on June 21, 1953. Pursuing his studies in ancient classes and canon law in Maynooth and the Dunboyne Institute, in July 1955 he was named secretary to Cardinal John D'Alton, primate of Ireland, and upon his death in 1963, proceeded in the same position with his successor, Cardinal William Conway. Appointed parish priest in Kilmore in 1972, less than two years later Lenny was named auxiliary for the archdiocese of Armagh, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Rotdon from Cardinal Conway on June 16, 1974. Financial secretary to the Bishops' Financial and General Purposes Committee, upon Conway's death became vicar capitular of the archdiocese until Tomás Ó Fiaich was named his successor. A well known canonist and it was he who transferred a major relic of Saint Oliver Plunkett from Downside Abbey to Ireland in 1975, presently preserved in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, Plunkett's birthplace. A man of great charity and deep disposition, he experienced great opposition from members of the Protestant community of Mullavilly, refusing to leave the village despite threats received, his bungalow was maliciously set on fire, dying from injuries received complicated by a heart attack at the early age of forty nine. Dressed in chasuble and mitre, he was laid to rest in a simple solid oak coffin following the celebration of a funeral mass celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, presided by Archbishop Ó Fiaich which saw the participation of thousands.
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