Background
He was born in 1820 to John Conaty and his wife Honora Brady and educated at Kilmore Academy before completing his clerical studies in Maynooth College.
He was born in 1820 to John Conaty and his wife Honora Brady and educated at Kilmore Academy before completing his clerical studies in Maynooth College.
Conaty was ordained a priest in 1848, and appointed co-adjutor Bishop of Kilmore in 1863, and Bishop of Kilmore in 1865 succeeding Doctor James Browne. Before becoming a bishop he was a professor in Kilmore Diocesan Seminary, he also taught at All Hallows College Dublin, and served as parish priest in Knocktemple, Company Cavan. He established the new diocesan seminary and school Saint Patrick"s College, Cavan and employed the renowned church architect William Hague on its building and other church buildings in the diocese.
He dies on the 17th of January 1886 and was succeeded by Bishop Bernard Finegan, who had been the parish priest of Drumlane, Cavan.