Patrick Connolly facts for kids

Patrick James Connolly (born May 25, 1927 – died January 7, 2016) was an important Irish lawyer. He worked as a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He also served as the Attorney General of Ireland for a short time in 1982. The Attorney General is the main legal advisor to the government.

Patrick Connolly's Early Life and Career

Patrick Connolly was born on May 25, 1927, in Fingal, a part of Dublin, Ireland. His father was a headmaster and his mother was a teacher. He was the older of two sons.

He went to school at St Joseph's College. After that, he studied at University College Dublin and then at the King's Inns. The King's Inns is a special place where lawyers in Ireland get their training.

In 1949, Patrick Connolly officially became a barrister. He became very good at handling cases about personal injuries. These are cases where someone has been hurt and is seeking compensation.

Serving as Attorney General

On March 9, 1982, Charles Haughey, who was the Taoiseach (the leader of the Irish government), chose Patrick Connolly to be the Attorney General of Ireland. This is a very important job where you give legal advice to the government.

He held this position for a few months. He served until August 17, 1982.

Later Life and Legacy

After his time as Attorney General, Patrick Connolly went back to being a lawyer. He worked as a senior counsel in Dublin. A senior counsel is a very experienced and respected barrister.

Patrick Connolly passed away on January 7, 2016, when he was 88 years old. He never got married, but he was very close to his family. His nephew and two nieces spoke at his funeral. He was buried in Deansgrange Cemetery.