Canon James P. Clenaghan, (Séamus Mac Leannacháin) P.P., V.G., St Malachy's Church, Belfast was a distinguished senior Irish churchman and educationalist whose entire ministry was in the Diocese of Down and Connor where he rose to become Vicar General.
[3][4] He returned to the staff of his alma mater and was successively Dean and finally President of the College from 1919 - 1924.
He was appointed Vicar General by his near contemporary Bishop Daniel Mageean in October 1936 and made a Canon of the Cathedral chapter.
[7] He was fondly remembered in a history of his native parish written soon after "He contributed valuable articles to the educational and ecclesiastical journals and was a popular lecturer on aspects of Irish Catholic life.
[citation needed] He was a fluent Irish speaker and one of the founder members of the Irish-speaking Priests' Society, Cumann na Sagart Gaelach.