Patrick Dennehy was born at Reallan, Kiskeam, County Cork on December 1, 1920, the third of four sons of Richard and Hanna Dennehy. As a child he suffered a severe illness and was not expected to live, but he recovered exhibiting a physical tenacity which was characteristic of him throughout his life.

He completed his secondary education at the Presentation Juniorate, Colaiste Muire, Douglas, Cork, and entered the Noviciate at Mount St. Joseph where he was received into the Congregation in August 1939, taking Leonard as his religious name. Two years later he made his first profession of vows and in October 1941 began his studies at University College, Cork.

Br. Leonard spent the school year 1942-43 teaching at Presentation College, Cobh and returned to the University the next year to complete his degree, graduating with first class honours in Latin, English and Irish in 1944. On 12 August of the same year he made his final profession.

He taught at Scoil Chriost Ri, Cork, while studying for the Higher Diploma in Education and then volunteered for the West Indian Mission. He was one of the group of pioneers who formed the first community of Brothers in the West Indies at St. George's, Grenada.

Br. Leonard became Principal at Presentation College, St. George's, in 1952. Government funding was very low, but under Br. Leonard's leadership the College built up new departments and won its first Island Scholarship, the only avenue to University for many of the poorer students.

In 1958 he was appointed Provincial Superior. He was still Principal of the College in Grenada and travelled to Trinidad, St. Lucia and Barbados during school vacation, visiting the other communities and schools.

On finishing his term as Provincial in 1964 he became Vice-Principal at Presentation College, Chaguanas, and Principal in 1971, remaining there until he reached compulsory retirement age (60) in 1980.

He returned to Grenada and as the retirement age there was 65 he continued teaching. He was again Principal from 1982 until 1988, being allowed to continue until he was 67. This was a turbulent period in Grenada politically,

Many past pupils of Presentation College, Grenada had emigrated and were doing well in the USA and in Canada. Br. Leonard was diligent in keeping contact with them and they had great respect for him and gave him much help. Due to the meagre funding the College received from government, survival depended on the support of such groups as the Old Boys' Association and the Mothers' Union.

In 1993 Br. Leonard went first to the USA and then to Ireland for medical treatment, but it was not successful. In the autumn of 1994 he entered Marymount Hospice, Cork where he died on December 2, 1994 . He is buried at Mount St. Joseph.

Br. Leonard was a deeply spiritual man of great personal integrity, a paradigm of all a Presentation Brother should aspire to be. He loved his apostolate among the students and the people of Grenada especially where he had spent 30 years, and spoke of them with pride and affection.

Br. Leonard's youngest brother William, born in 1922, was also a Presentation Brother. William entered the Brothers in 1940 taking Edwin as his religious name, and spent some years teaching at Presentation College, Barbados. He returned to Ireland for medical treatment in 1964 and died on May 25, 1965. Br. Edwin is also buried at Mount St. Joseph.

Reference:
Gentlemen of the Presentation (Feheney, Veritas,1999)

Golden Jubilee of the Presentation Brothers in Grenada & St. Lucia

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