Cardinal Cahal Daly, whose funeral took place this week in Armagh, and who was a major figure in Irish public life for over 30 years, spoke of the need for peace in Northern Ireland on his visits to Meath and Drogheda to honour one of his predecessors, St Oliver Plunkett. In 1992, Cardinal Daly was the chief celebrant of the annual St Oliver Plunkett Mass at Loughcrew and, in a lengthy homily, praised the efforts of clergy on both sides in the North of Ireland to seek to convince the paramilitaries of the evil, folly and futility of their actions.
Drawing a comparison, he said St Oliver met with the Rapparees and Tories, the dispossessed who had turned into marauding bands. The saint tried desperately to negotiate peace, to make them contemplate the evils they were bringing on their fellow Catholics.
Cardinal Daly, two years before the IRA ceasefire of 1994, urged those involved in violence to completely withdraw their sympathy and support, this bringing violence to an end in the north.
In Oldcastle, birthplace of St Oliver, Cardinal Daly said loyalist violence predated republican violence, but both were completely devoid of any justification.
Three years later, in March 1995, Cardinal Daly was in Drogheda to unveil the new shrine of St Oliver Plunkett in St Peter's Church. In a sermon, he paralleled the "wonderful blessing" of the peace process with St Oliver, whom he described as a man of peace.
Many risks would have to be negotiated before a lasting peace is secured on the island if Ireland, Cardinal Daly told the congregation at St Peter's Church that day.
The Plunkett family was represented at the ceremony by the late Sheila, Lady Dunsany, who also attended Dr Daly's installation as Archbishop of Armagh.
Following the death of Cardinal Daly on New Year's Eve, his successor, Cardinal Sean Brady, said: "At a critical and troubled time in Irish history, Cahal Daly was prophetic in his conviction that lasting peace can only be built on justice, mutual understanding and respect for the traditions and aspirations of others. He was firm and courageous in his absolute rejection of violence as a means of achieving political ends. With leaders of other Christian traditions, his work for reconciliation helped to create the environment and principles upon which a lasting political accommodation was eventually reached."
Cahal B Daly was born in Loughguile, Co Antrim, on 1st October 1917. He was ordained Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois in 1967, where he served at St Mel's Cathedral - destroyed in a fire at Christmas - and was consecrated as Bishop of Down and Connor in 1982.
Cardinal Daly was consecrated as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 16th December 1990 and served until his retirement, at the age of 79, where he was succeeded by Cardinal Brady in October 1996.
Cardinal Daly was created a cardinal by the late Pope John Paul II on 28th June 1991.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: TMC