Discovered in a disused office in his former home in Larne, the collection details all of Buckley’s many battles with the Catholic Church over four decades.
Bishop Buckley – who set up his own church at The Oratory in the County Antrim town – died suddenly last year aged 72.
But now the ‘Buckley Papers’ – a complete record of the clergyman’s trials and tribulations with Catholic Church leaders – has been gifted to Belfast’s Linen Hall Library, along with a portrait photograph of Buckley dressed in clerical clothing.
Bishop Buckley’s husband Eduardo Yanga said: “I was going through Pat’s things when I discovered a complete archive of correspondence and newspaper clippings relating to his controversies over the years.
“Pat filed everything methodically and it occurred to me his files should be made available to the public. Someone suggested to me the Linen Hall Library would be an ideal place for it.
“In particular, Pat had a lengthy dispute with the now deceased Cardinal Daly and he neatly filed all the correspondence relating to it. I really think students of history will be really interested in seeing this,” said Mr Yanga.He added: “I’m happy to report that I learned this week that the library is pleased to accept Pat’s papers.”
Born in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in 1952, Buckley was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976. His first posting was to St Peter’s in the Falls area of Belfast, where he became an instant favourite with parishioners because of his down-to-earth approach to religion.
During the hunger strikes which resulted in the deaths of 10 republicans, Buckley ministered to jailed IRA men, including the hunger strike leader Bobby Sands.
And he also served in parishes Kilkeel in Co. Down and in Larne in Co. Antrim. Both these appointments were viewed by observers as punishment postings as a result of his daring to clash with the church hierarchy over his outspoken views on a range of subjects.
But after many years of battling his bosses, Buckley was finally excommunicated by the church after he was appointed a bishop in an independent Catholic Church he had helped found.
Along with a number of other disaffected Catholic clerics, he set up The Oratory in a former stable at the rear of his 14-room house at Princes Gardens, Larne.
In October 1999, Buckley publicly revealed that he was gay. And four months later he married his lover of three years, 32-year-old Filipino chef Eduardo.
The couple established a home in Pat’s former Parochial House in the busy port town. And when the church moved to evict Buckley, he went to court claiming squatters’ rights and he won.
As owners of the substantial sandstone property, the church entered into an agreement which allowed Buckley’s estate to have access to it until three months after he had passed away.
But following Buckley’s sudden death last May, Eduardo was told by church officials they wanted the property back and he was given notice to quit.
And shortly before last Christmas, Edwardo was served with papers which landed him court in Belfast.
A High Court judge ruled that the agreement between Bishop Buckley and the church didn’t apply to Edwardo and he was ordered him to vacate the property within a month.
However, this week he revealed he has appealed the judge’s ruling and he will be remain in the Larne property for the time being.
“I honestly believe I didn’t get a fair hearing and when I was told I could appeal the judge’s ruling, I decided to avail of the opportunity,” he said.
“I don’t think the judge was told the full story before he made his ruling,” he said.
He added: “I’m looking forward to my day in court.”