‘First a man of prayer, a man of God’

THE late Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Cahal Daly, will be laid to rest at noon tomorrow after his remains were yesterday received at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.

Cardinal Daly, who died in Belfast City Hospital on New Year’s Eve following heart problems, was hailed during a Mass at St Patrick’s yesterday as “a man of prayer, a man of God”.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, the Most Reverend Gerard Clifford, used his homily at yesterday’s Mass to pay tribute to Cardinal Daly’s influence in various areas across Church and society, and the impact revelations of clerical child sex abuse had on him.

Stating Cardinal Daly was “coming home to finally rest in Armagh”, Bishop Clifford said he was “a priest, academic, scholar, writer, ecumenist, bishop of three dioceses, Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Down and Connor, and Armagh”.

“His was a busy life totally dedicated to his ministry, urbane, incisive in discussion and debate, a spiritual man whose ministry and work flowed out of his obvious own spiritual depths. He was first and foremost a man of prayer, a man of God.”

Bishop Clifford said Cardinal Daly had been devoted to family and had also shown strong leadership during the Troubles and in influencing senior Catholic figures, including Pope John Paul during his 1979 visit here, to appeal for a turning away from violence.

First Minister Peter Robinson yesterday issued a statement of condolence on the death of Cardinal Cahal Daly.

The DUP leader had been criticised for not releasing such a statement since the former Catholic all-Ireland primate’s death on Thursday.

However, Mr Robinson said he had “been indisposed due to family issues”.

“I am acutely aware of the high esteem with which Cardinal Daly was held by many throughout the community,” the first minister said.

In his statement of condolence to Cardinal Daly he added: “He was consistent in his opposition to the use of violence to advance political objectives.

“Cardinal Daly’s passing has caused immense grief for many in the community who looked to him for spiritual and theological guidance and my thoughts are also with them at this time.”