Late cardinal remembered

Tributes have been paid to Cardinal Cahal Daly, who died on Thursday at the age of 92.

His coffin was taken today to St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast, where he will lie in state until his remains are removed on Sunday afternoon to Armagh.

Bishop Noel Trainor described the former Catholic Primate of All Ireland as a “prophetic champion of justice, peace and reconciliation” in an homily at the cathedral today.

"True to his youthful and vigorous spirit, he recently told a group of seminarians in the Irish College, Rome, that he would love to have been one of their number, setting out anew on priestly ministry in this world so different from that of his youth,” he said.

"The well-springs of Christian faith and hope, which sourced that remark, spurred him also to countless and untold acts of kindness like his hospital visits to victims of violence late at night, supportive phone calls to priests and clergy exposed to trauma, and his close interest in seminarians."

Cardinal Daly will be buried in the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday.

The Pope expressed his gratitude to the Cardinal’s “long years of devoted pastoral service to the church” and “especially his sustained efforts in the promotion of justice and peace in Northern Ireland”.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, said: “I believe, when fully assessed and appreciated, the legacy of Cardinal Cahal Daly to the ecclesiastical and civil history of Ireland will be seen as immense”.

The Anglican Primate of All Ireland the Most Rev Alan Harper called Cardinal Daly a “most distinguished scholar” and an “outstanding leader”.

“During the most challenging of times the Cardinal gave wise and courageous leadership both as Bishop of Down and Connor and subsequently as Archbishop of Armagh,” he said.

“He was a fearless and forthright champion of peace and justice, always speaking out unambiguously on community issues during the darkest days of the Troubles.”