CARDINAL CAHAL Daly has been buried at Armagh in the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral, alongside his three immediate predecessors as cardinal and primate of all-Ireland.
The 92-year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh was laid to rest alongside Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich following requiem Mass celebrated by Cardinal Seán Brady who was acting as personal legate for Pope Benedict XVI.
The mourners were led by the late cardinal’s immediate family, including his brother Paddy Daly and his sister Rosaleen Daly who shared rosary beads at the graveside as their brother’s coffin was lowered.
Also attending were Barbara and Mavis Daly, his sisters-in-law; his nieces and nephews including Fr Brian Daly, a priest of the diocese of Down and Connor where Cardinal Daly served as bishop between 1982 and his appointment to Armagh in 1990.
The State was represented by the President, Mary McAleese, and her husband Martin. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, was joined by the North’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward and his Northern Ireland Office colleague Paul Goggins.
Frank Feighan TD, from Roscommon, where the late cardinal’s father was born, represented the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny along with Dr James Riley TD, Fine Gael health spokesman. Former Stormont MP, Assembly member and Fine Gael TD Austin Currie also attended. Former taoisigh included John Bruton and Albert Reynolds.
A host of public representatives from the major Northern parties were in attendance. Among them were North Down MP Lady (Sylvia) Hermon of the Ulster Unionists and her colleague, the former Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP Lord (Ken) Maginnis.
Stormont Executive Minister and local MP Conor Murphy represented Sinn Féin while the Alliance Party delegation included leader David Ford and deputy leader and Belfast mayor Naomi Long.
There was a sizeable delegation from the SDLP including former leader John Hume, Foyle MP and leader Mark Durkan, deputy leader and South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell, South Down MP Eddie McGrady, Executive Minister Margaret Ritchie, and Assembly members Carmel Hanna, PJ Bradley, Dominic Bradley, John Dallat, Declan O’Loan and Tommy Gallagher.
Thomas O’Hanlon, mayor of Armagh, represented the city council.
Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Dame (Nuala) O’Loan attended as did Justin Kilcullen of Trócaire, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Lady (Christine) Eames, wife of the former Church of Ireland primate, and Government secretary general Dermot McCarthy
Lord (Robin) Eames, former Church of Ireland primate and close friend of Cardinal Daly, was present on the altar during the requiem Mass as was the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore Right Rev Harold Miller, who represented the current Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Alan Harper.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland the Rev Dr Stafford Carson, who was ill, was represented on the altar by Rev Dr Sam Hutchinson, retired Clerk of the Assembly, while representing the Methodist church on the altar was its president Rev Donald Ker.
Former Methodist president Rev Harold Good and the retired Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin Dr Donald Caird were in the congregation.
The main concelebrants of the Mass alongside Cardinal Brady were Fr Brian Daly, auxiliary bishop of Armagh Dermot Clifford; and Bishop Colm O’Reilly of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise where Dr Daly was first appointed bishop. Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor also concelebrated.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of Edinburgh and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, attended as did Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin and Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam.
Also in attendance were Bishop Bill Murphy of Kerry, Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe, Bishop John Fleming of Killala, Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns, Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore, Bishop Joseph Duffy of Clogher, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor Anthony Farquhar, Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Derry and Auxiliary Bishop of Derry Francis Lagan.
The choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral was conducted by Colm Murphy and Fr Eugene and Fr Martin O’Hagan, and Fr David Delargy – known as The Priests – sang the prayers of commendation at the end of the Mass.
Scripture readings, hymns and prayers were offered in English, Irish and also in French in recognition of the late Dr Daly’s affection for things Gallic. The Salve Regina was sung at the graveside by Sean Boylan.The final prayers offered at the graveside by Cardinal Brady and by Fr Eddie O’Donnell.