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Edward Daly was a bishop who focused on the needs of his flock

Bishop Edward Daly welcomes Monsignor Eamon Martin back to his home city it was announced that Monsignor Martin was to become Archbishop of Armagh. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.
Bishop Edward Daly welcomes Monsignor Eamon Martin back to his home city it was announced that Monsignor Martin was to become Archbishop of Armagh. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin. Bishop Edward Daly welcomes Monsignor Eamon Martin back to his home city it was announced that Monsignor Martin was to become Archbishop of Armagh. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin.

ONE of the most innovative churchmen of his generation, Bishop Edward Daly combined spiritual and pastoral care for his flock.

Born in Ballyshannon in Co Donegal in 1933 and raised in nearby Belleek, he was educated at St Columb’s College in Derry before training for the priesthood in Rome.

As a young priest at the St Eugene’s Cathedral parish in Derry city, the then Fr Daly was given responsibility for the Bogside.

He saw at first-hand the chronic poverty and unionist gerrymander which would ultimately lead to the Troubles.

Following ordination in 1957, Fr Daly took a lead in cultural matters in Derry. He founded the city’s successful Colmcille Ladies’ Choir and produced drama with the “71 Players.”

However, all changed when he witnessed at first hand the day which was to become known as Bloody Sunday. He believed that experience led to his selection as bishop in March 1974.

Among the many challenges Bishop Daly had to contend with were the daily violent attacks across his diocese.

With the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, he played a major role in the church’s efforts to find a solution to the 1981 hunger strike.

In 1987, his stand against the use of church property for paramilitary funerals placed him on a head-on collision course with the IRA and Sinn Féin leadership.

He also had to deal with claims that one of his priests, Fr Jim Chesney had a role in one of the worst atrocities, the 1972 Claudy bombing.

Following his own investigation, Bishop Daly concluded that Chesney was not involved.

Dr Daly was always a keen supporter of ecumenism. With then Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, James Mehaffey, he embarked on a series of initiatives including the launch of Derry’s “Two Cathedrals Festival.”

Dr Daly recognised the need to provide physical as well as spiritual leadership and was instrumental in establishing the “Inner City Trust.”

This was a charity which redeveloped Derry’s bombed out heart while providing skills training for young men and women from the city.

Plagued by ill health, Bishop Daly suffered from various forms of cancer before he was eventually forced to retire early after suffering a stroke.

However, he refused to give up ministry and worked for 20 years as chaplain to Derry’s Foyle Hospice, a position he only relinquished in February 2016.

However, even in semi-retirement Dr Daly wasn’t ready to go quietly. When he published his memoirs, he included a call to allow priests to marry. The call found little favour with the church leadership.

For all that, Dr Daly said he was, above all else, a priest.

Writing in 2011, he said: “It is a most meaningful way of life that gives me purpose and direction.”