Derry’s churches united yesterday to sound the city’s farewell to former Catholic bishop Edward Daly.
As Requiem Mass began at St Eugene’s Cathedral, bells of all faiths tolled in unison to mark the passing of one of the city’s most popular leaders.
President Michael D Higgins was accompanied by representatives of Queen Elizabeth, the Irish government, British government and political leaders, north and south, for the funeral.
All leaders of Ireland’s Catholic faith were present for Dr Daly’s short final journey from the church where he served as Bishop of Derry to his last resting spot in a small garden by its doors.
They were joined by senior figures from Ireland's other main faiths.
However, it was the ordinary people of the city who paid the greatest tribute to the Fermanagh cleric that they took for their own.
St Eugene’s was packed to capacity with hundreds standing in the grounds to hear the burial prayers read over the churchman who led them through Derry’s darkest hours.
They included many people Dr Daly had helped along the way, as bishop and later as chaplain to the city’s Foyle Hospice.
Bishop Donal McKeown said: “The people of the diocese – and beyond – held Bishop Edward Daly in the highest regard for his loving faithfulness to them over a period of 59 years as a priest and bishop in this diocese.”
There was also a direct link to the day 59 years ago when Dr Daly was raised to the priesthood.
Bishop McKeown revealed that the chalice used in yesterday’s Mass had been given to the young Fr Daly as a gift from the people of his native Belleek to mark his ordination.
Dr Daly is forever tied with Bloody Sunday and that link was marked when Kay Duddy helped bring gifts to the altar.
It was a photograph of Bishop Daly waving a blood-stained handkerchief as he helped bring Ms Duddy’s teenage brother, Jackie, from the Bogside that day in 1972 that changed the life of the young Derry curate forever.
Archbishop Eamon Martin hailed Bishop Daly’s dignity and humility.
He said: “As I stand here at the very spot in this cathedral where Bishop Daly ordained me to the priesthood 29 years ago, I’m thinking: if only I could be even half the priest and bishop that he was, I know I’d be serving God well. Well done and thank you Bishop Daly, good and faithful servant.”
Dr Daly’s brother priests later carried him from his cathedral.
Then, as first priests and then the people sang, the haunting words of the Latin hymn Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) echoed over Derry as the city laid to rest one of its best-loved sons.
