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St Mary's University College mournes last priest to head college

Fr Martin O'Callaghan
Fr Martin O'Callaghan Fr Martin O'Callaghan

THE last priest to lead St Mary's University College has been remembered as a dynamic, ambitious and passionate principal.

Fr Martin O'Callaghan (71) died on Tuesday at Nazareth Care Village following a long illness which, a family notice read, "he endured with courage and dignity".

Formerly a lecturer in Maynooth, Fr O'Callaghan joined the staff of the former St Joseph's Training College - which specialised in teacher education for males - in the early 1980s.

St Joseph's merged with St Mary's in 1985 and Fr O'Callaghan, a religious studies lecturer, was appointed principal of the amalgamated college in 1992.

Among his accomplishments was overseeing the college's academic integration with Queen's University Belfast, which allowed further expansion and the introduction of liberal arts degrees.

In early life, he attended St Mary's Grammar School in Belfast before studying at Queen's and Maynooth.

After his ordination in 1974 he served parishes including St Agnes' in west Belfast, Twinbrook, Hannahstown and was chaplain at the Mater Hospital.

He stepped down officially in 2007 from St Mary's.

In a statement, St Mary's said it mourned the passing of its former esteemed principal who would be "fondly remembered by a generation of students who attended St Mary’s".

"He was a very active member of the religious studies department and a key player in the college becoming a recognised theological college of Queen's. Fr Martin was a very popular lecturer with whom his students had a relaxed and warm rapport. He was dynamic by nature and ambitious in his teaching and learning goals," it said.

The statement addded that on becoming principal in September 1992 he "approached the role with the same traits which characterised his teaching".

"He was passionate about the distinctive contribution of service and excellence which the Catholic tradition brings to education and higher education all over the world. Fr Martin pioneered the transformation of the college into a religious, educational, cultural and social resource for the local community, he promoted the beginning of Irish-medium teacher education as well as an international dimension and he supported economic regeneration and social development initiatives."

The former St Mary's principal was also a strong advocate of outreach and enjoyed a highly collaborative working relationship with Dr Richard McMinn, principal of Stranmillis University College.

Fr O'Callaghan's remains will repose at Nazareth Care Village until removal to Good Shepherd Church on the Ormeau Road at 6pm this evening.

Funeral Mass will take place tomorrow at noon in Good Shepherd tomorrow, followed by burial in St Patrick's Cemetery, Crebilly, Ballymena.