A PRIEST who became known around the world during the loyalist protests at Holy Cross school has said a rare return to the Belfast parish for a wedding felt like "coming home".
Fr Aidan Troy was specially invited to officiate yesterday at the wedding of Mary McLaughlin and Martin Kealey at Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne.
It was the first marriage the 69-year-old has celebrated in the north Belfast parish since his move to work in Paris in 2008.
The hugely popular priest arrived at Holy Cross in 2001 as the primary school made global headlines when loyalists protested against Catholic schoolgirls walking through the area.
Fr Troy expressed delight yesterday at returning "home".
"It's nice to get back to a place you know. I spent seven years here and they were seven very interesting years in a place that I absolutely love," he said.
"The warmth of the people just comes home to you, just how utterly kind they are, and they're glad to see you back – and also want to know if you're coming back to stay."
The Passionist priest, originally from Bray in Co Wicklow, added: "It's a bit like coming home. Sometimes you are not sure in a church where the books and microphones are, but when you come here you know where things are.
"I feel at home in this place, and that's always nice."
Fr Troy said he tries to keep informed of news in the north while in Paris and was following events over the Twelfth.
Loyalists rioted after a contentious Orange Order parade was blocked from marching past the Ardoyne area.
"I am always hoping and praying that there will be a way found that we will be able to all walk together to resolve this," he said.
"I'm always hopeful that people will be safe, and people will find a way."
A teenage girl was also injured after becoming trapped under a car driven on the Crumlin Road by a senior Orangeman, who has since been charged with attempted murder.
Fr Troy said he would have known the family of injured 16-year-old Phoebe Clawson and was "very sad" to hear about the crash.
"I was very sad about the girl who got knocked down but it's good that she seems to be recovering," he said.
The priest said he has returned on a few occasions for meetings and events but yesterday was his first wedding since his departure.
He described the celebrations held at 1pm yesterday, which were attended by about 130 people, as "gorgeous" and "wonderful".
Fr Troy said he stayed at Holy Cross Monastery on Friday night and following the reception in Templepatrick will travel to Dublin today before returning to Paris after the weekend.
He said he was pleased to return to Belfast and see many changes in the city.
"I think it's wonderful that I see new restaurants and new shops. I know it's a very difficult time economically but I just find there is very much a more relaxed atmosphere in the city centre and the suburbs," he said.
"I have met people who live in Paris who have went to Belfast and come back with such glowing reports."
