The centenary of the birth of former all-Ireland primate Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich is to be marked with the unveiling of a blue plaque at his Co Armagh birthplace.
Born on November 3 1923 at 'An Chrosbhóthar’ on the Kiltybane Road in Cullyhanna, Cardinal O'Fiach was an accomplished gaelgoir and scholar with a profound interest in folk lore and history.
His home parish of Lower Creggan has the unique distinction of producing two cardinals, the other being Cardinal John Murphy Farley, Archbishop of New York in the early 20th century.
The Ulster History Circle commemorative plaque will be officially unveiled at noon on Friday by his successor Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland Eamon Martin.
Tomás Ó Fiaich was born on 3rd November 1923 as Thomas James Fee, the second son of schoolteacher parents, Patrick Fee and Annie Carragher. At various times both parents taught at Cregganduff public elementary school. His older brother Patrick became the doctor in nearby Crossmaglen.
As a young boy Tomás entered Cregganduff school where is father was headmaster before attending St Patrick’s College Armagh, where in 1940 he gained a scholarship to St Patrick’s College Maynooth.
He was ordained in July 1948 and continued his studies in UCD and at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
He adopted the Gaelic version of his name while teaching at Maynooth in the early 1950s.
From I959-I974 he was professor of modern history and became vice president of Maynooth and latterly president of the college.
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In spite of his academic background, Tomás Ó Fiaich was appointed to the vacant archbishopric of Armagh and the Primacy of all Ireland in August I977. He was raised to cardinal just two years later in I979 and continued to follow his deep interest in Irish and local history.
In 1980, the cardinal received the Irish American Cultural Institute Award for translating the Bible into Irish and among his publications are Oliver Plunkett, Dánta and Saint Oliver of Armagh.
Ulster History Circle chair Chris Spurr said Cardinal O'Fiach, who died in 1990 aged 66 while leading a diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, was renowned for "his dedication to the Church, to Celtic history and to Irish language".
He said he would be remembered as an "inspiring leader and champion".
"On the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Ulster History Circle is pleased to commemorate the archbishop, historian, scholar, and Gael with a blue plaque at his birthplace, and the circle is particularly grateful to Foras na Gaelige for their financial support, and to the Creggan History Society for their kind assistance," he said.’
