01.06.2017
Death of Former Archbishop of Dublin, the Right Revd Dr Donald Caird
Statement of the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson
It is with intense sadness that we have learned today of the death during the night of the Right Reverend Dr Donald Caird, formerly archbishop of Dublin and bishop of Glendalough, having previously served as bishop of Limerick and Killaloe and bishop of Meath and Kildare in the Church of Ireland. As a diocesan family, we express our sympathy and our gratitude to his wife Nancy and to all members of his family. Dr Caird remained throughout his life a friend of all who knew him and of all he came to know. His affection for the people of Ireland and the Church of Ireland was unsurpassed. He loved the Irish language, was committed to it and excelled in it. In recent years he enjoyed the community of Brabazon House and was loved and cared for by its staff and residents and its chaplain Canon Adrian Empey with whom he shared a friendship since he was chaplain of Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.
He engaged personally, pastorally and intellectually with his environment and with its priorities. This commitment extended into all parts of his interaction with church and society, cultural and political life. His personality was characterized by a radiance of engagement that gave him great delight in other people throughout a long and cherished life. He will always be remembered for his contribution to the field of education and to critical understanding of everyday issues and to his championing of the Irish language as part of the weave of the Church of Ireland and of national life.
Countless individuals will have personal memories of Dr Caird. On a day such as this, these memories will come flooding back with warmth and with humour. The flourishing of others was the hearbeat of his humanity. Our prayers today are with his wife Nancy and all members of the Caird family. They have shared with us over countless decades a man who warmed our hearts and contributed richly to our lives.
“Tarrnocht a tháinig mé as broinn mo mháthar, Agus tarrnocht a fhillfidh mé inti arís. An Tiarna a bhronn orm, agus an Tiarna a rug uaim. Moladh le hainm an Tiarna.” Iób 1:21
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
The Most Reverend Dr Michael Jackson
Archbishop of Dublin
The Funeral Service of the Right Revd Donald Caird will be held in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Monday June 5 at 11 am.
[Biographical information below]
Is le fíor–bhrón a tháinig scéala chugainn faoi bhás Iar–Ardeaspag Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Easpag Gleann Dá Locha, an tSár Oirmhinneach Dochtúir Donal Caird, i rith na hoíche. Sular rinneadh Ardeaspag de chaith sé roinnt blianta mar Easpag ar Luimneach agus Cill Dalua agus le himeacht aimsire mar Easpag ar an Mhí agus Cill Dara in Eaglais na hÉireann. Le mór bhuíochas dá shaol déanaimid comhbhrón lena bhean chéile Nancy, agus a chlann iomlán. Ba dianchara é leo siúd lena raibh sé i dteagmháil i rith a shaol agus iadsan leis. Cion gan sárú a bhí aige do mhuintir na hÉireann agus d’Eaglais na hÉireann. Bhí grá mór aige don Ghaeilge, agus líofacht inti dá bharr. Le déanaí chaith sé roinnt blianta i gcuideachta mhuintir Brabazon House agus is ansin a fuair sé an–chúnamh agus aire ón bhfoireann ansin agus ón tSéiplíneach, an Canónach Adrian Empey, cara leis ó laethanta a chaith sé mar shéiplíneach Scoil Ríoga Portora, Inis Ceithleann.
Ghabh sé go díograiseach le gach a tháinig chuige i réimsí pearsanta, spioradálta agus intleachtúla, thar na gnéithe fairsing a bhaineann leis an saol, ina measc – creideamh, cultúr, an tsochaí agus an saol polaitiúil. Ba mhór leis daoine i rith a shaol, agus is ina dteannta a tháinig a shainiúlacht bhríomhar chun cinn. Beidh cuimhne i gcónaí air mar dhuine a rinne plé ionraic agus fadbhreathnaitheach ar chúrsaí oideachais chomh maith le gnáth chúrsaí an tsaoil lena raibh sé ag plé. Aidhm eile a bhí aige ná an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i saol na hEaglaise agus sa saol náisiúnta chomh maith.
Spreagfaidh an scéal faoi bhás an Dochtúir Caird iliomad cuimhní mánla agus barrúil air. B’ansa leis aibíocht talainne agus éirime gach duine. Guímis inniu ar son a bhean chéile Nancy agus gach baill de mhuintir Caird. Thar na blianta fada dá shaol is go fial a roinn siad a chuid ama linn agus ba mhór an sonas agus tairbhe a fágadh linn dá bharr.
“Tarrnocht a tháinig mé as broinn mo mháthar, Agus tarrnocht a fhillfidh mé inti arís. An Tiarna a bhronn orm, agus an Tiarna a rug uaim. Moladh le hainm an Tiarna.” Iób 1:21
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson
Archbishop of Dublin
The Rt Revd Prof Donald Arthur Richard Caird was born on 11 December 1925 in Dublin, the third son of George and Emily Caird. He was educated at Wesley College (1936–44) – where he represented the College on the 1st XV Rugby Cup Team – and at Trinity College, Dublin (BA 1949, MA 1955, BD 1955, HDipEd 1959); he was a distinguished undergraduate scholar, taking a 1st Class Moderatorship in Philosophy, being Scholar of the House and receiving several prizes including being Kyle Prizeman in the Irish Language. He received an Hon DD in 1988 and and Hon LLD 1993.
He was ordained Deacon in 1950; Priest in 1951 and Bishop in 1970.
He was a Curate in St Mark’s Church, Dundela, Belfast (1950–53); Assistant Master and Chaplain at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen (1953–7); Lecturer in Philosophy, St David’s University College, Lampeter, Wales (1957–9); Rector of Rathmichael Parish Church, Shankill, Dublin (1960–9); Assistant Master of St Columba’s College, Dublin (1960–7); Lecturer in Philosophy of Religion, Divinity Hostel, Dublin (1962–70); Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at TCD (1962–3); Dean of Ossory (1969–70); Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert & Aghadoe (1970–76); Bishop of Meath & Kildare (1976–85); Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland (1985–96).
He retired in April 1996 and was a Visiting Professor at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, USA, from 1997.
He married Nancy Ballantyne Sharpe in 1963 and the couple had three children, Ann, John and Helen.
An insightful biography of Donald Caird written by Aonghus Dwane was published in 2014: Donald Caird: Church of Ireland Bishop, Gaelic Churchman, A Life (Columba Press), recognizing his lifelong interests in the Irish language and ecumenism which led to him being well known in Irish society.