12.01.2022
Tribute to the late Bishop Brian Hannon from Dean and Chapter of St Patrick’s Cathedral
Funeral arrangements have been announced.
Warm tribute has been paid by the Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin to the former Bishop of Clogher, the Right Reverend Brian Hannon, “whose life and ministry were the epitome of the search for the healing of conflict in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles.”
In expressing the condolences of the Chapter of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to Bishop Hannon’s wife Maeve, and sons, Desmond, Brendan and Neil, the Very Reverend Dr William Morton said that the bishop had striven always to offer spiritual and pastoral support and leadership through the most difficult years of violence in Northern Ireland.
As an ordinand, Dr Morton recalled attending a memorial service in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in November 1987 for the victims of the Enniskillen bombing one week earlier. In a landmark address, for which he received a sustained standing ovation, Bishop Hannon thanked the full capacity congregation, including the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Carmencita Hederman, and political and community leaders from all over Ireland, “for the wave of prayer and compassion that has surrounded those bereaved and injured in Enniskillen and for the new determination by so many to say to all our fellow countrymen, ‘No more of this’. Nothing in Ireland, in the Republic, or in Northern Ireland, could justify such an atrocity, he said.
The Dean at that time was Dr Victor Griffin whom Bishop Hannon succeeded as Rector of Christ Church, Londonderry in 1969 where he remained until 1982 before being appointed Rector of Enniskillen, and subsequently Dean of Clogher, and Bishop of Clogher. Dean Morton also recalls attending a meeting of The Irish College of Preachers led by Bishop Hannon who delighted all present with his skills as a gifted pianist, a musical tradition which has been carried on by his son Neil, and his highly–rated band The Divine Comedy.
Funeral Service of Bishop Brian Hannon
Meanwhile, the funeral service of Bishop Hannon, takes place tomorrow, Thursday January 13, at 1pm in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, where he had served as Rector and Dean before becoming Bishop.
The service, which will have restricted numbers of people attending due to social distancing regulations, will be livestreamed on the Enniskillen Cathedral website: www.enniskillencathedral.com
The Dean of Clogher, the Very Revd Kenneth Hall, will welcome everyone to the funeral service which will be led by Archdeacon Brian Harper who is also Rector of Magheracross (Ballinamallard). He will be assisted by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell; the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, and the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr Ian Ellis. The address will be given by Right Revd the Lord Eames OM, former Archbishop of Armagh. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher will be represented by Monsignor Peter O’Reilly.
The service will be followed by a private family burial in Craghan Cemetery, Ballinamallard, with the cortege passing the late Bishop’s home and along Main Street, Ballinamallard.
Bishop Hannon died on Monday morning and is survived by his wife Maeve and sons, Desmond, Brendan and Neil, and brothers David and Michael.