Archbishop Diarmuid Martin With the current archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, sending his resignation to Pope Francis on his birthday in just over a month, April 8, The Irish Catholic looks at some likely contenders in the search for a new leader.
Bishop of Ossory Dermot Farrell – ‘The Manager’
As a former President of Maynooth College with a strong insight into the situation of the Church around the country, Ossory’s bishop is certainly a contender to take up this post.
Although it’s rare for bishops to be moved from one diocese to another, it’s not unheard of – Kerry’s Bishop Kevin McNamara (1926-1987) served for three years as Archbishop of Dublin before his premature death. This move is all the more likely as Ossory is in the Dublin metropolitan province, and so is a cousin of the archdiocese.
After returning from Rome where he served as Director of Formation in the Pontifical Irish College, Bishop Farrell was appointed a Curate in Tullamore parish in 1988 and lectured in Moral Theology at Maynooth. He was eventually appointed Vice President of St Patrick’s College in 1993, and then President in 1996.
He has served as parish priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride, meaning he is aware of the challenges the Church is facing at a local level. With a reputation for being decisive and a good manager, Bishop Farrell is definitely on the cards and is believed to be a favoured choice in Archbishop’s House.
Bishop Paul Tighe – ‘The Lawyer’
While this name may not be familiar to many, Bishop Tighe is a high-ranking Irish prelate working in the Roman Curia. Originally from Co. Meath, he was consecrated a bishop in 2016 and has been the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture since October 2017. This council subsumed the older Council for dialogue with Non-Believers by Pope Paul VI in 1965, and is the Vatican’s means of engaging with people who don’t necessarily identify with the Faith.
He’s very well-regarded and has plenty of experience in Dublin given that he was parish chaplain and teacher in Ballyfermot, and was appointed head of the Theology department in the Mater Dei Institute of Education in 2000.
In 2004, he was named the director of the Communications Office of the archdiocese, and subsequently established its Office for Public Affairs, working closely with the archbishop in dialoguing with public bodies and non-governmental organisations.
Described by Armagh’s Archbishop Eamon Martin as having a “strong pastoral outlook” and “a fine theological mind”, the law-educated bishop could certainly return to Dublin to take up this role.
Msgr Ciarán O’Carroll – ‘The Historian’
It has been speculated for a number of years that this Dublin native is a forerunner to be the new archbishop. Msgr Carroll is currently Rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, and so is well-known by the Curia. Before this 2011 appointment, he was the Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation in the Archdiocese of Dublin and Administrator of the Catholic University Church on St Stephen’s Green.
Not only is Msgr O’Carroll known for his robust pastoral background – he ministered in a number of parishes including Naul, Sutton, Rathmines and Saggart – but also his academic strengths.
A graduate of UCD and Rome’s Gregorian University, he holds a doctorate in ecclesiastical history and has been the author of several publications on the subject including a study of a previous rector of the Irish College Paul Cardinal Cullen – Portrait of a Practical Nationalist (2008). On top of this, Fr O’Carroll has lectured in ecclesiastical history at a number of third level institutes including Holy Cross College in Clonliffe, Dublin, and at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Fr John Dardis, SJ – ‘The CEO’
If Pope Francis wants to appoint a Jesuit brother as Primate of Ireland, Fr John Dardis is the obvious choice. While there’s not a great tradition of promoting Jesuits to the role of Irish bishop, the 2017 selection of Raphoe’s Bishop Alan McGuckian shows there’s always an exception to the rule.
Ordained in 1987, Fr Dardis played an instrumental role in establishing Dublin’s Jesuit Communication Centre in 1989, becoming its first director. His abilities only strengthened when he spent three months with Radio Kwizera in Tanzania and Rwanda in response to the increasing numbers of refugees fleeing from the Rwandan genocide, and the volatility around the African Great Lakes Region into the Western parts of Tanzania.
Upon his return to Ireland, Fr Dardis became Dublin Archdiocese PRO and Communication Director, and he later became Provincial of the Irish Jesuits indicating his strong leadership skills. Fr Dardis did a root and branch reform of the Irish Jesuit Provence. He is currently based in Rome, working as a General Counsellor for Discernment and Apostolic Planning, but before this appointment, he was the President of the European Provincial Conference from 2010-2017.
Given that the archbishop’s post is a national role, alongside the fact that Brexit may throw Ireland into political disarray, a candidate who has deep connections in Europe might be the best fit. His ability to make structural decisions will be of advantage.
Kildare and Leighlin’s Bishop Denis Nulty – ‘The Pastor’
Known for his strong media presence and ability to defend the Faith on divisive topics like same-sex marriage and divorce, the 64-year-old would be a suitable candidate to fill the archbishop’s shoes.
With over 30 years of clerical experience, the Slane-born prelate served as a priest in Meath and Drogheda before his 2013 bishop appointment. Bishop Nulty is also familiar with the Dublin area as he followed a course of study in All Hallows College, leading to an MA in Management for the Pastoral and Voluntary Services being awarded by DCU.
His other roles which include Chairman of the Council for Marriage and the Family, and Member of the Council for Clergy, show that he’s definitely prepared for the administrative and pastoral duties the job of archbishop requires. Friendly and well-liked, plenty of laity across the country would be overjoyed to see this appointment.
Dr Charles Brown – ‘The Diplomat’
When Dr Charles Brown was appointed as Papal ambassador to Dublin in 2011, he was an unlikely candidate since he had not come from the Vatican’s diplomatic academy.
The New Yorker – who is now 60 years old – had worked closely with Benedict XVI and was the Pontiff’s hand-pick for a Church that was reeling from revelations of abuse mishandling and episcopal resignations.
Archbishop Brown moved quickly to express the Pope’s closeness to Irish people and in a break from his predecessors, toured the country speaking at parishes and celebrating Masses in every corner of the island.
Despite spending decades of his priesthood in administration, his work with the Missionaries of Charity has given him a lively pastoral sense.
While theologically conservative, he has always shown himself as someone who is able to engage with different points of view.
He was well-liked by many priests who experienced his pastoral skills on visits to their parishes.
He has been Apostolic Nuncio to Albania since 2017 and his appointment as Archbishop of Dublin would show the sort of creativity that Pope Francis is known for. It’s a long shot to be sure, but it would be a bold move that would enliven the Church in Dublin with a leader with a keen sense of all the many challenges without being an insider. He would also be a strong media performer and an influential voice on the bishops’ conference.
He has garnered an intimate understanding of the reception of Faith”
Dr Gareth Byrne – ‘The Educator’
There’s perhaps no better person that appreciates the religious challenges Ireland faces today than this Dublin priest. Having twice been Chairperson of the Council of Priests – the advisory body to the Archdiocese of Dublin – Dr Byrne has garnered an intimate and comprehensive understanding of the reception of the Faith in the country. But his impressive pedigree extends beyond this; he is currently Associate Professor of Religious Education, and Director of the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education at the DCU Institute of Education.
This former school chaplain is a dark horse running in this race.