Brian D'Arcy
Encyclopedia
Father Brian D'Arcy C.P. (born 1945) is a Passionist
priest
based in Enniskillen
, County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. A noted author, newspaper columnist, broadcaster and preacher, he serves as Rector
of St. Gabriel's Retreat, the Graan. D'Arcy has authored over ten books including A Little Bit of Religion and A Little Bit of Healing.
in County Fermanagh. His father Hugh worked at Enniskillen railway station and had been a notable Gaelic Athletic Association
footballer in his youth. The young D'Arcy's education began in a local school before he was sent to the Christian Brothers School in Omagh
. Having successfully sat the Eleven Plus
exam, he entered St. Michael's College, Enniskillen. He later studied scholastic philosophy at UCD
.
at the Passionist monastery in Enniskillen. A year later he was transferred to Mount Argus in Dublin. He was ordained a priest in December 1969.
In his early years as a priest, D'Arcy became an unofficial chaplain to the showbusiness community in Dublin, visiting dancehalls seven nights a week and hearing confession
s from musicians and fans alike. Such was his fame during this period that he reportedly became the inspiration for Dermot Morgan
's character, Father Brian Trendy.
Father D'Arcy has publicly opposed the existing displinary norms regarding clerical celibacy
and has sought the possibility to ordain married priests.
called Religion and Ethics on the air. Since July 1976 he has written the "Father Brian's Little Bit of Religion" column for the Sunday World
.
On Sunday 15 April 2007, D'Arcy replaced Canon Roger Royle
on the long standing BBC Radio 2
Show, Sunday Half Hour
.
On Wednesday 8 September 2010, Fr D'Arcy appeared on the primetime BBC 1 programme "The One Show" discussing the Pope's upcoming trip to the United Kingdom.
of Doctor of Letters
(DLitt) in recognition of his services to the promotion of religious understanding on 30 June 2009 from the University of Ulster
.
Fr. D'Arcy accused the Vatican of hiding behind legal procedures in not dealing with allegations of child abuse within the church. Following the report's publication he has called for a radical re-formation of the church's structures and resignations of high-ranking figures within the Irish Catholic Church.
Passionist
The Passionists are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross . Professed members use the initials C.P. after their names.-History:St...
priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
based in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
, County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. A noted author, newspaper columnist, broadcaster and preacher, he serves as Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Gabriel's Retreat, the Graan. D'Arcy has authored over ten books including A Little Bit of Religion and A Little Bit of Healing.
Early life
D'Arcy grew up in the village of BellanaleckBellanaleck
Bellanaleck is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It lies just south of Enniskillen on the main A509 road from Ballyshannon to Dublin...
in County Fermanagh. His father Hugh worked at Enniskillen railway station and had been a notable Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
footballer in his youth. The young D'Arcy's education began in a local school before he was sent to the Christian Brothers School in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
. Having successfully sat the Eleven Plus
Eleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
exam, he entered St. Michael's College, Enniskillen. He later studied scholastic philosophy at UCD
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
.
Pastoral life
In September 1962, at the age of 17, D'Arcy became a noviceNovice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
at the Passionist monastery in Enniskillen. A year later he was transferred to Mount Argus in Dublin. He was ordained a priest in December 1969.
In his early years as a priest, D'Arcy became an unofficial chaplain to the showbusiness community in Dublin, visiting dancehalls seven nights a week and hearing confession
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
s from musicians and fans alike. Such was his fame during this period that he reportedly became the inspiration for Dermot Morgan
Dermot Morgan
Dermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
's character, Father Brian Trendy.
Father D'Arcy has publicly opposed the existing displinary norms regarding clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy
Clerical celibacy is the discipline by which some or all members of the clergy in certain religions are required to be unmarried. Since these religions consider deliberate sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior outside of marriage to be sinful, clerical celibacy also requires abstension from these...
and has sought the possibility to ordain married priests.
Media career
D'Arcy hosts a weekly radio programme on BBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
called Religion and Ethics on the air. Since July 1976 he has written the "Father Brian's Little Bit of Religion" column for the Sunday World
Sunday World
The Sunday World is an Irish newspaper published by Sunday Newspapers Limited, a division of Independent News and Media. It is the largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland and is also sold in Northern Ireland .-Origins:The Sunday World was Ireland's first tabloid newspaper...
.
On Sunday 15 April 2007, D'Arcy replaced Canon Roger Royle
Roger Royle
Roger Royle is an Anglican priest and broadcaster. He has been most well known for presenting Sunday Half Hour on BBC Radio 2.- Early life :...
on the long standing BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
Show, Sunday Half Hour
Sunday Half Hour
Sunday Half Hour is a long-standing show broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in the United Kingdom.It is broadcast on Sunday evenings between 8:30pm and 9:00pm and focuses on Christian hymns and prayer. It is one of only two remaining Christian based shows on Radio 2, the other being Good Morning Sunday...
.
On Wednesday 8 September 2010, Fr D'Arcy appeared on the primetime BBC 1 programme "The One Show" discussing the Pope's upcoming trip to the United Kingdom.
Awards
D'Arcy received the honorary degreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
(DLitt) in recognition of his services to the promotion of religious understanding on 30 June 2009 from the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
.
Response to Murphy Report
After the publication of the Murphy ReportMurphy Report
The Murphy Report is the brief name of the report of an investigation conducted by government of Ireland into the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin...
Fr. D'Arcy accused the Vatican of hiding behind legal procedures in not dealing with allegations of child abuse within the church. Following the report's publication he has called for a radical re-formation of the church's structures and resignations of high-ranking figures within the Irish Catholic Church.