New Archbishop of Dublin

New Zealand Tablet, 3 November 1921, Page 21

New Archbishop of Dublin

The Pope has appointed as Archbishop of Dublin the Most Rev, Edward. Byrne, Bishop of Spigaz, Assistant Bishop to the late Most Rev. Dr. Walsh (says a Reuter’s Rome cablegram to the Irish press). The new Archbishop, wffio was raised to the episcopate last year, is a native of Dublin,, having been born at Longwood Avenue, 5.0. R., in May, 1872. His family came originally from Co. Wicklow. His Grace received his early education, in Belvedere College and Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, and he graduated with honors in the Royal University. In 1892 he went to the Irish College, Rome, Avhere his pourse was marked by many distinctions, and he was ordained in Rome in 1895.

Soon afterwards in the same year he returned to Ireland, and held curacies in Rush, Rollestown, Howth, and Blackrock. In 1901 he was appointed Vice-Rector of the Irish College, Rome. For three years he remained Vice-Rector, and during.that time brought great powers of administration to bear on his work. At the close of his three years’ term he was, at his own request, brought back to Ireland, and it was then that he was given a curacy in the Pro-Cathedral. For about 15 years he labored in that capacity, and proved himself a most devoted priest. Of a retiring disposition, he was known to be a man of great intellectual powers, while his personality was irresistibly charming. Of tall and stately presence, ho is eminently fitted to command respect and veneration, and this by . a natural, ‘quiet, mild dignity rather than by any obtrusive characteristic. His college life and his career of active priesthood, especially in the Pro-Cathedral parish, have combined to render him equally at home among his ecclesiastical colleagues or among the poor of a crowded city parish, and in an especial degree in the latter case have his qualities of gentleness and charity been put into practice, and impressed'on all with whom his ministrations brought him into association. As a preacher he has won high opinions, his convincing eloquence being such as to command the attention and admiration of any congregation. His remarkably able panegyric following the death; of the late Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Bishop of Canea, created a profound impression. It is noteworthy, that Dr. Byrne was transferred from a simple curacy to the episcopate, when, at the comparatively early age of 48, he was, in succession to Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, appointed ih 1920 Titular Bishop of Spigaz and assistant to the late Archbishop of Dublin. The Most Rev. Dr. Byrne’s election to the episcopate marks the third instance within living memory in which a curate was‘directly appointed a Bishop, the two previous instances being {he appointments 'the late Most Rev. Dr. O’Dwyer-'and the late Most Rev. Dr. McCormack.