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Tribute to the Late Dr Donal Caird from Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise
An tEaspag Dónall Caird, ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
(English version below)
An tEaspag Dónall Caird 1925–2017
Is cúis mhór brón dúinn cloisint faoi bhás an Easpaig Donall Caird. Meala mór a bhás dá chlann uile, agus go háirithe dá bhean cheile fial, Nancy. Fear uasal, lách, séimh a bhí ann, tírghráthóir de chineál dílis oscailte, mac dílis d’Eaglais na hÉireann, ceannaire pobail agus Gaeilgeoir go smior.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
Bhí cáil mhór ar an Easpag Dónall Caird, a théann i bhfad thar limistéar phobal Eaglais na hÉireann. Chuir sé an–suim sa Ghaeilge, san Oideachas agus san Fhealsúnacht le linn a shaol.
Rugadh Dónall i mí na Nollag 1925. D’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste Wesley ó 1936 go 1944, agus is sa thréimhse seo a chuir sé suim sa Ghaeilge ar dtús.
D’fhreastail sé ar sheirbhís in Ardeaglais Naomh Pádraig, agus chuir sé iontas air a chomh–chreidmhigh a chloisteáil i mbun adhartha trí Ghaeilge. Thug sé a chéad chuairt ar Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne agus ar an Bhlascaod Mhór. D’aimsigh sé Séipéal Chill Maoilchéadair agus pobal Protastúnach Gaeltachta, agus d’fhás a ghrá don teanga ó shin i leith.
Bhí Dónall ina mhac léinn i gColáiste na Tríonóide idir 1944 agus 1950. Oirníodh mar dheagánach é i 1950, agus mar shagart i 1951. Níos déanaí, ceapadh mar reachtaire é ar Pharóiste Rath Mhichíl, Sean Cill, Baile Átha Cliath. Phós sé le Nancy Ballatyne–Sharpe sa bhliain 1963. Tá beirt iníon acu, Ann (pósta le Richard agus trí pháistí acu) agus Helen, agus mac, John (pósta le Julie agus cúig pháiste acu).
I 1970 toghadh mar Easpag ar Luimneach, Ard Fearta agus Achadh Deo é. Sna 1970idí, bhíodh seirbhísí Gaeilge á reáchtáil sa samhradh i Séipéal Chill Maoilchéadair, agus Seán Ó Riada agus Cór Chúil Aodha rannpháirteach ann.
Ceapadh mar bhall de Bhord na Gaeilge i 1975 é nuair a bhí an Dr TK Whitaker ina chathaoirleach. Bhí Dónall mar easpag ar an Mhí agus Cill Dara idir 1976 agus 1985, sular toghadh mar Ardeaspag ar Bhaile Átha Cliath é. Bhí sé mar Chathaoirleach ar Choláiste Móibhí, an t–aon scoil lán–Ghaeilge Protastúnach sa tír.
Labhair Dónall ag neart ócáidí Gaeilge thar na blianta, mar shampla ag Éigse na Máighe i gCo Luimnigh, seoladh Bhíobla Naofa Mhaigh Nuad, Seirbhís d’Ard Fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge i gColáiste na Tríonóide i 1993, Éigse Thomáis Bháin in Inis Meáin i 1996 agus eile. Chuir sé aistriúchán Béarla ar roinnt iomainn Ghaeilge sa Church Hymnal.
D’éirigh sé as mar Ardeaspag i 1996. Sa bhliain 2000, scríobh an t–údar Risteard Ó Glaisne nach maireann, caibidil faoi Dhónall ina leabhar “De Bhunadh Protastúnach”. I 2006, thug Dónall léacht faoi Dhúghlas de hÍde ag Scoil Samhradh na hAthbheochana Ceiltigh ar Inis Oírr.
Bhí cónaí air agus é ar scor i nDún Laoghaire le Nancy. Ó am go chéile, rinne sé ceiliúradh ar an Eocairist i nGaeilge in Ardteampall Chríost do Chumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, agus bhí sé i láthair ‘chuile bhliain ag an tSeirbhís Idirchreidmheach Gaeilge do Sheachtain na hAontachta Críostaí, a eagraíonn Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise agus Pobal an Aifrinn.
In 2010, bhí Dónall ag ceiliúradh 50 bliain ó ceapadh mar reachtaire é, agus 40 bliain mar Easpag. Bronnadh Gradam an Phiarsaigh air ar an 22 Aibreán 2010 mar aitheantas dá chuid oibre don teanga, agus ghlac Nancy leis ar a shon. I 2014, bhí ceiliúradh in Ardteampall Chríost nuair a sheol an Breitheamh Catherine McGuinness beathaisnéis ar a shaol le Aonghus Dwane.
Le blianta beaga anuas, bhí cónaí air i dteach altranais Brabazon i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
Bishop Donald Caird, may he rest in peace.
Bishop Donald Caird 1925–2017
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of former Archbishop of Dublin Donald Caird. His passing represents a great loss to his family, particularly his devoted wife Nancy. He was a gentleman, kind, warm and open hearted, a patriot in the best, open and inclusive sense, a loyal son of the Church of Ireland, a leader of his community and a committed Irish speaker.
Bishop Donald Caird was well known in many circles beyond the Church of Ireland community. He took a keen interest in the Irish language and in many other fields including education and philosophy.
Donald was born in December 1925. He attended Wesley College from 1936 to 1944 and it was during this period that he first became interested in the Irish language.
He attended services in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was enthralled to hear the congregation worship in the Irish language. He paid his first visit to the Gaeltacht in West Kerry, and became acquainted with Corca Dhuibhne and the Great Blasket Island. He discovered the local Protestant community worshipping in the church of Kilmalkeadar and his love of the language continued to grow from that point.
Donald was a student in Trinity College from 1944 to 1950. He was ordained as Deacon in 1950 and as Priest in 1951. Later, he was appointed as Rector to Rathmichael Parish, Shankill, Dublin. He married Nancy Ballatyne–Sharpe in 1963. They have two daughters, Ann (married to Richard, with three children) and Helen; and one son, John (married to Julie, with five children). In 1970 he was elected Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe. In the 1970s services in Irish were held during the summer in the Church in Kilmalkeader and Seán Ó Riada and the Cúil Aodha choir performed there.
Donald was appointed as a member of Bord na Gaeilge in 1975 during the chairmanship of Dr TK Whitaker. He served as Bishop of Meath and Kildare from 1976 to 1985 before being elected as Archbishop of Dublin. He was Chairman of Coláiste Móibhí, the only all–Irish Protestant secondary school in the State.
Donald spoke at many Irish language cultural events over the years, including Éigse na Máighe in Co. Limerick, the launch of the Maynooth Irish Bible, the service in Trinity College in 1993 for Conradh na Gaeilge’s centenary Ard Fheis, Éigse Thomáis Bháin in Inis Meáin in 1996, among others. He also translated a number of hymns into Irish for the Church Hymnal.
He retired as Archbishop in 1996. In 2000, the late Risteard Ó Glaisne included a chapter on Donald Caird in his book “De Bhunadh Protastúnach”. In 2006, Donald lectured on Douglas Hyde at the Celtic Revival Summer School on Inis Oírr.
In retirement, he lived with Nancy in Dún Laoghaire. From time to time he celebrated the Eucharist in Irish in Christ Church Cathedral as the request of the Irish Guild of the Church and he faithfully attended the annual Interdenominational Service in Irish during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organised by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise and Pobal an Aifrinn.
In 2010, Dónall celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination and the 40th anniversary of his election as Bishop. He was presented with the Patrick Pearse Award (Gradam an Phiarsaigh), on 22nd April 2010 in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of the Irish language, accepted by Nancy on his behalf. In 2014, he was present at the launch by Judge Catherine McGuinness of his biography (written by Aonghus Dwane) in Christ Church Cathedral.
In recent times he resided at Brabazon House in Dublin.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.