4th July 2002

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Two of Northern Ireland’s leading churchmen, Dr Sean Brady and Dr Robin Eames, were today honoured by the University of Ulster.

Dr Sean Brady is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh. A native of Laragh, Co Cavan, he was ordained a priest in 1964 and received a Doctorate in Canon Law at the Lateran University three years later.

His first appointment was as professor in St Patrick’s College, Cavan from 1967-80 when he was appointed Vice-Rector of the Irish College in Rome. He became Rector in 1987, a post he held until 1993 when he returned to Ireland to become Parish Priest of Castletara, Co Cavan.

In February 1995 he was ordained Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh and on the retirement of Cardinal Cahal Daly, succeeded as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on October 1, 1996. He is currently Chairman of the Irish Episcopal Conference.

Archbishop Brady was presented by Dr John Gillespie with the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LLD) in recognition of his promotion of peace and reconciliation in Ireland.

Archbishop Robin Eames has been Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland and Metropolitan since 1986. He was a tutor in the faculty of law at QUB from 1960-63, curate in Bangor, County Down 1963-6 and rector in Belfast 1966-75. He was appointed Bishop of Derry and Raphoe 1975-80 and Down and Dromore 1980-86.
He was consulted by Taoiseach Albert Reynolds in the period leading up to the publication of the Downing Street Declaration in 1993 and was instrumental in helping to draft elements of the document in regard to the Irish Republic’s attitude towards Protestant concerns. He has been a staunch supporter of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland and an implacable opponent of violence.
He became a life peer in 1995 and in the same year he told the Church of Ireland General Synod: ‘True freedom in society is the freedom and obligation to order its affairs with justice, compassion and understanding so that all its traditions may respect each other without fear.’
He was presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LLD) by Professor Terry O’Keefe.

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Press Office, Department of Communication and Development
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