A blue plaque has been erected in Cullyhana, the County Armagh birthplace of arguably Ireland's greatest Cardinal, Thomás Ó Fiaich. The 'Ulster Blue Plaque' was erected at the birthplace of Thomas Fee on November 3rd (Friday) exactly one hundred years from the date of his birth.
The unveiling ceremony was followed by a memorial Mass in Saint Malachy's Church, Armagh on what was also the Feast of Saint Malachy. The current Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamonn Martin, gave the homily at the mass. He said Cardinal Ó Fiaich will be remembered for his "amazing scholarship" as well as his "courageous leadership and unstinting pastoral care during what were very troubled times."
Thomas Fee changed his name to the gaelic when he was a history lecturer in St Patrick's College, Maynooth. He later became President of the college in 1974, was ordained a bishop in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh in 1977, created a cardinal in Pope John Paul II's first consistory in 1979, and when he died in 1990 was buried in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. He will be best remembered for his tireless work for peace during the Troubles.
