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Brendan Devlin

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Brendan P. Devlin (Irish: Breandán Ó Doibhlin) (29 May 1931[1] – 19 September 2023) was an Irish language scholar and priest of the Derry Diocese. He was one for five children born in Rousky, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and was educated in St Columb's College, Derry, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.[2] One of his brothers, Kieran, also served a priest of the Diocese of Derry.

In 1958, he became professor of modern languages at St Patrick's College, Maynooth,[3] a position he held until he retired in 1996. He additionally held the post of Vice-President from 1977 to 1980. On 2 September 2013 he was the principal celebrant at the funeral of the poet Seamus Heaney.[4]

Academic Career

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Devlin was an accomplished polyglot and popular teacher who was particularly known for his work in French and in Irish.[5] For many years, he was rector of the Irish College in Paris and also published three novels in Irish: Néal Maidine agus Tine Oíche (1964), An Branar gan Cur (1979), and Sliocht ar Thír na Scáth (2018). He has also published translations from French into Irish by La Fontaine, Pascal and Saint-Exupery. He translated several books of the Bible into Irish.[6]

His enthusiasm for language was such that he even learned Polish, so that in the negotiations needed to bring the Irish College in Paris back from the control of the Polish church who had used it for many decades. [7]

In total he spent 74 years at Maynooth College. [8]

Irish College, Paris

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Devlin worked for four decades to reestablish the Irish connection to the College, and its redevelopment and renovation as the Irish Cultural Institute, and Irish Chaplaincy in Paris.[9] Devlin had visited the Paris college in 1963, when there was no Irish presence there and it was used as a Polish seminary; he resolved to reinstate it as an asset to the Irish people. He was appointed Rector of the Irish College by Cardinal O'Fiach in 1984.[10]

In 2001, Devlin was invested as an Officer of the Légion d'honneur, the highest French award available to a foreign national.[11][12]

Devlin died at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown on 19 September 2023, at the age of 92.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Daly, Edward; Devlin, Kieran (4 April 1997). The Clergy of the Diocese of Derry: An Index. Four Courts Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-85182-335-2.
  2. ^ https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/the-net/the-net-october-2024.pdf
  3. ^ Appointments Kalendarium, Maynooth College.
  4. ^ Homily of Monsignor Brendan Devlin at Funeral Mass for Seamus Heaney Catholic Bishops, 2 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Breandán Ó Doibhlin, scríbhneoir agus smaointeoir ildánach ilteangach, ar shlí na fírinne". Tuairisc.ie (in Irish). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. ^ Breandán Ó Doibhlin www.ricorso.net
  7. ^ https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/the-net/the-net-october-2024.pdf
  8. ^ https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/the-net/the-net-october-2024.pdf
  9. ^ The Irish Colleges in Paris, 1578 - 2002 by Dr Liam Chambers, Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris.
  10. ^ Nuacht RTÉ (20 September 2023). "An scoláire teangacha Breandán Ó Doibhlin tar éis bháis" (in Irish). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ "Legion d'Honneur for monsignor". The Irish Times. 11 November 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  12. ^ French Legion of Honour awarded to Irish Priest www.catholicbishops.ie, 14 November 2001.
  13. ^ "Death of languages scholar, Monsignor Brendan Devlin". Meath Chronicle. 20 September 2023.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Rev. Thomas Fagan CM
 Rector of Irish College in Paris
1984–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-President St. Patrick's College, Maynooth
1977–1980
With: Rev. Denis O'Callaghan 		Succeeded by
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