Donal Murray

Donal Brendan Murray (29 May 1940 – 13 October 2024) was an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, who served as Bishop of Limerick from 1996 to 2009. He had previously served as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Dublin diocese

Biography

Early life and ordination Murray was born in Dublin on 29 May 1940. He was educated at Blackrock College, studied for a BA and master's degrees in philosophy at University College Dublin, obtained a B.Div at St Patrick's College, Maynooth and his Licence and Doctorate in theology in Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

It was said of him by one commentator that Murray "was rated by Connell as the brightest student he taught in his 35 years as a professor of metaphysics at University College, Dublin."

He was ordained on 22 May 1966.

Episcopal ministry In 1981 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Glenndálocha and Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, making him the youngest bishop at the time, aged only 41. He was ordained Bishop in St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin.

He was appointed bishop of Limerick on 10 February 1996 by Pope John Paul II and installed as Bishop of Limerick on 24 March 1996.

He announced his resignation to a congregation, including priests of the Diocese, people working in the Diocesan Office and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at 11 am (noon in Rome, the hour of the publication of the decision) in St. John's Cathedral, Limerick.

Death and tribute Murray died at the Milford Care Centre in Limerick on 13 October 2024, at the age of 84.

His successor as Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy noted in a tribute to Bishop Murray "he was attuned to the fast changing ecclesial and social context and the challenge of rebuilding the community of faith. His great mind was always working on building a Church of tomorrow, not on holding into a Church of the past."