Father Brian D'Arcy

Father Brian was born in Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh. He went to the local Primary school before going to school in Omagh and he completed his Secondary Education in St Michaels College, Enniskillen. As a young man, Fr Brian was a very promising footballer. He played for the GAA team from Kinawley, but only because there was no football team in Bellanaleck at that time. He was a member of the Kinawley team that won an important cup semi-final. However, Fr Brian was not able to play in the final as he had joined the Passionist Order in the Graan Monastery by the time it was due to be played. As he had no contact with the outside world in his early years in the Monastery, he was only told at Christmas that Kinawley had lost the final in September. Rumor still has it that they only lost because Fr Brian was not on the team. Fr Brian is one of the staunchest supporters of the Fermanagh GAA football team and he rarely misses a game when Fermanagh are playing. His brother Gabriel, who sadly passed away this year, played on the County team.

Fr Brian is a very keen walker and can often be seen walking alone on the roads around the Graan early in the morning. His main interests in life are his Faith, Music, Current Affairs, Sport and Walking. He has worked in Counties Down, Dublin, Sligo, Wicklow as well as Co Fermanagh. He has also spent periods working in Oakland, California, Chicago and two terms working in South Africa, which he still regards as the most fruitful period of his life.

Fr Brian is one of Ireland's best-known and most popular Priests. He has an enormous workload, including management of the Graan Monastery and his work in the Media. He has written several books including his Memoirs in 2006. Over 50000 copies have been sold to date. He has written a popular article in 'The Sunday World' for approximately 39 years. For many years, he has been unofficial Chaplin to Ireland's Show Business Personalities and performs wedding ceremonies all over Ireland - he even officiated at the wedding ceremony of Daniel O'Donnell and his wife Majella a few years ago.

For over 20 years, Father Brian has organised the very successful 'Novena of Hope' each March, which continues to attract thousands of people from different faiths to the Graan. He has lectured on Communications for 10 years and he was Editor of ' The Cross ' Magazine for 5 years.

For many years, Fr Brian has broadcast his Radio Ulster programme 'Sunday with Brian D'Arcy' from 11-12 noon. He currently does 'Pause for Thought' on Chris Evans' programme on Radio 2. He has also hosted the BBC Sunday Half Hour Radio programme for 5 years and appeared for many years on the 'Pause for Thought' slot on his good friend Terry Wogan's Radio 2 morning show.

He has appeared several times on 'The Late Late Show' as well as being a guest on many other Radio and TV programmes. The BBC is currently making a one-hour Documentary film on the life of Fr Brian with the film crew following him around for six months from April 2012.

Fr Brian has always been involved in fundraising for many deserving charitable causes. He has been involved in the famous Jimmy Magee All Stars Football Charity fundraising matches for many years - he even played in many of these matches in his younger days.

He has set up his own Charity, the 'Helping Hand Fund' whereby people send him donations, which he distributes to deserving causes. As many of us know, Fr Brian has been a Trustee along with Rev Paul Hoey, Ernie, Ivan and our own President Kenny Fisher in the Fisher Foundation, which has so far raised approximately £200,000 for 3rd World Missionary Work.

Fr Brian had a very close working relationship with Archdeacon Pringle of Rossorry Parish and is very pleased that he continues to enjoy the same good relationship with Archdeacon Pringle's successor, Rev Barrett. Last Good Friday, a number of people walked from the Graan to Rossorry Parish Church for a Church service and they all walked back with parishioners from Rossorry Parish to the Graan for a short service followed by light refreshments. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ulster in recognition of his contribution to cross-community relations.

Fr Brian, who entered the Passionist Order 50 years ago this month, has been Rector in the Graan for the past 12 years and he is now beginning his 4th Consecutive Term as Rector of the Graan Monastery.

Fr Brian is known for never refusing to help those in need and he always demonstrates great compassion and understanding to all who come to seek help and advice. He is well known for visiting the sick and elderly in their homes and he visits Hospitals and Nursing Homes to give comfort, consolation and inspiration to those in need. We are aware of one occasion when a gentleman was visiting a very ill relative in the Hospital at 2 am, when Fr Brian arrived in unexpectedly to visit the sick patient.

Father Brian is a very worthy recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship.