Northern Ireland

Tributes paid to former Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor following death aged 73

Bishop Treanor had most recently taken up a role as the Vatican’s ambassador to the EU

Archbishop Noel Treanor stepped down from Down and Connor to become Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union
Archbishop Noel Treanor passed away on Sunday. Having served as Bishop of Down and Connor for 14 years he had been appointed as Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union in 2022.
By Allan Preston

THE former Bishop of Down and Connor, Noel Treanor, has died at the age of 73.

It is understood that Archbishop Treanor, who had been serving as the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, had been in Brussels when he passed away on Sunday morning.

A formal public statement from the Vatican or his former diocese has yet to be issued.

Originally from Co Monaghan, Archbishop Treanor is survived by his brother John, sister Mary, wider family and friends.

Appointed to his European role in 2022, at the time he said he was honoured by the appointment but that he left Down and Connor after 14 years of fond memories.

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“I will always value and consider my time in Down and Connor as a blessing from God,” he had said.

He said his appointment to the EU role also came at a time when the world faced “great challenges,” calling on prayers for all of those who worked for peace, protecting human rights and humanitarian need.

Ordained as a priest in 1976, Bishop Treanor had served as curate in the diocese of Clogher and hospital chaplain in Monaghan town.

Later roles included director of adult education in Enniskillen and co-ordinator of the diocesan Assembly of Clergy before he was ordained as a Bishop in 2008 in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.

Challenging events during his time as Bishop of Down and Connor included confronting the horror of clerical abuse.

He had commissioned an independent review, which in 2011 found that allegations of child abuse had been made against 40 priests in the diocese over 50 years.

At the time, he said he wanted to restore trust with church members that all allegations of abuse were being investigated.

“We must do all in our power to render both members of the church and society that we undertake every possible step to protect our children,” he had said.

“We need to ensure that we remedy any deficiencies and that we are capable of putting in place mechanisms, structures and provisions to ensure that our children are not in any way endangered.”

During the pandemic, he also navigated the difficulties facing families by suspending public funerals as well as steps like visiting graveyards by himself to provide blessings on the behalf of parishioners.

Among those paying their respects to Archbishop Treanor on Sunday was the President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer.

Calling him “a man of great integrity and intellect,” he said he had been a great supporter of St Mary’s in Belfast after many years heading the Board of Governors and an “esteemed” member of the wider Queen’s family.

“Noël had so much to give and had profound impact on the many lives he touched, his passing is a terrible loss, may he rest in peace.”

Posting on social media, a health worker in Belfast called Archbishop Treanor “a dedicated supporter of the Mater Hospital.”

“I enjoyed many chats with this most intelligent, diplomatic and wonderful man of God. My thoughts and prayers with his family at this time.”