Bishop of Derry Lord Eames: ‘I had very difficult times trying to bring comfort to victims of violence and their families… These people were the real heroes’

Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of a service in St Columb’s Cathedral on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of his consecration as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe in 1975, he said: “This is one of the most touching invitations of my career and it has brought back so many memories of the vast changes in church life and politics during the last half-century.”

Robin Eames, now in his 89th year, came to Derry as bishop when he was only 37. At his Consecration in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh he invited the Catholic Bishop of Derry Edward Daly to walk with him down the aisle.

“I believe that this was the first time it happened. I wanted to show that he and I were friends, and that I was holding out the hand of friendship to the whole Catholic community in Derry.”

Lord Eames