Many tributes paid to retired Archbishop of Tuam

By DAVID BURKE MANY tributes have been paid to the Archbishop Emeritus of Tuam, Dr Joseph Cassidy, who died on Thursday morning Jan 31 at the age of 79. Dr Cassidy retired from the See of Tuam on grounds of ill health in 1995, and became parish priest of Moore, an island parish of the archdiocese. His removal to the Cathedral of the Assumption took place on Friday evening and was attended by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, while Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, a past pupil at Garbally College, Ballinasloe, attended the Requiem Mass on Saturday. The tributes were led by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, who said â€Å“It is with great sadness that I heard news today of the passing of Archbishop Joseph Cassidy, the former Archbishop of Tuam. For over 50 years Archbishop Cassidy served the people of God with dedication and distinction in the dioceses of Achonry, Clonfert and Tuam. â€Å“A man of supreme pastoral care and a lovely sense of humour, he combined love for the Church with a wonderful understanding of the people with whom he was privileged to work. Superbly gifted as a communicator, Archbishop Cassidy dedicated much time and thought to honing and chiselling the words to sensitively fit the theme and the occasion. He did so selflessly and had no regrets at all about the efforts involved because he was ever anxious that the ensuing glory should be given to God and not to himself.â€Â Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore said â€Å“Dr Cassidy was my former teacher. He was also a friend whom I will greatly miss. â€Å“He was a man of compassion, learning and culture. He made an enormous contribution to the Church and to the wider community. He enriched the lives of all those with whom he came into contact.â€Â Deputy Denis Naughten said that Bishop Cassidy left a lasting impression on everyone he met. â€Å“At an individual level he was a soft spoken man who took a genuine interest in what other people had to say. â€Å“He was a unique wordsmith who, instead of explaining difficult concepts in ordinary words, took ordinary everyday occurrence and constructed it into a complex theoretical concept which one could not only understand but more importantly remember. â€Å“No teacher could ever surpass his ability to captivate his audience. When Bishop Cassidy spoke, everybody listened. â€Å“He had a great love of the land and nature and it is fitting that he will be laid to rest in his beloved Moore in South Roscommon. â€Å“As Archbishop of Tuam, he was the beacon of light in the development of the western region. He was one of the authors and driving forces behind the report Developing the West Together, which was focused on emigration and depopulation of the western counties in the 1980s and early â€â„¢90s. These actions subsequently lead to the establishment of the Western Development Commission. â€Å“On a personal level it was an honour to have known this truly remarkable man, a man who was loved by all who crossed his path.â€Â Deputy Eamonn Ó Cuiv said â€Å“He was a man of great compassion, who had a wonderful rapport with the people of his diocese. He was well known throughout the diocese for his knowledge and his humanity.â€Â