Shock at sudden death of popular parish priest

Shock at sudden death of popular parish priest

12 February 2025

THE death of Father Brendan Smyth at the age of 55 has caused widespread shock and sadness.

Fr Smyth, who was the parish priest of Killyleagh and Kilmore, passed away at his home in Downpatrick last Wednesday.

The son of the late Hugh and Sarah Smyth, Fr Smyth was born in Downpatrick and ordained in St Patrick’s Church by Bishop Michael Dallat in June 1994.

He first served in St Agnes’ Parish in Belfast. in 1996 he on went to the parish of Ramoan (Ballycastle) where he spent five years, before moving to St Peters Cathedral. He went on to serve in the parish of Glenavy and Killead in 2009.

In 2013 Fr Smyth was appointed parish priest of Holy Trinity in Belfast where he spent three years before coming to Killyleagh in October 2016. In November the following year Bishop Noel Treanor asked him to take on the added role of parish priest of Kilmore Parish.

The respect and affection in which Fr Smyth was held by so many people was evident at his requiem mass in St Patrick’s Church, on Monday morning, which was celebrated by Fr John Murray, PP.

Also taking part were Fr Maurice Henry, Fr Tom Scanlon, Fr Derek Kearney and Fr Colin Crossey, as well as Fr Robert McCabe and Fr Raymond McCullagh who both studied with Fr Smyth at Maynooth College.

The Most Rev Alan McGuckian, Bishop of Down and Connor, visited the family home to pay his respects, but was unable to attend the funeral as he was travelling to Washington for a conference.

Canon Murray welcomed parishioners from the local area, including those from Crossgar, Teconnaught and Killyleagh, and the schoolchildren who formed a guard of honour for their late parish priest.

“I know Fr Brendan loved to visit the schools and you loved to see him,” he told the children.

Canon Murray recalled how he was the diocesan vocations director when he first met a young Fr Smyth 37 years ago, when he was a youth seeking to be a priest.

He said Fr Smyth’s ordination several years later in June 1994 was a great honour for the parish.

“We return to bid him farewell and ask God’s mercy on him and send him to the Lord,” Canon Murray added.

Fr Eugene O’Hagan, the chancellor of the diocese and a member of the singing trio The Priests, led the singing of the Mid-day Prayer at the requiem mass.

In his homily Fr McCullagh described Fr Smyth as a kind man, whom he last met on Christmas Eve.

He said Fr Brendan appreciated company and fellowship, but his most profound celebrations were at the “table of the Lord” and he last celebrated mass on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2.

He spoke of Fr Smyth’s parents and how the family had lost their father, Hugh, when Fr Smyth was only a teenager. 

“Brendan talked about first hearing the call to priesthood when he was an altar boy here in Downpatrick. In fact he only stopped serving at mass when he became taller than the priests,” Fr McCullagh said.

He spoke of Fr Smyth’s musical talent, having played the French horn and being a member of the choir at Maynooth College when he was studying for the priesthood.

He said in recent years Covid impacted on Fr Smyth’s health and further complications took him away from parish ministry, which he found difficult, though he was cared for by his loving family.

Fr McCullagh added that Fr Smyth would be remembered as a “generous and sincere priest”, who embodied the virtues of kindness, gentleness, patience and compassion.

Fr Smyth is survived by his sisters, Margo, Anne, Winnie and Maria, brother, Eugene, and the family circle. He was predeceased by his parents and another brother, Anthony.

Following the mass he was laid to rest in St Patrick’s Cemetery.