Cardinal Desmond Connell of Dublin dies at 90

(Vatican Radio)  Cardinal Desmond Connell, Archbishop emeritus of Dublin in Ireland, died in his sleep on Monday night at the age of 90 after a long illness.

Cardinal Connell was born on 24 March 1926 in Phibsboro, Ireland. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Dublin on 19 May 1951 and held a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain.

In 1953 he started teaching in the Department of Metaphysics at University College Dublin where he was appointed professor of general metaphysics in 1972 and elected dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology in 1983.

He wrote on philosophical and theological subjects and for his published work was awarded the degree D.Litt. by the National University of Ireland in 1981.

He also served as chaplain to the Poor Clares in Donnybrook, the Carmelites in Drumcondra and the Carmelites in Blackrock.

He was appointed Archbishop of Dublin on 21 January 1988 and received episcopal ordination on 6 March.

He became Archbishop emeritus of Dublin on 26 April 2004.

He participated in the conclave of April 2005 which elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Connell was created a Cardinal by Pope St. John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 February 2001 with the Titular church of St. Sylvester in Capite.