OCarm HonDD MPhil BA BD FVCM HonFNCM
Area representative: Eire
Born in Dublin in 1957, Fr Brian was interested in good music from an early age. His piano teacher was R J Marino LLCM who, as a chorister in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, sang at the 1937 Coronation. From 1977 to 1982, he was one of the three countertenors in the Palestrina Choir in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. He was fortunate to have 2 very fine organ teachers: John Dexter FRCO and later, Geraint Bowen FRCO, the current DoM at Hereford Cathedral.
From 1982 to 1984, he was assistant organist at Rathgar RC Church and Acting Organist and Choirmaster at Rathmines RC Church, both on the south side of Dublin. In 1984, he began training for the ordained ministry in the Carmelite tradition. After making Solemn Profession in 1988, he was appointed to the staff of Terenure College in Dublin where he taught French, Music and Religious Education.
Ordination to the diaconate and to the priesthood took place in the chapel of Terenure College in 1989 and 1990 respectively. Over the course of the past 35 years, Fr Brian has worked in education, parish ministry and has extensive experience as a retreat director and preacher of parish missions. Organ playing has always been very much at the centre of his life and work, and he continues to be very active as a church musician, both playing and directing choirs.
He was greatly honoured in 2017 to be elected to the Chapter of the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland as an Ecumenical Canon. This appointment was for a 5 year period, but he was re-elected in 2022 and his term will expire at his seventieth birthday. He was further honoured by the Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian University with the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 2021. He is a graduate of University College, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, and the Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Dublin. He holds the Fellowship Diploma of the Victoria College of Music along with several honorary music diplomas. He is currently Prior of Terenure College, Dublin, which is a secondary school for boys aged 12 to 18 with a roll of 800 students. Whilst Prior of the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar Street, Dublin (2012 – 2018), he initiated an annual organ recital series which continues to thrive.