Tributes paid to Archbishop Noel Treanor following his death at 73

Tributes have been paid to the former Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Archbishop Noel Treanor following his death.

The 73-year-old died on Sunday morning.

Born in Co Monaghan, he was ordained as a priest in 1976 and also served at St Macartan’s Cathedral in the county.

His most recent appointment had been to the diplomatic role of apostolic nuncio to the European Union in 2023.

Catholic Primate in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin expressed his sadness as well as shock at what he termed “the suddenness of Archbishop Noel’s premature passing”.

Archbishop Noel served most of his ordained ministry in working to forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe

“At this sad time for all who knew him across Ireland, Europe and throughout the universal Church , I join with Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor, and with Bishop Larry Duffy of his native diocese of Clogher, in offering my prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Archbishop Noel, and for the comfort of his brother, sister, extended family members and close friends at this difficult time,” he said.

Archbishop Martin described Archbishop Treanor as having “followed closely in the footsteps and spirit of the founding fathers of closer European unity”.

“Archbishop Noel served most of his ordained ministry in working to forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe,” he said.

Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell said: “I was profoundly shocked to hear of the sudden death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, apostolic nuncio to the European Union and, for many years prior to that, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, a vast and demanding diocesan area with a commensurate workload.

“Archbishop Noel hailed from Tyholland in Co Monaghan and retained a strong affection and many connections in that beautiful border parish. I got to know Archbishop Noel well through work which we did together in relation to the impact of Brexit.”

He described Archbishop Treanor as an “accomplished linguist moving freely between English, Italian, French, German and Spanish”.

“Archbishop Noel’s final posting in Brussels was one of immense complexity and diplomatic delicacy which must have been a challenge to his naturally perfectionist instincts; yet never verbose, he was always worth listening to,” he said.