Msgr Liam Mac an tSagairt:MSGR LIAM Mac an tSagairt was a churchman and a leading Catholic educationalist in the North. He was prominent in the promotion of the Irish language and a scholar, both of the Irish language and of the history of his native Oriel.
He was an old-style priest, in the positive sense of holding on to the best values of the past but prepared to engage with the modern world.
He was born in Dundalk in 1928, the eldest of five children, to Bernard McEntegart, a shopkeeper, and his wife Isabella (née McHugh).
He received the first three years of his secondary education at the Christian Brothers in Dundalk. For his final two years, he transferred to St Patrick’s College in Armagh. After St Patrick’s he entered Maynooth, where he took a degree in Celtic studies.
Msgr Mac an tSagairt was ordained in 1953. He would spend the rest of his life in Tyrone.
His first appointment was to St Patrick’s College, Dungannon, as teacher of Irish, English and Latin. In 1961 he was appointed principal.
Leaving teaching in 1984, he was appointed parish priest, first of Coalisland, then of Dungannon. While in Coalisland in February 1992, he found himself uncharacteristically caught up in controversy.
He celebrated requiem Mass for two IRA members, shot dead by undercover British soldiers. As an opponent of physical-force republicanism, he was reluctant to let the two coffins draped in tricolours enter the church. He eventually allowed the flags to remain, but insisted on the removal of paramilitary trappings.
In his sermon, he strongly condemned the security forces for the nature of the shooting, and their oppressive presence at the funeral. He also condemned the IRA, urging its leaders to “turn to constructive ways of promoting justice and peace before more damage is done to their souls”. That condemnation led to about 200 mourners walking out.
Msgr Mac an tSagairt’s duties of parish priest of Dungannon included being vicar general of the archdiocese of Armagh until his retirement in 2004.
His other vocation was promoting the Irish language. For many years, he was president of the summer college, Coláiste Aodh Mhic Bricne, in Teelin, Co Donegal.
He served two terms as president of Comhaltas Uladh, the Ulster organisation of the Gaelic League. Until his death, he chaired the committee of An tUltach, the oldest Irish-language magazine still being published.
Irish-language drama was a particular interest; he served on the committee of Féile Drámaíochta Dhún Geanainn, the Irish-language drama festival in Dungannon.
His commitment to Irish culture was further reflected in the active part he took in Éigse Oirialla, an initiative to preserve the culture of his native Oriel (south Ulster and northeast Leinster). The Éigse’s publications include his book on Irish revivalist Fr Lorcán Ó Muirí.
Msgr Mac an tSagairt is survived by his brother Brian and sisters-in-law Mary and Margaret, his nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his sister Rita and brothers Justin and Kevin.
Msgr Liam Mac an tSagairt, born October 17th, 1928; died August 22nd, 2010