Father Donal Kerr SM, who died on May 10th aged 73, had a late vocation to religious life and priesthood, and although brilliantly successful as novice master and theology lecturer, at the age of 46 he began historical studies for a D.Phil at Oxford.
When he was awarded the degree in 1978 his thesis had the unusual distinction of being immediately recommended for publication. In a few short years he became a world expert on the Famine period in Ireland, with publications described by his peers as more enduring monuments that those of stone.
Born into a north Dublin family on June 16th, 1927, he was educated at Colaiste Mhuire in the city. He won top place in the Civil Service exams and he worked in the Department of Finance. He was awarded a BA at UCD in 1948, and an MA in history in 1949. He resisted the attractions of a career in government service and chose to enter the Society of Mary, the Marist Fathers, where he took his religious vows in 1952. He studied in Rome, where he won a Licentiate in Theology from the Gregorian University in 1959. He was ordained priest in 1958, at the age of 31.
During the following years he served as novice master and superior of the house of studies in Milltown, Dublin. He also taught at Mater Dei Institute (1970-73), at the Milltown Institute (1970-1978), and from 1978 until 1994 he was Professor of Ecclesiastical History in Maynooth pontifical university.
An abiding memory of Donal Kerr from his first years of ministry was his enthusiasm for the Second Vatican Council renewal movement. He was a brilliant academic and spiritual guide to large numbers of students during his 16 years in Maynooth.
He was a true democrat in the best sense of the word. He recoiled from the heavy hand, the autocratic style, the imposed view. His outstanding characteristics were his kindness and gentleness.
These two qualities are to be seen in his historical publications. Backed by meticulous research, and total honesty in presenting all the pertinent material, his judgments are always balanced, fair and kindly. His first major work was Peel, Priests and Politics (1982). This is a masterly and objective account of the attempt made by one of England's greatest prime ministers to solve the "Irish problem". The Times Education Supplement described it as an outstanding work "whose exact and comprehensive scholarship provides the basis for judgments and conclusions that are eminently impartial".
In 1994 he produced A Nation of Beggars? Priests, People and Politics in Famine Ireland 1846-1852, the first full account of the role of the Irish Catholic Church in the Great Famine of 1846 and its aftermath, which The Irish Times described as "an elegant, thorough work of history as high politics which hides within it the material for a much more radical rethinking of the past". Two years later he set out to tell the largely untold story of the church's response to the Famine in The Catholic Church and the Famine (1996), based largely on the letters of priests and bishops who wrote of their personal experience.
He wrote many articles and monographs in response to various editors, such as The Oxford Movement and Religion and National Identity: `Catholic Poland' and `Catholic Ireland': similarities and contrasts (1995). He was associated for many years with the European Science Foundation. Based in Strasbourg and made up of 56 member research councils and academies in 20 countries, it brings European scientists together to work on topics of common concern, to co-ordinate the use of expensive facilities and to discover and define new endeavours that will benefit from a co-operative approach. Donal Kerr was responsible for the area of religion and culture. The association published eight volumes in the series Comparative Studies on Governments and Non-Dominant Ethnic Groups in Europe, 1850-1940, and he was the editor of volume II: Religion, State and Ethnic Groups, for which he wrote the introduction and contributed a chapter. For several years this work brought him into contact with top scientists from all over Europe, sharing, encouraging and challenging.
In response to a request from his superior general, he wrote a history of the founder and early years of the Marist congregation: Jean-Claude Colin, Marist (2000).
He is survived by his brother Seamus and sister Sheila (Redmond).
Father Donal Kerr SM: born 1927; died, May 2001