Anthony Farquhar

Bishop Anthony Farquhar, son of Alexander and Bridget Larkin Farquhar, attended a Mass that marked the end of an era in Belfast. Anthony is the longest serving Catholic Bishop in Ireland. The Mass, November 24, 2019, marked the end of the women's confraternity at Clonard church in west Belfast as the group met for the final time in 122 years.

Photo: Bishop Farquhar in crimson with other clergy who participated in the Mass.  Published in Clonard monastery posts.

Set up in July 1897 to cement Clonard's establishment in west Belfast, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Alphonsus immediately drew huge numbers. By 1907, it boasted a 1,600 membership while more than 1,900 women attended the first women's retreat in 1912. Commenting on the closure of the confraternity, Fr Peter Burns, rector of Clonard, said "The women's confraternity now drew only very, very small numbers and that after consultation, the Redemptorist community decided it would be more honourable and fitting to bring closure and to do so with appropriate celebration and thanksgiving.” Published in The Irish Times November 24, 2019.

Anthony, is the grandson of Michael and Margaret Tinneny Casey of Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland and the great-grandson of Francis and Ann Elliott Tinneny of Belturbet, County Cavan.