Fr Wilfrid Harrington O.P

Death of Noted Irish Biblical Scholar

Fr Wilfrid Harrington, O.P., who died, aged 98, on 16th April, was a noted biblical scholar, with more than 40 books to his name.

Born in Eyeries, Co. Cork, in 1927, Jack Harrington (he received the name Wilfrid on entering the Dominican Order) was eldest child of Jeremiah, a farmer, and his wife Agnes (née McCarthy), a school-teacher. There were two younger children in the family – a brother Reggie and a sister Florrie – who pre-deceased him.

Harrington received his primary education in Eyeries and for secondary school went as a boarder to Newbridge College, Co. Kildare. In the 1930's the journey each way took two days, and required an overnight stay in Cork. Entering the Dominican noviciate in Cork in 1946, Brother Wilfrid made first profession as a member of the Order 1947. He pursued studies in philosophy and theology at St Mary’s, Tallaght, and at the Angelicum in Rome, being ordained priest in Rome in 1953. Post-graduate studies in theology were followed by specialist biblical study at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem and again in Rome, being awarded the Biblical Commission’s Licence in Sacred Scripture (LSS). In 1957 he was assigned to St Mary’s Priory, Tallaght, to teach Scripture. Tallaght remained his home and his centre for the rest of his life.

Fr Harrington taught Scripture not only in the Dominican house of studies at Tallaght, but also in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, the Milltown Institute, UCD, and the Church of Ireland Theological College (now Institute). Singer Sinéad O’Connor was so impressed by auditing a course on the prophets he taught in the academic year 2003-2004 that she dedicated her album Theology to him.

Starting in the summer of 1964, he was, for decades, a key figure in the summer school at St Mary’s College, Vermont.

In addition to his commitment to teaching, Fr Harrington was noted as the author of more than 40 books, many translated into French, Spanish, and Polish. His three-volume Key to the Bible became a standard text-book in many college and seminary courses.

Fr Harrington is survived by his Dominican Brothers and Sisters, by his sister-in-law, Mrs Kitty Harrington of Castletownbeare, and by five nephews and three nieces, and their families.

Issued by Bernard Treacy, O.P.

Reposing in St Mary's, Priory, Parish House, Tallaght in the large parlour on Sunday (20th April) from 3pm. Removal to St Mary's, Priory Church, Tallaght for 5pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Monday (21st April) at 2pm, followed by burial in the Community Cemetery.