Monsignor Well Known As a Reformer Who Protects Children’s Rights

Irish Independent
January 18, 2013

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/monsignor-well-known-as-a-reformer-who-protects-childrens-rights-3357101.html

ONE of a family of 12 children, Monsignor Eamon Martin was born in 1961 in Pennyburn in Derry.

His mother, Catherine Crossan, lives in Derry and his father, John James Martin, died in 2006.

A Diocesan Administrator for the Diocese of Derry, he is a regular contributor to the BBC's Thought for the Day and Sunday Morning Worship, and RTE programmes.

He has a keen interest in gardening and music, particularly in choral, classical music and Gregorian chant.

He has become well-known in the North for his reforms in education and interest in children’s rights.

Last year, he published plans to radically shake up the Catholic post-primary education in Derry, called Together Towards Tomorrow.

It aims to end academic selection, single sex schools and create two new sixth form colleges in Derry city.

He was ordained a priest in Derry in 1987 and became a member of the teaching staff at Saint Columb’s College in Derry in 1990, where he taught Maths and Religion.

He was appointed President of Saint Columb's College in May 2000 and Vicar General of the Diocese of Derry in 2010.

The same year, he was appointed Chaplain to Pope Benedict XVI and he was elected Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Derry in November 2011.

He is a member of the Irish Episcopal Conference and the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education.

He is also a Director of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.