Bernard Laverty
Monsignior Bernard Joseph Laverty was a highly regarded Irish Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Down and Connor.
He was born in the parish of Duneane in 1863, studied at St. Malachy's College and St Patrick's College, Maynooth and was ordained for service as a priest in 1890 in the College Chapel in St. Malachy's.
His first appointment was to the parish of Newcastle, Co. Down and then to St. Matthew's Short Strand. Subsequently he transferred to St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast for 12 years the last six of which he was Administrator.
After a period in Ligoneil he was made parish priest of Holy Rosary Parish on Belfast's Ormeau Road in 1921. He was made chair of Belfast Catholic Protection Committee and participated in discussions with the police and government officials after Partition to explore Catholic involvement in the new state of Northern Ireland but very little came of these discussions.
Monsignor Laverty was made Vicar General of the Diocese in 1934 and two years later Dean of Down and Connor. He died on April 4, 1945 aged 82 and is buried in Milltown Cemetery.
