'Warm, caring, fearless': President Higgins leads tributes following death of Brother Kevin Crowley
Br Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin in 1969 after being moved by the plight of homeless people in the city.
Over the course of the centre's history, Br Kevin — who is originally from Enniskeane, Co. Cork — oversaw much of its development in response to the needs of homeless people.
Br Kevin, who welcomed the late Pope Francis to the centre in 2018, retired from his role in August 2022.
"His commitment to people who were poor, homeless or in need in any way was a hallmark of the man who felt compelled to express his Capuchin Franciscan values through concrete actions," read a statement from the centre.
Br Kevin shakes hands with Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin in 2018 (Image: Damien Eagers / Maxwell Photography Pool Photos / Rolling News)
In his tribute, President Higgins said Br Kevin 'made an invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city'.
"I was deeply honoured to meet with Br Kevin on many occasions throughout the years and to share in his company," said the president.
"Br Kevin was a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need.
"Br Kevin leaves a wonderful legacy to all those whose lives to which he made such a difference." 'Warmth and decency'
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald described Br Kevin as 'a champion of the poor and of those who fall on hard times'.
"A proud son of Cork, his relentless work in the Capuchin Centre here in Dublin is the stuff of legend. He lived for others and changed lives," she said.
"He was a man of deep faith and real modesty. He loved people and worked every day to help those in need.
"He believed fully that nobody should be forgotten or left behind.
"Every time I met Br Kevin, his warmth and decency shone through.
Br Kevin with then Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2012 (Image: Laura Hutton / RollingNews.ie)
"The legacy he leaves us is a legacy of love and the belief that a person can make a difference."
Archbishop of Dublin Fr Dermot Farrell said Br Kevin changed the lives of those he helped while seeking nothing in return.
"Br Kevin devoted his life to the service of the poor," he said.
"His work with the Capuchin Day Centre staff and volunteers transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city who availed of its services, from misery and despair to hope and love.
"He was always able to see Christ in the people he met. His was a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance." 'Unwavering commitment'
The Salvation Army in Ireland said they hoped their own work would be a 'consolation to all who mourn Br Crowley's passing'.
"He was a man of faith, compassion, and action who devoted his life to those most in need," read a statement from the charity.
"His unwavering commitment to dignity, kindness, and inclusion changed countless lives.
"We in the Salvation Army share in his values and mission of supporting our most vulnerable people particularly those experiencing homelessness."
Br Kevin outside the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin in 2020, with the centre's then chairman, Brother Peter Rogers (Image: Julien Behal Photography / RollingNews.ie)
Core to Br Kevin's vision and the Capuchin Day Centre's mission is the unconditionality of access irrespective of age, race, gender, nationality and religious or political beliefs.
Those who come to the centre are not asked for any personal information, or about their reasons for accessing its services.
This unique openness, fostered by Br Kevin, led to the Capuchin Day Centre becoming a bedrock of homeless services in Dublin and a reliable safety net for the most vulnerable in society.
When Br Kevin founded the centre in 1969, around 50 people accessed it regularly — today, that number has grown to more than 1,000 hot breakfasts and dinners served each day.
See More: Brother Kevin Crowley, Capuchin Day Centre, Michael D Higgins
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘He gave his whole life to the poor': Capuchin centre visitors among those paying respects to Br Kevin Crowley
Some of the people who have received welcome, food and shelter at Dublin's Capuchin Day Centre over the last half-century were among those came to pray and spend some final, quiet time with its founder, Br Kevin Crowley, on Friday. The friar, originally from Enniskeane, Co Cork, died on Wednesday aged 90 . His funeral takes place on Saturday. A steady trickle of people arrived throughout Friday at Dublin's the 19th century Church of St Mary of the Angels, where the remains of the man known to all as Br Kevin reposed. 'He was a lovely man. He very helped an awful lot of people, and he helped me in my darkest days,' Sarah Foran said. READ MORE Sarah Foran, Damien Devereux and Capuchin Day Centre director Fr Kevin Kiernan pay their respects to Br Kevin Crowley. Photograph: Tom Honan Br Kevin had supported her when she was homeless and she felt 'very emotional' while standing by his coffin, Ms Foran said. 'I am originally from Darndale and live in Finglas now. Br Kevin helped everyone – the nicest man.' James Norris, originally from Co Waterford but living in Dublin for 40 years, said he had 'availed of Br Kevin's services' and the centre over the years. James Norris: 'The Holy Spirit was working in him.' Photograph: Tom Honan 'I am only after coming out from getting my dinner there. The people [in the centre] are non-judgmental. They treat everybody the same,' he said. 'If Br Kevin hadn't started that place people would be hungry. He was feeding half of Dublin. He had special grace from God – the Holy Spirit was working in him.' Joseph Deegan, aged in his 80s, became upset when asked why he had come to pay respects to the late friar. Joseph Deegan: 'He was very good to me at a very hard time.' Photograph: Tom Honan 'When I came home from America the man was very good to me, very good to me at a very hard time,' he said. Beverly Gannon, from Finglas, said she felt 'heartbroken and angry' as she emerged from the church. 'It was back in the 1960s when he set that up and we are here in 2025 and we are in an even worse condition,' she said. 'Can this Government not see? It takes that man in there to give his life doing the job that they should be doing. It is heartbreaking.' Beverley Gannon: 'He was a wonderful man.' Photograph: Tom Honan 'Up until last year I used to get [food] parcels [from the centre] and bring them to Finglas. The needs and the amount of people that he helped extend far beyond this area. [Government] are all coming out and saying what a wonderful man he was. He was a wonderful man that done their job.' Ita O'Malley, a retired garda, said she had come 'because he was just so good to the homeless'. Ita O'Malley: 'We could all take a leaf from his book.' Photograph: Tom Honan She said she was 'thinking 'if we could all just take a leaf from his book' ... not just the Government but all of us. 'He gave his whole life to the poor.' Solicitor Pol Ó Murchu said: 'We are poorer without him. He was a good man and he lived the Gospel of Jesus. Leaba i measc na naomh ag Kevin anocht,' he said. 'May Kevin have a bed among the saints.' Elieen O'Connor, a nurse working with homeless people in Dublin's Mater hospital, said she met Br Kevin 24 years ago when she attended a patient's funeral. Br Kevin Crowley outside the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw 'To this day any of my homeless patients will always mention Br Kevin. He is a big loss,' she said. Among those expected at his funeral are President Michael D Higgins, Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam, the Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell and Bishop of Br Kevin's native Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin. But 'most important' among the mourners will be the those who use the day centre, its director Fr Kevin Kiernan said, adding that seats would be reserved for them.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Call for Dublin street to be named after Capuchin Day Centre founder Brother Kevin Crowley
Br Kevin, who died on Wednesday at the age of 90, founded the Capuchin Day Centre on Bow Street in 1969, which provides over 1,000 hot meals and more than 1,000 food parcels to those living in homelessness and poverty each day. His funeral mass will take place in Dublin tomorrow morning at the Church of St Mary of the Angels at 11am. Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who founded the charity Tiglin, which provides supports to people experiencing homelessness and addiction, has said naming a street in honour of Br Kevin 'would be a fitting and permanent tribute to a man who gave so much to Dublin'. Mr McCarthy has written to the Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council requesting that the move be considered as a way to honour Br Kevin's contribution to Irish society. 'Br Kevin was a beacon of compassion, dignity, and service in our city,' he said. 'His legacy is etched into the lives of thousands of people he helped quietly, humbly, and without judgment. Naming a street after him would be a fitting and permanent tribute to a man who gave so much to Dublin.' Born in Kilcolman in Enniskeane, Co Cork in February of 1935, Br Kevin was baptised with the name William. He entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny in April 1958. In October of that year, he was admitted to the Novitiate in Rochestown in Cork where he received the name Kevin. After spending time working in the Cooperative Clothing Guild in Dublin, he had offices on Bow Street reconstructed to build the Capuchin Day Centre. The organisation, which was visited by Pope Francis during his time in Ireland in 2018, has become a vital facility for supporting poor and homeless people in Dublin. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more President Michael D Higgins led tributes to Br Kevin earlier this week, praising his 'invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city' through the 'essential services' the centre provides. He described him as a 'warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need'. 'The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but have been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives," he said. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, said his work and the work of the staff and volunteers 'transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city who availed of its services, from misery and despair to hope and love'. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Br Kevin as a 'good friend' and 'proud Cork man' who was 'a tireless and passionate advocate for justice, dedicating his life to helping those in need'. 'His compassion, devotion and non-judgmental approach to helping the marginalised was unwavering,' he said. Tánaiste Simon Harris said Br Kevin was 'one of life's true heroes' who dedicated his life to helping others.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Tributes paid to ‘caring' Capuchin centre founder Brother Kevin Crowley
President Michael D. Higgins has led tributes to Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Franciscans, who passed away yesterday at the age of 90. The order said that Br Kevin, who devoted over five decades to serving the poor and marginalised, died at Mount Desert Nursing Home in his home county of Cork. He founded the Capuchin Day Centre, a homeless service in Dublin, in 1969, which was visited by Pope Francis in 2018. Br Kevin's funeral Mass will be held at St Mary of the Angels on Church Street in Dublin at 11 am on Saturday. President Higgins said Br Kevin was a 'warm, caring, yet fearless man', while the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said he was saddened to hear of the death of his 'good friend'. Mr Higgins said Br Kevin 'made an invaluable contribution' to the people of Dublin city. Br Kevin Crowley. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin. 'The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable but has been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives,' he said. 'It was extremely appropriate that Pope Francis visited Br Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre during his visit to Ireland in 2018 and met with those present and volunteers. I was deeply honoured to meet with Br Kevin on many occasions throughout the years and to share in his company. 'Brother Kevin was a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need.' Mr Martin said Brother Kevin was 'a tireless and passionate advocate for justice, dedicating his life to helping those in need'. Br Kevin Crowley shakes hands with Pope Francis. Pic: Damien Eagers/WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/Pool via 'In 1969, he founded the Capuchin Day Centre, where he worked selflessly and with good humour for 53 years, providing help to vulnerable people. He truly lived the gospel. His compassion, devotion, and non-judgmental approach to helping the marginalised was unwavering. 'He was an inspiring and humble man who I always enjoyed meeting. He was a proud Cork man who never lost touch with the home place that nurtured him in his early years. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.' Tánaiste Simon Harris said Br Kevin was 'one of life's true heroes'. 'A proud Cork man, he made an enormous contribution to assisting vulnerable Dublin people with the foundation of the Capuchin Day Centre,' he said. Brother Kevin Crowley. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos 'While the centre is well known for its distribution of food parcels to people in need, I visited with Brother Kevin as health minister and know its work went beyond that, providing a range of medical services and family supports… Br Kevin will never be forgotten for the immense charitable contribution he made to people experiencing poverty and suffering.' The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell said Br Kevin's work 'transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city from misery and despair to hope and love'. Br Kevin Crowley was born on 24 February 1935 in Inniskeen in West Cork. He was one of five children. His father was a farm manager. When he finished school at 18, Br Kevin went to work for CIÉ, answering telephones. He was 23 by the time he finally followed his religious calling, entering the Capuchin monastery in Kilkenny on Easter Monday, 1959. He came to Dublin in 1969 and founded the Capuchin Day Centre. Later, as a superior, he spent six years in Cork and seven in Donegal before returning to the capital in 2000.
