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The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Brother Kevin Crowley remembered for life-long ‘mission' to help homeless as Capuchin Day Centre founder laid to rest
BROTHER Kevin Crowley had a "simple mission" to feed and house the poor, his funeral has been told. Brother Kevin, who 4 Brother Kevin Crowley sadly passed away on Wednesday Credit: Garrett White - The Sun Dublin 4 President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina arrive at the funeral mass for Brother Kevin Crowley Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 4 Diarmuid Martin former Archbishop of Dublin also attended the mass Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Throughout a 55-year history, he oversaw much of its development in response to the needs of homeless people. The centre offers two hot meals per day Monday to Saturday, as well as food parcels and a range of services including clothing, showering facilities, and medical interventions. It provides more than 1,000 hot breakfasts and dinners each day. Brother Kevin was said to be grateful to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2015 and for the visit of Pope Francis to the centre in August 2018. He retired in 2022 to READ MORE IN NEWS His funeral took place at St Mary of the Angels on Church Street in Dublin this morning. President Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell and former primate of Ireland Diarmuid Martin attended the mass alongside Capuchin Franciscans and staff at the day centre. Also present were Commandant Joe Glennon representing Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who is concluding a trade mission in Japan, Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam, and other public representatives from the city council and Oireachtas. Most read in Irish News 'TWO FAMILIES' Leading the service as provincial minister, Brother Richard Hendrick welcomed Brother Kevin's "two families" - his natural family as well as the staff, volunteers and guests of the Day Centre. He said: "You are all welcome here today. While Brother Kevin was the inspiration and face as it were of the work of the centre, without all of you there would be much less reason for our gathering. "We thank you for all you were to Brother Kevin, for all you are to us Capuchin Friars and for all you do to keep that vision alive of a place of refuge and Franciscan welcome in the heart of the city open to all." Brother Richard said they had been "inundated" with stories of the care and love Brother Kevin shared to others, as well as the love shared to him. He said Brother Kevin vision was that no one would go hungry and that all would fall a place of inclusive welcome and peace. Brother Richard said the day centre "will continue and grow" as long as there are guests who need its services. Recalling recent queries from visitors if the centre would stop operating, he added: "I think Kevin would haunt us all if there was even a thought of that." 'GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT' Brother Richard thanked all those who had gathered, as well as all those worked at the day centre. He said: "Yesterday, we heard that there would be two minutes of silence - one in Dublin and one in Cork before the GAA matches take place. "It is probably Kevin's greatest achievement that as a Cork man he has finally silenced Dublin." In a homily, Brother Patrick Flynn said Brother Kevin gave a "life's service" to the poor. He said the proud west Cork man was a "very, very good Capuchin friar", a "man of God", a "disciple of Jesus Christ", and a "humble, devout son of St Francis of Assisi". "He was a Capuchin to his fingerprints. Most people didn't know his family name of Crowley, but they knew of 'Brother Kevin'." Brother Patrick said Brother Kevin was known the length and breadth of the country as a "tireless advocate for those with no voice", acting as the nation's conscience to remind the public of their obligation to help others out of the trap of poverty. "He was fearless, relentless in his pursuit of justice for the poor. I've no doubt that his great spiritual father St Francis is embracing him today for the love and compassion he extended throughout his religious life for God's poor." He added: "Kevin had a mission in life, it was very simple: Feed and house the poor. "He couldn't understand why in our country we couldn't solve this problem." 'COMPASSIONATE HEART' Brother Patrick said Brother Kevin was a man who enjoyed the company of friars and friends, had a love of the GAA marked by a hurley placed beside his coffin during the service, and who had a great sense of humour demonstrated by his ability to laugh at himself. Remembering his friend for over 60 years, he concluded: "He wasn't perfect, he could be feisty and challenging when he disagreed with you. "But what he did have in abundance was a generous, compassionate heart and that is what made the man. "Kevin, thank you for your good example." The service was also read letters containing tributes from the Apostolic Nuncio of Ireland Luis Mariano Montemayor and General Councillor Brother Marek Miszczynski. Brother Kevin's burial site is at Dardistown Cemetery. 4 The order of service for the funeral mass of Brother Kevin Crowley Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
'Fearless and relentless': Brother Kevin Crowley 'inspired Ireland to be kinder to the poor'
The founder of Dublin's Capuchin Day Centre was today remembered as a "feisty and challenging' man with a 'compassionate heart' who inspired the people of Ireland to be 'kinder' to the poor. In a tribute to Brother Kevin Crowley, who died at the age of 90 on Wednesday, one of his fellow Capuchin Friars told mourners: 'He wasn't perfect. He could be feisty and challenging when he disagreed with you. 'But what he did have in abundance was a generous, compassionate heart, and that is what made the man.' Brother Patrick Flynn added: 'Kevin, thank you for your good example you gave us Capuchins and also to the people of Ireland for inspiring us to be kinder, more thoughtful and more generous to our poor sisters and brothers who live among us.' President Michael D Higgins arriving at the funeral mass of Brother Kevin Crowley at St. Mary of the Angels Church, 7 Church Ter, Church St, Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/© His homily received a round of applause from mourners packed into the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin 7. They included President Michael D Higgins, the Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam, and Commandant Joe Glennon, Aide de Camp representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris. Mourners at the service, which was celebrated by Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar Brother Richard Hendrick, also heard Br Kevin's motto was 'Do it, damn it'. Brother Patrick said: 'He couldn't understand why our country couldn't solve this problem (of poverty). You see, he was the kind of man that didn't see problems. 'He only saw challenges. His attitude, our motto was, do it, damn it. He was never afraid to speak his mind, and he didn't worry if he upset people and the government or anybody else. 'He was a voice speaking loudly and clearly in the name of God's poor and our poor. He was a tireless advocate for those with no voice. 'He was at one with his people, reaching out with his loving, generous, compassionate heart. He was our conscience, reminding us of our obligation to support and help our sisters and brothers who are caught in the poverty trap with no way out unless we bend down to lift him up. 'He was fearless, relentless in his pursuit of justice for the poor.' Former Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on his way to the funeral of Brother Kevin Crowley at St. Mary of the Angels Church, 7 Church Ter, Church St, Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/© Originally from Enniskeane, West Cork , Brother Kevin founded the day centre for homeless people on Bow Street in Dublin in 1969. He became and remained synonymous with serving Dublin's poor at a centre that today provides food and shelter to an average of 800 people each day. When he retired at the age of 87 in August 2022, he said he planned to leave Dublin and return to what he described as 'the most beautiful county in Ireland' - his native Cork. Despite this, he made no secret of his fondness for Dublin, and boasted of being 'a great Dubs supporter'. Mourners heard he received many awards and honors over the years for his work in the day centre, including Freedom of the City of Dublin. But they also heard he 'never took these honours too seriously'. Brother Patrick said: 'His focus was always on other people. He wanted to help other people. He was really good at spotting people who were in distress and gently taking them under his wing. It was a gift that he excelled in. 'Countless men and women today would say that Kevin saved their lives.' Mourners were also told that although he rarely spoke about them he had had 'huge' health issues of his own for more than 40 years. He was one of the first people in the country to have open heart surgery. 'He never made much of his sickness through all the years he was in and out of hospital,' Brother Patrick said. 'It's amazing that he lived to his 91st year. It's simply a miracle.' To laughter, he added: 'A story he told me himself was that one day he met his surgeon who had performed the surgery on his heart and he looked at Kevin and he said to him, don't tell me you're still alive.'
Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Brother Kevin Crowley, Capuchin friar who fed and clothed generations of people who fell through the cracks
Brother Kevin Crowley, a man of profound goodness and faith, who died on July 2, need have no fear of judgment. The Capuchin friar, who died in his 91st year, lived the values of his Catholic faith right to his fingertips. Through his work in the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, he fed and clothed generations of people who either fell through the cracks or the rest of society preferred to forget. 'And we never asked any questions,' was his unshakeable philosophy. As prosperity ebbed and flowed, the need for the vital services in Dublin's north inner city never eased. With more families experiencing homelessness, Brother Kevin and the centre were there to offer a hot meal or a food parcel — and respect, dignity and the knowledge that someone cared. As the cash machines pinged on Dublin's most fashionable streets in the run-up to Christmas every year, the queues for the Capuchin food vouchers grew longer and longer. The last person who would want to be eulogised would be Kevin Crowley. The only reason he even had a public profile was that fundraisers managed to convince him he was the face of the work, and people wanted to donate because they admired him. He was born William, in Enniskeane, Co Cork, in 1935, and his parents, William and Catherina (O'Donovan), had him baptised in the local parish church. Those were hungry days when the scars of the Civil War were still raw, and there were real fears that the new Free State might fail. After schooling locally, he worked for Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) as a railway inspector, but he felt deeply the call of a religious vocation. It must have seemed like an act of insanity at that time, to leave a comfortable job for life to volunteer for a life of perpetual poverty. When he announced his shift in career at the boarding house where he lodged, the bean an tí confidently predicted he wouldn't last a week. But a gentle hand always seemed to guide Kevin, and he recently celebrated 67 years as a religious brother. He entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny on April 7, 1958 — Easter Monday of that year. Before he entered, he called into a bookmaker to put a bet on a horse. Years later, he would recall with glee how he never found out how the horse fared, since radios and newspapers were forbidden in the community. Regardless of his fortunes on the racecourse, he found in his ministry a life dedicated to service that brought him priceless happiness. In 1968, he was asked to take over the running of a clothing guild on Church Street in Dublin to collect unwanted clothes for those in need. As he watched grown men rummaging through bins to try to feed their families, he quickly realised something more was needed, and the soup kitchen was born. There were brief stints at other Capuchin projects around the country, but his heart was always in the north inner city, and the proud Corkman quickly took to the Dublin wit. He was there to defend the church when he thought it was getting an unfair lashing Brother Kevin would always say that the people he served were not subjects of charity, but people with hopes and dreams in need of respect and dignity. He could be caustic about politicians, but saw that they could be a means to an end, and he would hold them to public commitments to do more to help the homeless. While he never gave in to despair about the challenges facing the church, he was there to defend it when he thought it was getting an unfair lashing. When a left-wing TD told the Dáil that she thought the church should be 'consigned to the dustbin of history', he told an interviewer that history would 'put her in the bin'. It was typical of his style of straight-talking and went hand in hand with his determination to never take no for an answer. Whenever a politician called, Brother Kevin was happy to oblige for a photo opportunity, but he would also bend their ear, and usually got what he wanted. He was passionately pro-life, and until recent years was a feature of the annual Pro-Life Campaign dinner. A disciple of St Francis, like his hero Pope Francis, he saw care for the vulnerable as part of the same Christian witness: whether the poor, the sick, the unborn, the homeless, the powerless, the addict or the elderly, he was a powerful advocate for those he saw as having no voice. Brother Kevin was never robust of health, but he wasn't one to mind himself too much either. He was awake each day at around 4.30am, and after going to the kitchens to turn everything on, it was back to the friary for two hours of prayer — sometimes, his confreres say, peppered with a well-deserved snooze in the chapel. He was not in thrall of celebrity, and the story is told about the day a famous folk singer arrived to announce he was donating the proceeds of one of his gigs to the Capuchin Day Centre. Brother Kevin had no idea who it was, but professed himself to be suitably grateful. He was proud of what his mission achieved, but depressed that it was still necessary. A crowning moment was when Pope Francis visited in 2018. As the papal motorcade made its way to the centre, he turned to a colleague and said: 'I never thought I'd see the day when the Pope would be coming to Bow Street.' We all know the vocations crisis facing the Catholic Church in Ireland, and it would be easy to see this as a mere sociological reality. But the pragmatic truth is that the fall in vocations means we will no longer have people such as Brother Kevin — people who will willingly embrace a life of poverty, putting their own needs aside to live their life for and alongside those most in need. His loss, and the loss of such people, will be felt far and wide.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brother Kevin Crowley remembered as 'warm, caring and fearless' ahead of funeral
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets outside a Dublin church on Thursday evening to pay their respects to Brother Kevin Crowley. The founder of Dublin's Capuchin Day Centre passed away peacefully aged 90 at Mount Desert Care Home, Cork, on Wednesday. His funeral cortege took him to the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin 7 at 5pm on Thursday evening. Known as a charitable man who made "an invaluable contribution" to those homeless in the capital, hundreds of people paid their respects yesterday. His funeral mass will take place today at 11am, followed by burial at Dardistown Cemetery. Brother Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre, which helps provide those experiencing homelessness with hot meals, in 1969. In 2018, Pope Francis paid a visit to the centre, where he met Brother Kevin as well as people who use their essential services there. Three years ago, Brother Kevin announced his retirement from the centre after half a century. Paying tribute to him, President Michael D Higgins said: "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. "I was deeply honoured to meet with Brother Kevin on many occasions throughout the years and to share in his company. "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."
Extra.ie
03-07-2025
- General
- 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.
