Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday was a very special day for a very special, well-loved and highly respected individual. This man, in his ninth decade, celebrated a very important anniversary that may resonate with the Leader. Seventy years ago Belfast priest Fr. Des Wilson was ordained and he has spent the 70 years of his ministry in the service of his faith in the diverse community of Belfast and beyond. Fr. Des, as he is affectionately known, is a sage, a man of great wisdom, a scholar, a fluent Irish speaker, a published writer and regular columnist. He is a theologian with a keen sense of the gospel of hope and liberation for the oppressed, powerless and those on the margins of life. With a small number of other priests he has spent his life opening the church and its teachings to the people in the pews, so much so that he decided to live, teach and struggle among them.

He has always acknowledged, celebrated, empowered and lifted the role and place of women in our society, including the late Ms Noelle Ryan, a lifelong friend and confidante. He did all this because he knew the depth of people's faith and the deep desire they have to be treated with dignity, respect and justice. For Fr. Des, the church and its people are indivisible, one and the same. He is a crusader for justice with a compassionate and consummate commitment to help those in need. In the most difficult days of conflict, he was a beacon of reason, hope and peace for those people hurt by the conflict.

Fr. Des has a great sense of humour. He is a raconteur and a joy to be with for a cup of tea around his famous and much sought-after kitchen table in his equally famous community house in Springhill, where he has educated generations of people from Springhill, Ballymurphy and beyond. I studied for my maths GCSE there as I needed a bit of extra help at the time.