Good Grief

The Rev W Sydney Callaghan says he "was born in Dublin in the South, lives in Belfast in the North, but Ireland is his home". Educated at High School, he is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. He studied for the ministry of the Methodist Church in Edgehill College, Belfast and has done post-graduate work in Queen's University where subsequently he was part of the lecturing team in the Department of Mental Health, the Department of General Practice and in Union and Edgehill Theological Colleges. He has been General Secretary of the Council on Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland and one of the longest standing members of the Northern Ireland Mental Health Review Tribunal. He has been a Chaplain in both industry and a hospital setting; was a member of the Eastern Health and Social Services Council and the Professional Conduct Committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. Founder member and later Director of the Samaritans in Belfast and a founder member of the Northern Ireland Hospice of which he was Methodist Chaplain. Board member of Oaklee Housing Association and a Director of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Patron of Dismas House - a hostel for ex-offenders, - Northern Ireland Widows Association and Care for Cancer (Omagh). An active supporter of Mother Teresa's work throughout the world. He was named in the 'People of the Year' award in 1976 for "an outstanding contribution to society in Ireland", and awarded the OBE in the 1984 New Year's Honours List. He was President of the Methodist Church in Ireland 1980-81. He was married and has two children. Sadly he passed away on 23 February 2001 before the publication of this new edition.