Fr Bernard (‘Barney’) Martin was born in Ballymena, Co Antrim on 18th April 1931. He is an older brother of Fr Richard Martin and a nephew of the late Fr Bernard O’Neill.
He was educated in Crescent Primary School Limerick, Ballymena PES and St Malachy’s College, Belfast.
Barney came to Dalgan in September 1950 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1956. Appointed to the Philippines, he was initially destined for Negros Occidental but his first assignment was in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental, Mindanao.
In 1961 he was appointed to Student Catholic Action (SCA) as Chaplain at the University of the East. He had great rapport with the students and remained in that same position over the following thirteen years.
In 1974 he was assigned to the Irish Region as a member of the vocations team.
Barney was appointed to Chile in 1979 and worked there until 2003. During those years he served in the parish of Sagrado Corazon, Lo Espejo, and in the Pastoral Area of Los Lagos, Cerro Navio in Santiago. He was later assigned to Puerto Saavedra to mission among the indigenous Mapuche people in the south of Chile.
He had a unique way of patiently dialoguing, and a deep respect for rituals. He became Vice Director of the Region from 1987 to 1991.
He was appointed Director of the Chilean Overseas Training Programme for Columban students (1996-1998) and Socius of Chile’s Initial Formation Programme for candidates for Columban missionary priesthood (2000-2002).
In 2004, at Barney’s own request he was appointed back to the Philippines where he continued his very fruitful apostolate in the University of the East for a further fourteen years.
His calm manner and gentle sense of humour enabled him to relate easily with young people and he established warm relationships with the staff and with several generations of students.
In 2018, Barney returned to Ireland to St Columban’s Retirement Home. Even as his health deteriorated he was an active member of the community, notable for his constant good humour. He died in Our Lady’s Hospital, on 7th June 2026.
May he rest in peace.
The funeral Mass for Fr Barney Martin can be seen here:
