Background
Anthony Farquhar was born and raised in South Belfast and educated at Saint Malachy"s College.
Anthony Farquhar was born and raised in South Belfast and educated at Saint Malachy"s College.
He later studied Classics at Queen's University, Belfast.
He was then sent to study Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 March 1965, aged 24. From 1965 to 1966 he was Assistant Priest at Dunsford and Ardglass Parish.
He was a hospital chaplain in 1966.
He was later assigned to teach Latin at Street MacNissi"s College, Garron Tower. where he stayed as a teacher from 1966 to 1970. From 1970 to 1975 he was Assistant Chaplain, along with Rt Rev Msgr Ambrose Macaul ay, to Queen"s University, Belfast and finally as Chaplain/Lecturer at the University of Ulster from 1975 to 1983.
His main outside interests are folk music and football, particularly student football. He is a very active President of Queens University Association Football Club and Patron of the Irish Universities Football Union.
He is also a long-term and dedicated supporter of Dundee United Football Club and the Northern Ireland football team
On 6 April 1983, aged 42, he was appointed Titular of Hermiana and, with Canon Patrick Walsh, as Auxiliary of Down & Connor. The Principal Consecrator was the of Down and Connor, Cahal Daly, (now Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Armagh) and Principal CoConsecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and William J. Philbin (Emeritus of Down and Connor). His Episcopal Motto is "Sapientia Proficere" ("to increase in wisdom") from Luke 2:52.
He was one of the s that travelled to Rome for their Quinquennial Visit Ad Limina visit in October 2006.
In December 2007 he officiated at the dedication of the new Altar in the Church of the Good Shepherd in his native Parish of the Most Holy Rosary, Belfast, following the renovation programme. A new book titled Inter-Church Relations: Developments and Perspectives has been published by Veritas to mark the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop.
On December 3, 2015 Pope Francis accepted his resignation on the grounds of age. He was at that time the longest serving bishop in Ireland.