Cardinal Seán Baptist Brady, Archbishop emeritus of Armagh (Ireland) and former Primate of All-Ireland, was born on 16 August 1939 in Drumcalpin in the Diocese of Kilmore.

After his studies at St. Patrick’s College of Cavan, St. Patrick’s College of Maynooth and the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest on 22 February 1964.

After earning a doctorate in canon law from Pontifical Lateran University in 1967, he taught at St. Patrick’s College of Cavan (1967-1980). In 1980, he was appointed Vice Rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. In 1987, he became Rector and served until 1993, when he returned to Ireland as parish priest of Castletara, county of Cavan (Ballyhaise).

On 13 December 1994 he was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh and was ordained a bishop on 19 February 1995.

He succeeded Cardinal Brendon Day as archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 1 October 1996 and was installed on 3 November 1996.

President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference (October 1996 - September 2014). He participated in the second special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops (1999), and in the tenth (2001), eleventh (2005) and twelfth (2008) general Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops.

Cardinal Brady has played an active though low-profile role in the important peace process in Northern Ireland.

Archbishop emeritus of Armagh, 8 September 2014.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007, of the Title of Santi Quirico e Giulitta (Sts. Quiricus and Julitta).