Death has been announced of Reverend Father Patrick (Pat) Byrne.

Byrne, an Irish national died suddenly on Sunday at his family home in Blessington, Co Wicklow, Ireland where he went for holiday.

This has been confirmed in a statement posted on I am Catholic and Proud facebook page seen by this publication.

According to the statement, Byrne was expected to return to Malawi today (January 24, 2022).

“With great sadness, we regret to announce that Fr Patrick (Pat) Byrne (1976 class) died suddenly on Sunday night January 23rd at his family home in Blessington, Co Wicklow, Ireland. He was due to return to Malawi today, Monday,” reads in part the statement.

Patrick Byrne was born on the 27th of February 1948 to John Byrne and his wife Mary (née Quinn) of Burgage, Blessington, Co Wicklow. He was the youngest of a family of 9 girls and 5 boys. He joined St Patrick’s Missionary Society in September 1969 and was ordained priest on the 12th of June 1976. The ordaining prelate was Most Rev Dominic Conway DD, Bishop of Elphin.

After ordination Pat was appointed to the Diocese of Chikwawa, Malawi, where he ministered for many years before being transferred to the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. In 2002 Pat was appointed Assistant Regional Superior for Southern Africa and was based in Johannesburg.

In 2008 Pat returned to Malawi and was appointed to the parish of Mtengowanthenga, Lilongwe. He came to Ireland on holidays in November 2021 and stayed at the family home where he grew up. He died suddenly on Sunday night, the 23rd of January, as he packed his bags to return to Malawi the following day.