Daniel Joseph O'Riordan was born in Dublin on 4th October 1938 and baptised two days later at St Mary's Church, Haddington Road. His parents, Daniel and Margaret, farmed 50 acres of land in Woodtown, County Meath, but they had previously lived in Cork and Wicklow. Their son, usually known as Des, one of two brothers and two sisters, attended Culmullen National School between the ages of eleven and fourteen. He then applied to go to the Salesian aspirantate in Pallaskenry, county Limerick. The reference from his parish priest in Dunshaughlin describes him as 'a very good and intelligent boy' who would be 'a suitable candidate for the priesthood.'

In 1957, after five years of secondary education at Pallaskenry, Des went to England, to the Salesian Novitiate in Burwash, Sussex. He made his first profession there on 8th September 1958 and then went to Beckford for three years of philosophy. He spent two years teaching, one at Shrigley and one at Ballinakill in Ireland. For his theological studies he was sent to Bollengo, north of Turin in the foothills of the Alps. Here he developed his love for Italian culture. Now qualified with a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, he returned to Ireland for his priestly ordination at Warrenstown on 29th June 1968.

Fr Des spent the next three years in Malta as Catechist. He then attended St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, gaining a Certificate in Education, and returned to Malta for a further two years as a teacher. In later life he enjoyed visiting Malta when he was free to do so.

In 1974, Fr Des began his longest placement, on the staff at Salesian College Battersea, teaching English and then serving as Deputy Head, for a total of 25 years. During these years he also gained a Bachelor of Arts degree through part-time study with the Open University. He served as Rector from 2001 to 2007 and continued as Bursar for a further two years.

While Head of Lower School, Fr Des made a point of visiting the families of all the new intake of pupils, to form a better idea of their circumstances. This involved many miles of travel around London on his moped. He also organised a regular and very popular trip to Ireland.

Fr Des was an enthusiastic traveller. He regularly visited his family and friends in England and Ireland. He made 17 pilgrimages to Fatima. During the summer months he often went to the USA to visit one of his sisters and to supply in parishes there - he claimed to have crossed the Atlantic 96 times! He also had friends in Prague, in the Czech Republic, whom he visited from time to time.

Among his other interests, Fr Des was an active member of the Meath Association in London and served as President for several years. He was Chair of Trustees of the Little Way Association, funding Missionary projects around the world. He was also a keen supporter of the Battersea Salesian Old Boys Association.

In 2009, Fr Des moved to Farnborough as Rector, and was reappointed for two further three-year terms. During this time, he was a Foundation Governor of the College and Chair of the Ethos Committee. He was very active in priestly ministry, celebrating Masses in the College and other schools and supplying in various parishes. He kept up his work with the Little Way Association and in November 2013 he spent two weeks in Tamil Nadu, India, visiting projects funded by the charity, including several Salesian works.

On 6th October 2018, there was a Mass in the College Chapel and a splendid meal to celebrate his 80th birthday, his Diamond Jubilee of religious profession, his Golden Jubilee of Ordination, and his nine years as Rector in Farnborough. After so many years of responsibility and leadership, he liked to recall an Irish Salesian who had teased his former Rector with the words, "You're nothing now!"

Over the next few years Fr Des's health deteriorated, but he continued as far as possible with his usual activities. These included helping the Bursar by dealing with the community bank statements and keeping contact with his friends. The escalation of the COVID pandemic in 2020 brought extra frustrations, as each of his hospital appointments and operations entailed a period of isolation in his room. On 29th September 2021 he made the move from Valdocco House to St John Bosco House, where he would not have to negotiate stairs and where help was more readily available if needed.

In March 2022, in common with all members of the Farnborough community, Fr Des contracted COVID. After testing negative, he remained unwell. On 31st March he was taken to Frimley Park Hospital for tests and was admitted to a ward. On 3rd May he was transferred to a Nursing Home in Church Crookham. His condition did not improve and on 2nd June he was taken by ambulance to St Augustine's Home, Addlestone, run by the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Although this was further away from Farnborough, members of the community continued to visit him, and he also received visits from the Salesians in Chertsey.

On 19th June, the Feast of Corpus Christi, Fr Des was reported to be sinking fast. Members of the community visited him and administered the Sacrament of the Sick for the final time. He died later that evening, supported by the prayers of his niece and the Sisters. May he rest in peace!

Messages of condolence soon arrived: 'always very fond of Des', 'so many happy memories of his care and sense of fun', 'always very supportive, encouraging and kind'. 'After all the pain and discomfort, he has had to live with over so many weeks, it is good to know that he is now at peace with his Risen Lord.'

The funeral took place on 10th July in the church of Our Lady Help of Christians. Among the mourners were members of his family from Ireland and England, Salesians from various houses, Salesian Old Boys from Battersea and many of the good friends he had made over the years.

Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB