Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 4 July 2009Youth opportunities in Belfast, Dublin & Cork
Summer Madness, Ireland’s largest youth festival, began yesterday at the King’s Hall, Belfast, and will continue until next Tuesday, over which period some 5000 young people are expected to attend.
Now in its 22nd year, Summer Madness has gone from strength to strength. It is widely regarded as one of Europe’s key Christian youth festivals and has become one of the stand-out events for Christian artists and speakers throughout the world. This year’s festival looks set to enhance that reputation with one of its best ever line-ups of speakers and artists, including Foy Vance, Rachael Gardner, Brian Mclaren, Paul Baloche, 6 Star Hotel, 4 Kornerz, Andy Hickford and 29th Chapter.
Alongside the main Summer Madness event there will be a new over 18s mini-festival, ‘Rehab’ exclusively designed for the style, comfort requirements and musical tastes of the more discerning festival-goer. It will also feature a number of exclusive speakers and guest performances.
Whether it’s zorbing, acoustic afternoons, arts, workshops, climbing walls, on-site lazerquest, late night worship, or simply chilling out by one of the themed cafes, Summer Madness has something for everyone.
More details are available at www.summermadness.co.uk or from the Summer Madness office +44 (0) 2890 67 3379.
Following on from Summer Madness, from Tuesday until Friday, is the Dublin & Glendalough Youth Initiative programme, ‘Urban Soul’ which provides opportunities for teenagers to engage with local communities in projects such as area clean-ups, creative arts, and community events. In the evenings there will be sessions with international speakes, singers and musicians. Further information may be had at www.urbansoul.eu
In Cork, the newly launched OM (Operation Mobilisation) ship Logus Hope berthed at Horgan's Quay yesterday and will be there until 12 July. It carries 350 volunteers from over 40 nations and has the largest floating book fair in the world. There will be many interesting activities on board appealing to all ages. Further information may be had at www.logoshope.org/ireland
This evening (Saturday) in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway, the acclaimed all male vocal group, Chanticleer, from San Franciso, will give a recital..
Tomorrow (Sunday) the chaplain of Trinity College, Dublin, , the Revd Darren McCallig, will preach in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong, where the TCD Chapel Choir will sing the services while in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, the services will be sung by the choir of Caius College, Cambridge, who will be recording a CD during their visit to the cathedral. The beautifully re-furbished St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, has re-opened for worship and there will be services tomorrow (Sunday) at 10.45 am and 6.30pm. In St John the Baptist’s Cathedral, Cashel, the newly formed Cashel Gospel Choir will sing at the Holy Communion while in the afternoon in Clonmacnoise there will be a Summer Service in Templeconnor Church at 4pm.
In Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, tomorrow (Sunday) at 3.30pm the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at a service of celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Dublin & Glendalough ‘Discovery’ ministry to the international community to which the Revd Obinna Ulogwara was appointed chaplain in 2007. The preacher at the service will be the recently retired Rector of Galway, Canon Patrick Towers, who has experience of ministering to the international community in the west of Ireland. Tomorrow’s liturgy will reflect, in words and music, something of the rich diversity which the new arrivals have brought to the Church of Ireland.