Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Irish in the Church
The Standing Committee of the General Synod recently appointed a small group to consider how the Church of Ireland might respond to the impending decade of anniversaries from 2012 to 2022. The nature of the Church’s response has yet to be formalised but within the Church there are organizations and interest groups which have begun to lay their own plans.
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (the Irish Guild of the Church) will be celebrating its centenary in 2014. The aim leading up to this great occasion is to provide increased opportunities for people in the Church of Ireland community, who are interested in Irish, to enjoy it. A full-time Irish Language Development Officer, Caroline Nolan, was appointed earlier this year to help to put the three year plan into action. Ms Nolan is supported by a newly elected committee consisting of Daithi O Maolchoile (chairman and honorary treasurer), Aonghus Dwane (honorary secretary), the Revd Mairt Hanley, the Revd Elaine Dunne, Dr Kenneth Milne, Seathrun MacEin and Eileeen McCracken.
The Cumann has been heartened by the level of support and enthusiasm from the clergy for its plan to promote the greater use of Irish in church services, and raise awareness of the opportunities to use Irish within the dioceses and the schools. It hopes that it can be a catalyst to connect people and activities and raise awareness of the resources available.
A programme of activities with schools will begin later in the year and it is also aimed to have a website up and running by September with information on services in Irish, details of new initiatives being planned in the dioceses and links to worship resources in Irish.
The Church of Ireland has a special relationship with the language due to the distinctive and noble contribution made by many of its members. The contribution of three successive archbishops of Dublin, George Simms, Harry McAdoo and Donald Caird, is a case in point. This tradition lives on, evidenced for example by the appearances on TG4 by the Archdeacon of Tuam, the Ven. Garry Hastings, and the Cumann would like to strengthen these links and construct new ways to encourage all to celebrate the Irish language.
If you are interested in finding out more about what is happening please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] or telephone Caroline Nolan, 026 45741 or 085 1632 772
Today (Saturday) there will be a lunchtime organ recital in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, by Anthony Hammond.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning Koor de Stemming, from Amsterdam, will sing at the Choral Eucharist in Christ Church and at 4pm there will be an organ recital by Peter Barley as part of the Incorporated Association of Organists Annual Congress. As part of the Music in Calary series in Calary parish church, Co. Wicklow, there will be Madrigals and Afternoon Tea at 3pm with the National Chamber Choir directed by Paul Hillier. Further details and booking information may be had at 01-2818146 or [email protected].
Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, will be sung by the choir of St Mary’s Church, Moseley, from the Diocese of Birmingham, from Wednesday to Friday and on Thursday evening at 8pm there will be an organ recital by Charles Harrison from Lincoln Cathedral and David Leigh, the Assistant Organist in St Patrick’s.
The 31st St Barrahane’s Festival of Church Music continues in Castletownshend, Co. Cork, on Thursday evening when there will be a recital by the Degani Ensemble with the soprano, Cara O’Sullivan.