Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Walk for Barretstown
The choirs of Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, have developed a partnership with Barretstown Children’s Charity which is devoted to serving children suffering from serious illness including cancer and blood disorder. Last February the Girls’ Choir visited Barretstown, and they have recorded a song called ‘Dream Baby Dream’ which is helping to raise funds for the charity. The song was launched by President Higgins at Barretstown in February and each time it is downloaded the charity benefits. Earlier this month the girl choristers appeared with Joyce Murphy in a fund raising concert in the Olympia Theatre which was broadcast on RTE television.
Today (Saturday) the Cathedral Choir, with members of the cathedral community and congregation, will have a sponsored walk in the Dublin Mountains to raise money for Barretstown. Meeting at the Glendalough Visitors Centre at 1pm they will begin a 9K walk which it is anticipated will take about three and half hours. Those who are unable to join the walk can contribute by pledging support through www.justgiving.com/cccwalkforbarretstown
This evening (Saturday) in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, at 7.30pm there will be a concert featuring the Fingal Chamber Choir with the Enchiriadis Choir from Malahide as guests. All proceeds go to the restoration of St Columba’s church, Swords, which is in need of restoration. It is believed to be where St Columba lived, where Brian Boru was waked before being brought to Armagh for burial and (if rumour is to be believed) the burial site of some of Tom Cruise’s ancestors.
Today (Saturday) the Certificate in Christian Studies completes its second cycle in the diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory with a history field trip directed by Canon Adrian Empey. The six–module programme is run in conjunction with St Patrick’s College Maynooth and includes adult learners from across the diocese and also participants from the neighbouring dioceses. The programme is one of two courses recognised by the House of Bishops for Lay Reader training and is directed by the Very Revd Tom Gordon,
diocesan Director of Adult Education and CME.
Today (Saturday) Mark Duley continues his cathedral organ marathon in aid of Pipeworks, the Dublin international organ festival. This afternoon he will play in Dromore cathedral and this evening at 8pm he will be in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin. The marathon ends tomorrow (Sunday) with recitals at 10am in St Lasarian’s cathedral, Old Leighlin, and 1pm St Canice’s cathedral, Kilkenny, where he will be joined by the Cathedral Choir directed by David Forde.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the services in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, will be sung by the girl choristers of St Alban’s cathedral who will be joined by their precentor, the Revd Paul Arbuthnot, a former member of the St Patrick’s choir. In the afternoon, St Doulagh’s church on the Malahide Road at Balgriffin,which is reputed to be the oldest stone–roofed church in Ireland still in use, will hold its annual Ecumenical Open Air Service of Praise and Thanksgiving at 3.30pm in St Doulagh’s Field beside the church. Music will be provided by the 1st Dublin Coy Boys’ Brigade Brass and the preacher will the Rector of Raheny & Coolock, the Rev. Norman McCausland. Summer Time Sunday evening services will resume at 4pm at Templeconnor church, Clonmacnoise and will continue until the end of September.
Thursday is Ascension Day which will be celebrated in St Mary’s church, Athlone with a Tudor service of Evening Prayer. The preacher will be Professor Stephen Ellis from NUI Galway, who is a specialist in the early modern period.
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’