Diocesan News26 Nov 15

Book about Cork Pilgrimage Places, Holy Wells, Graves and Statues Launched in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

On Wednesday, 25th November, a new book – Wells, Graves and Statues – by Dr Louise Nugent and Dr Richard Scriven, both of University College Cork, was launched in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork by the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton.

Wells, Graves and Statues ‘tells the often underappreciated story of pilgrimage in Cork city, from medieval to modern times.’ A welcome was given by the Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, who recently commissioned the new labyrinth, itself a form of spiritual pilgrimage, in the Cathedral grounds. The large attendance at the book launch was a measure of the contemporary interest in pilgrimage and spirituality.

At the launch in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork by Dr Paul Colton of ‘Wells, Graves and Statues’ were co–authors Dr Richard Scriven and Dr Louise Nugent.

Launching the book Bishop Colton said: ‘This is a very readable book which draws deeply on our strong sense of place, not least in Cork. It is a multi–layered, interdisciplinary book which draws on the expertise of these authors – Richard and Louise – in their respective fields of geography and history, and archaeology and Celtic civilisation. More than that, there are impulses of theology, spirituality and folklore. Above all else, the book touches on that deep–seated nerve of the human spiritual quest on our journey through life.’