Press Releases22 Jun 16

Archbishops Begin Somme Pilgrimage in Glasnevin

Archbishop Richard Clarke and Archbishop Eamon Martin this morning began their special centenary pilgrimage to significant sites at the Battle of the Somme with a cross–community group of 30 young people at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

A guided tour of the cemetery was followed by prayers and a time of reflection at the new Memorial Wall. The delegation of young people comes from across the island of Ireland, including pilgrims from the Archdiocese and Diocese of Armagh, the Church of Ireland dioceses of Clogher and Cork, and the Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

This morning’s event was also attended by the Most Revd Denis Nulty (Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin), the Rt Revd John McDowell (Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher), the Revd Canon Shane Forster (Archbishop Clarke’s Executive Chaplain), Mgr Gearoid Dullea (Executive Secretary of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference), the Revd Barry Paine (Diocese of Armagh), Fr Ryan McAleer (Archdiocese of Armagh) and Fr Ruairi O’Domhnaill (Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin).

The group plans to visit the Ulster Tower in Thiepval, France, before attending the wreath–laying ceremony at the Menin Gate, in Ypres, Belgium, on Thursday, and visiting the Irish Peace Tower, at Messines, Belgium, on Friday.

Photography from the pilgrimage is available on the Church of Ireland’s Flickr website.