Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 9 December 2006
Potterton Family History Published
Those who enjoyed reading Rathcormick, Homan Potterton?s sensitively drawn and exquisitely written memoir of a Church of Ireland childhood, which was published in 2001, will be delighted to learn that the author has not been idle in the interim. Proof of this comes with the appearance of Potterton People & Places. Three Centuries of an Irish Family which, among other things, provides an historical and genealogical perspective for Rathcormick.
The Pottertons, rather like Somerville & Ross?s ficticious Knox family, have occupied various strata of the life of their county, Meath in the case of the Pottertons, since the late seventeenth century and despite the various vicissitudes of Irish life are still there farming the same lands on which they became tenants following the Restoration in 1660. Using family records, parish and diocesan archives and, most successfully of all, the treasure trove that is the Registry of Deeds, Homan Potteron has reconstructed the story of the evolution of ten generations of his family. Along the way he has uncovered family feuds, secrets and tragedies; he has chronicled those who became wealthy and those who did not; and has identified those who stayed close to home in Co. Meath and those who sought a life further afield including one who disappeared en route to the California Gold Rush.
Apart from the intrinsic merits of the book, it is a model of how to do family history and should be required reading for anyone who intends to research and write their family history.. A sense of the book may be obtained at www.potterton.ie.
Potterton People & Places is available at ?15 from Choice Publishing, Drogheda + 353 (0)41- 9841551
Today (Saturday) the final lunchtime recital of the present series in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will be given by Aisling Kenny (soprano) and Fraser Wilson (organ). In Monkstown parish church at 3 pm there will be an ecumenical service in memory of young people whose lives have been cut short by Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) while in the evening, in St Mary?s Collegiate Church, Youghal, there will be a recital by the Clerks Choral of St Mary?s.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning the Archbishop of Dublin will celebrate the Eucharist and preach at CORE in St Catherine?s Church, Thomas Street. In St Patrick?s Cathedral chorister awards will be presented at Evensong after which the Assistant Organist, David Leigh, will give a performance of Messiaen?s La Nativité du Seigneur. The Dean of St Patrick?s, Dr Robert MacCarthy, will be in Killesk, Co. Wexford, where he will preach at an Advent Carol Service to mark the re-opening of the parish church after re-roofing and extensive refurbishment. In the Mageough Home Chapel, Rathmines, there will be a Carol Service at 7 pm.
On Monday the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the King?s Hospital Charter Day when the guest of honour will be the Archbishop of Armagh.
The House of Bishops will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday and on Wednesday afternoon the Representative Church Body will meet in Church of Ireland House, Dublin. There will be a Charity Lunchtime Carol Concert in Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday in aid of Our Lady?s Hospice, Harold?s Cross, and on Wednesday evening at 8 pm the Cathedral Choirs will give a concert of seasonal favourites, old and new. 3Rock will hold their Christmas youth multimedia carol service ?Essentials at Christ Church? in the cathedral on Friday at 7.30 pm, Admission is free but pre-booking is advised at http://3rock.net/events/157/%20essential-at-christ-church.