Irish Times Notes04 Jun 22

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Waterford Organ Festival

The second annual Waterford International Organ Festival takes place live at Christ Church Cathedral from next Friday until the following Sunday and will feature a varied programme celebrating the organ.  The festival theme – ‘Fireworks from Aloft’ – reflects the star role played by the organ as a solo concert instrument, as well as in orchestral and choral contexts in collaboration with the Symphony Club of Waterford and the Mornington Singers.  The festival is structured around three major evening concerts, with additional opportunities for people of all ages to engage with the ‘King of Instruments’ through a children’s workshop, a choral workshop, and a festival Eucharist.

The opening concert features young virtuoso Laura Schlappa, recent winner of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition, with a programme of French symphonic works for organ. The Saturday evening concert – ‘All stops out’ – is led by the Hibernian Orchestra (conductor John Finucane), Patrick Rafter (violin), and Simon Harden (organ) and includes Saint–Saëns’ much–loved Organ Symphony.  For choral enthusiasts, a concert entitled ‘Night on Earth’ with award–winning choir, the Mornington Singers, under Orla Flanagan and Aleksandr Nisse (organ improvisation) takes place on the final festival evening.  Other events include a workshop introducing children (and maybe interested adults too!) to the organ and features excerpts from Saint–Saëns’ Carnival of Animals.

Choral singers will be offered a workshop – ‘Awaken your voice’ – led by the Mornington Singers and their conductor Orla Flanagan.  This is open to all interested singers of all levels and abilities. The music of Eric Sweeney will be celebrated at a festive service with the cathedral choir.

All events will take place at Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford.

Tomorrow (Sunday) BBC Radio Ulster will broadcast a  Holy Communion service for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II from St. Columba’s parish church, Knock, in East Belfast at 10.15am.The celebrant and preacher will be the Rector, Canon John Auchmuty

Dr Joe McKee will be the Choral Director and Graeme McCullough the organist.

The Ecumenical Service for Pentecost Sunday in Clogher Diocese will take place this year at Donagh Old Graveyard close to the village of Glaslough in Co. Monaghan, tomorrow (Sunday). This is the first time the service has been held since 2019, when it took place at St Molua’s in Magheracloone. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr. Ian Ellis and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher, the Most Revd Larry Duffy, will lead the service which begins at 3pm on Sunday, 5th June. Dr Ellis will give the address. Also taking part will be Revd Margaret Pringle, who is looking after services in the Church of Ireland Donagh Group and Fr. Hubert Martin from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Glennan. During the service, two young people from Beech Hill College and Monaghan Collegiate will be giving their thoughts on Pentecost.

The lecture series relating to Archbishop Robinson’s collection of  prints, concludes on Tuesday via Zoom at 1–2pm. This week’s lecture on ‘Print Rooms in Britain and Ireland, 1750–1840’ will be given by Professor Kate Retford, Department of History of Art, Birkbeck, University of London. Free places may be booked on–line – at http://armagh-robinson-library.arttickets.org.uk - or by e–mail to admin@armaghrobinsonlibrary.co.uk or by telephoning 028/048 3752 3142

Summer Music at Sandford continues on Friday at 1.10pm in Sandford parish church, Ranelagh, where June Connor Wilcox (piano) will play music by Mendelssohn and Liszt.