Press Releases
Church of Ireland List of Special Events to mark the Centenary of the Armistice
The Historical Centenaries Working Group has compiled the following list from information supplied to it. Events are listed in alphabetical order by location; for further details, please contact individual venue.
Ardess Parish Church (Magheraculmoney) (Clogher)
Friday 9th – Sunday 11th November: ‘WWI Remembrance Weekend’, exhibition in Ardess Parish Centre to include memorabilia and medal displays, information on casualties, WWI nurses and more. 9th November 10:00am – 3:00pm, Exhibition open for primary schools. 7:00pm, Opening address by Lt. Col. Peter Archdale Royal Navy (Ret); 7.30pm, Talk on the soldier William McBride featured in the ballad ‘The Green Fields of France’ by journalist, Maurice Neill with music by Ardess Accordion Band.
10th November, 10:00am, Exhibition open to the public. 3:00pm, Talk on Irish Division in First World War by Major Alan McFarland, Royal Tank Regiment (Ret).
11th November, 3:00pm, Exhibition open to the public; 7:00pm, Service in Ardess Parish Church when the names of 152 men from North Fermanagh and Pettigo who were killed in the First World War will be read. Praise led by Ballinamallard Silver Band and the Silvertones Group.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh
Sunday 11th November: 6:00am, a piper will play ‘Battle’s Over’ in the Cathedral.
10:30am: Representatives of the Cathedral will take part in the annual Act of Remembrance at the City of Armagh war memorial (The Mall).
11:30am: Sung Eucharist: Celebrant and preacher, the Archbishop of Armagh.
St Michael’s, Ballina (Tuam, Killala & Achonry)
Sunday 11th November, 10:45am: Kilmoremoy Union Remembrance Service. At this service a National flag and a Connaught Rangers flag will be presented and dedicated.
8:00pm: Service of Reflections for Remembrance.
Bangor Parish Church (Down & Dromore)
As well as its services of Remembrance, Bangor Parish will mark the 11 November with bell ringing. Among all the bell towers of the British Isles, Bangor has the sad distinction of having lost the most ringers in the Great War, with three killed on the first day of the Somme alone:
10.55–11.00am – Bell Ringing, ‘The Dead Soldiers’
11.00am – Silence, then single bell for one minute, then ringing for Armistice
12.30pm – Ringing for Thanksgiving for peace
Bantry (Kilmocomogue Union) (Cork)
Sunday 11th November: Special Armistice Day Service, with unveiling of a new memorial plaque. The new memorial will be dedicated to peace and to the memory of all 121 from the parish of all denominations, faiths, traditions and religious backgrounds who died in the conflict and also those from other places who are buried in cemeteries in this parish. (The existing plaque contains only a small number of names as it was by subscription only.)
St Patrick’s, Benburb (Clonfeacle) (Armagh)
Sunday 11th November, 6:30pm: Dedication Service for a new memorial, incorporating ‘Battle is O’er’ and the Last Post at 6:55pm; 7:05pm: participation in the nationwide act of bell ringing.
Christ Church, Bray (Dublin & Glendalough)
Tuesday 6th – Sunday 11th November: Exhibition and ‘Come and Sing’ ‘The Armed Man’ (Mass for Peace), Karl Jenkins
Saturday 10th November, 11:00am: Act of Remembrance at Bray Town Memorial, Quinnsborough Road.
Sunday 11th November, 11:00am: Morning Prayer, including Act of Remembrance with solemn muffled peal of bells and address by local historian: ‘How Bray celebrated the Armistice’; 12:30pm: Celebratory peal of bells.
7:00–8:15pm: ‘Come and Sing “The Armed Man”’ and poetry reading.
BELFAST
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
Sunday 11th November, 3:45–4:45pm: Televised national Service of Commemoration. One of four Commemorative Services being held in the four nations of the United Kingdom (Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London) culminating with a final service at Westminster Abbey. The service at St Anne’s will acknowledge the sacrifice of those from across the island of Ireland during the First World War and will feature a special anthem.
Also: Exhibition around the unique First World War Lectern of Remembrance.
Belvoir
Belvoir Parish has compiled the stories and records of 26 relatives of members of the congregation. They will be remembered on Sunday 11 November and at a night of music, poetry, stories and prayers on Thursday 8 November at 8.00 pm.
St Aidan’s Church, Blythe Street, Belfast (Connor)
Wednesday 14 November, 7:30pm: ‘Entertaining the Troops/Old time Music Hall, St Aidan’s Answer to ENSA’, St. Aidan’s Church Hall, Donegall Road.
St Bartholomew’s Church, Stranmillis Rd (Connor)
3rd November: Evening of drama, poetry and music featuring the Victory Rollers and Bart Players to commemorate the end of the Great War, St Bartholomew’s Parish Hall.
Sunday 11th November, 10:30am: 204 Field Hospital (Army Reserve Unit) will be present for the annual Remembrance Service.
St John’s, Malone Rd, Belfast (Connor)
11th November: Act of Remembrance with Scouts and Guides at church War Memorial during morning service, with special address by a parishioner who has researched those memorialized.
St Mark’s, Dundela (Down & Dromore)
On Sunday 11 November at 7.30pm, St Mark’s, Dundela, will host a special Songs of Praise with Festival Brass to commemorate the Armistice on its centenary. Festival Brass will be joined by soloist, Fr. Martin O’Hagan, one of the Singing Priests. This is a free event but there will be a freewill offering in aid of the Earl Haig Fund. (St Mark’s Dundela, 221 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2DR).
St Paul & St Barnabas, York Street, Belfast (Connor)
Sunday 11th November, 10:30am: Service of Remembrance with Act of Remembrance.
7:00pm: ‘The Great War Remembered’ – drama, poetry, song, sermon, hymns etc. The balcony will be transformed to the ‘trenches’ where soldiers in uniform will be spotlighted throughout the service reading aloud letters. Further information: Revisy28@gmail.com / Phone 07788553376
Willowfield
Willowfield Remembers
7, 8 and 11 November in Willowfield Church
9.00am – Military Museum – Exhibition for school groups until 3.00pm. From 3.00pm to 9.00pm, open to all.
7.30pm – Poetry
7.40pm – Drama by Kabosh
8.00pm – Talk on 7 November– Philip Orr speaks about The Great War and its impact as the soldiers came home. Talk on 8 November – Jason Burke speaks about The Great War and its impact on East Belfast
8.30pm – Rhonda Lauren Kennedy (7 Nov); Jane Watterson (8 Nov).
9.00pm – Close
11 November: Centenary Armistice Services Willowfield Church at 10.00am and 11.30am.
The Military Museum is owned and run by War Years Remembered. The exhibition brings history alive by allowing members of the public to get up close and personal with the many exhibits on show from the World Wars.
Carbury (Kildare)
17th November: Ecumenical service led by Canon Patrick Towers . A scroll of names from the Barony of Carbury compiled by Andrew Whiteside will be presented to the parishes in the Barony. (Supported by Kildare CC and Midlands branch RBL.) A trumpeter and piper will bring in standards including Irish Guards, Dublin Fusiliers and 18th Regiment of foot, from Clonmel.
Refreshments in Derrinturn with memorabilia and a video presentation.
St Nicholas’ Parish Church, Carrickfergus (Connor)
11th November, 7:05pm: bellringers will participate in the nationwide act of bell ringing
Carrigaline Union – Monkstown (Cork)
Sunday 11th November, 7:00pm: Special Remembrance Centenary Choral Evensong in St John’s Church Monkstown.
St Michael & All Angels’ Castlecaulfield & St Patrick’s Donaghmore (Armagh)
Sunday 11th November, 6:00am, piper. 6:15pm: BB enrolment service incorporating ‘Battle is O’er’ and the Last Post at 6:55pm; 7:05pm: participation in the nationwide act of bell ringing.
Clonakilty (Kilgariffe Union of Parishes) (Ross)
Sunday 11th November, 11:30am: ‘A time for war … a time for healing’ Special Healing Service to mark the end of the First World War with prayer for the nations and prayer for individual healing with the anointing of oil.
CORK CITY
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Friday 9th November: Western Front Association – Evening Concert of Remembrance
Saturday, 10th November: The Cathedral will be open (free of charge) for pilgrims to come to pray and to visit the 1914–18 visual memorial project. Prayers will be said throughout the day.
Sunday, 11th November: 4 minutes silence will be offered prior to 11:00am – one for each year of the war, followed by the customary two minutes silence. 11.15am: Sunday Eucharist to the setting of the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. 3:30pm: The Diocesan Service of Remembrance
In the city also:
A variety of civic authorities and organisations, having attended at the Cathedral for 11am will then attend Mass at St Peter and Paul’s Church. Following that the Lord Mayor and Tánaiste will lead commemorations at the War Memorial on the Grand Parade, and the Bishop of Cork will give an oration. For those who are attending that there will be a reception at the City Hall before the 3.30 p.m. Service at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. After the Diocesan Service in the Cathedral there will be a civic concert of remembrance hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork in the City Hall.
St Anne’s, Shandon, Cork
Week before Remembrance Sunday: Third and fourth classes of St Luke’s School will visit St Anne’s bringing poppies crafted to remember those commemorated on the school’s Roll of Honour. A poppy is being made for each person on that Roll with a name inscribed on the leaf. The poppies will be installed in a display next to the war memorial in St Anne’s and the Roll of Honour will remain in the church for the service on Sunday.
Sunday 11th November, 10:15am: Service; the ‘Bells of Shandon’ will ring sombrely remembering the loss of life and the impact that those events had globally and locally leaving the histories and stories of many families scarred and forever changed. The service will end with the bells pealing joyfully sounding out the optimism of hope which brings our remembering to bear on the conflicts and tensions of today – a message of hope for a peaceful future and a message of solidarity with those whose lives are affected today by war or violence.
DERRY–LONDONDERRY CITY
St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry
Sunday 4th November, 4.00pm: The City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge Service to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Sunday 11th November, 4.00pm: Armistice Requiem. Faure’s Requiem in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Armistice, performed by the Choirs of St Eugene’s and St Columb’s Cathedrals, conducted by Maghnus Monaghan; Organist: Dr Derek Collins; Admission free.
In the city also:
Sunday 11th November, 6:00am: Individual pipers across City and District commence the day with the traditional Scottish lament ‘Battle is O’er’
11:00am: Wreath laying at War Memorial
11:05am: Bells to ring in churches.
6:00 pm: Mayor of Londonderry hosts an Interdenominational Service in the Guildhall with live feed to the Guildhall Square with the four main churches being represented. The service will include an Act of Remembrance carried out by the Royal British Legion. The Bishop of Derry & Raphoe encourages all rectors of city parishes to attend and encourage their parishioners to attend this service.
6:55pm: Lighting of the Beacon on the city walls; 7:05pm: Ringing Out for Peace – Cathedral and church bells across the City and District ring out in celebration for peace. Town Crier to be part of the International Cry for Peace around the world; 7:15pm: Mayor’s Reception to be held in the Guildhall.
Derryloran Parish (Armagh)
Monday 5th – Saturday 10th November: Great War exhibition in Cookstown Royal British Legion Hall (with Friends of the Somme) daily with lectures each evening at 8:00pm with a replica Great War tank on display with other memorabilia.
Sunday 11th November, 10:40am: Cenotaph dedication of 2 new memorial plaques with 78 new names being added to the existing list of names, the Lord Lieutenant for Tyrone among the guests; followed by Service of Remembrance. Parade will proceed to Derryloran Church for morning service at 11:40am at which a memorial plaque to the Ulster Defence Regiment will be dedicated.
7:05pm: the church bell will be rung.
Donaghcloney (Down & Dromore)
At 6.30pm on Sunday 11 November the Elim, Methodist, Presbyterian and Church of Ireland Churches in Donaghcloney are holding an event called The Armistice. War Years Remembered will provide items from WW1 and a banner from the Orange Lodge in Waringstown which depicts men who lost their lives in the Great War will be on display. The service will be held in Donaghcloney Presbyterian Church, Moygannon Road, Donaghcloney.
DUBLIN
St Catherine & St James Church, Donore Avenue, Dublin 8
Sunday 11th November, 11:30am: Act of Remembrance and dedication of a new War Memorial to two members of the Carroll family by the Archbishop of Dublin. Service of the Word will be followed by tea and coffee. With 35th Dublin Donore Avenue St. Teresa’s Scout Group. First World War Memorials from St James’ Church, James’ Street, St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street (both Wars), St Luke’s Church, the Coombe, and most recently St Peter’s Church, Aungier Street have all been re–erected in this Church.
St Audoen’s, Cornmarket
Sunday 11th November, 10:00am: The Archbishop of Dublin will celebrate the Parish Eucharist after the Act of Remembrance. The bells will be rung beforehand. The First World War Memorial from St Matthias’ Church Adelaide Road is now in St Audoen’s.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
November 1st–30th, ‘Fallen Leaves’ art installation featuring 36,000 messages hanging from the ceiling of the Cathedral. (Normal opening hours apply.)
1st November, 6:30pm: An evening of music, poetry and a talk by Turtle Bunbury. (Register at www.stpatrickscathedral.ie)
10th November, 7:00pm: Remembrance Concert with the RTE Concert Orchestra (Tickets €20 (€17 concessions; available from www.stpatrickscathedral.ie). Bax In memoriam, Elgar For the Fallen, Brahms Ein Deuches Requiem
11th November, 3:15pm: Remembrance Sunday Service. (No tickets/registration required. All welcome.)
St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen (Clogher)
11th November, Enniskillen Castle, 5:45–7.30am: Special commemorative events including Prayers of Reflection and a Service conducted by the Very Revd Kenneth Hall, Dean of Clogher and the Right Revd Monsignor Peter O’Reilly, Parish Priest of St Michael’s Church Enniskillen.
11:30am, St. Macartin’s Cathedral: A Remembrance Day Service will be broadcast on RTÉ 1 television from St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen, with representatives from the British, Irish, American and Polish Governments and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Service will be conducted by the Dean of Clogher, the Very Revd Kenneth Hall, and the preacher is the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd John McDowell.
The Cathedral Choir will sing an anthem, “Thankfulness should be in every heart”, based on a setting of words penned almost 100 years ago by the Revd Canon Charles Albert Robinson, Rector of Magheraculmoney Parish, near Kesh, who lost his only son, Lieutenant Charles Arthur Robinson from the 4th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, in battle in the First World War on 9th April 1917.
5:30pm, Regimental Standards positioned in Cathedral; ‘There but not There’ (10 perspex figures) installation in place; 6:00pm, Service: ‘Enniskillen – the first town in the United Kingdom to publicly proclaim the Armistice on 11th November 1918 and the most westerly location to host ‘Battle’s Over’ – A Nation’s Tribute commemorating 100 years of Remembrance. 100 pipers from bands across the dioceses will play on the main street between St Macartin’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church.
7:00pm, Battle’s Over – WWI Beacon of Light lit by Lord Lieutenant; new Cathedral clock light is switched on – the first time it has ever been lit as a sign of Peace, Hope and Reconciliation; 7:05pm, Battle’s Over – Ringing out for Peace (Cathedral Bells Peel); 7:15pm, Refreshments served in St Macartin’s Hall
Christ Church Gorey (Ferns)
Sunday 11th November, 10:30am: Traditional Remembrance Service. Immediately after the service the newly built war memorial will be dedicated in the church grounds in the presence of family members of those who served in World War I. The family members will be made up of families from the four Church of Ireland parishes within Gorey Group of Parishes, Gorey Methodist Parish and St Michael’s Roman Catholic Parish.
Kenmare (Ardfert and Aghadoe)
11th November, 3:00pm: Special event remembering all those involved in conflict over the last 100 years, but more importantly, looking forward to a country where children of all birth nations may live together in peace. There will be poems, singing and readings in many different languages, culminating in a demonstration of togetherness and unity irrespective of nationality, religious or political belief.
St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare
Sunday, 4th November, 3 :00pm, Special service of thanksgiving and to commemorate all who served from Meath & Kildare Dioceses, and in particular those who made the supreme sacrifice. Preacher: the Very Revd Nigel Crossey, Dean of Kilmore; music led by the Cathedral Choir.
Kildare Cathedral has been chosen as the place of commemoration because the county of Kildare was a major centre of military activity. The Curragh Camp was the headquarters of the British Army in Ireland and there were significant garrisons in the neighbouring towns of Newbridge and Naas.
St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny (Ossory)
Sunday 11th November: Civic Service of Choral Matins and Act of Remembrance.
Killyleagh (Down & Dromore)
At 6.00pm on Sunday 11 November the community in Killyleagh will join a Walk of Peace, culminating with the sounding of the last post and the reading of the names of all 51 from the village who were killed in the Great War. The bells of St John’s will ring out for peace at 7.05pm (as well as joining the nationwide peal of bells at 12.30pm).
Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Killala (Killala)
Sunday 11th November, 10:00am: Act of Remembrance during the Eucharist Service to remember the anniversary of the armistice and all those who have lost life in war. A wreath will be laid at the war memorial and also at the commonwealth war grave of Lance Sergeant John V. Durkan of the Connaught Rangers in the adjoining graveyard. The service will also remember in prayer those who continue to serve in this way.
St Andrew’s Parish Church, Killyman (Armagh)
Sunday 11th November: 11.30am, Service of Remembrance with Wreath Laying Ceremony.
7:00pm, Lighting of Remembrance Candle for Peace, 7:05pm Church bells will toll as part of Nation’s Tribute, 7:10pm Service of Remembrance and Celebration.
Kilmood
The new ‘Peace Bells’ at St Mary’s, Kilmood, will ring out with the rest of the nation at 12.30pm on Sunday 11 November. At 6.30pm there will be a short family–friendly service when the Battle’s Over beacon will be ignited alongside 1000+ others across the British Isles.
Kinsale Union (Cork)
Sunday 11th November, 11:00am: Public Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, Kinsale, followed by Parish Act of Remembrance at the Church of St Multose at 11:30am, followed by the ringing of the church bell.
Limavady (Derry)
Sunday 11th November, 6:20pm: The Royal British Legion (Limavady Branch) will parade from the United Services Club, Roe Mill Road, to the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, on Main Street. A Drumhead Service will take place, presided over by Comrade Rev Brian Hassan CF(v), followed by the lighting of a beacon and individual candles. The parade will re–form afterwards, and march to Drumachose Parish Church, Christ Church Hall for refreshments.
St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick
1–30 November: St Mary’s Cathedral will host World War I material relating to Limerick.
11th November: Special Service with Guest Preacher, Fr Seamus Madigan, Defence Forces Chaplain.
Lisbellaw Parish Church (Clogher)
Sunday, 25th November, 7:00pm: Service for the Commemoration of the End of the First World War with speaker Bishop John McDowell.
Mullavilly Parish Church (Armagh)
Sunday 11th November: a ‘Temporary’ War Memorial (framed List of those who served) will be presented at the Remembrance Sunday Service. Mullavilly has never had a War Memorial and the plan is eventually to have a permanent one, when all details are correct. Research has shown that 22 men from the parish served in the First World War. The parish is producing a booklet which will list all the names and provide information.
St Columba’s Parish Church, Portadown (Armagh)
5th–10th November, 10:00am–5.00pm: Exhibition of WW1 Memorabilia, provided by Mr Ashley Forbes in the church. Refreshments available throughout the week in the church hall.
Saturday 3rd, 2:00–4:00pm: Free Community Living History Event – military vehicles, a field hospital, nostalgic children’s games and crafts and afternoon tea taking place on.
Tuesday 6th November, 7:30pm: ‘Reflections’ musical evening with Tracey McRory (harpist), Military Wives Choir NI and Men in Black. (Suggested donation £10 which includes supper)
Wednesday 7th November, 7:30pm: Focus on the role of the women during WW1. (Suggested donation £10 includes supper)
Thursday 8th November, 7:30pm: Air and Graces, Great War Tunes and Melodies with Ballymoughan Purpleguard and local poet Richard Edgar. (Suggested donation £10 includes supper)
St John’s Cathedral, Sligo (Elphin)
Sunday 11th November, 10:30am: Remembrance Service.
Also in the city:
Saturday 10th November at 11:00am: an Ecumenical Service of Remembrance will take place at the Cenotaph, Mail Coach Road/Pearce Road, Sligo.
Ballymore Parish, Tandragee (Armagh)
Sunday 11th November, 10:45am: Act of Remembrance at Tandragee War Memorial, during which the 93 men from the town and district who died in the First World War will be remembered by name, followed by the laying of wreaths. The parade will then make its way to Ballymore Parish Church in Tandragee for Morning Prayer at 11:30am. This Service will include special music and readings for Remembrance Sunday.
7:05pm: Ballymore Parish Church will ring its bells as part of the nationwide act of belling ringing, followed by a Service.
St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam
Sunday 11th November, 12:00pm: Armistice Day Service of Remembrance with the Irish United Nations Veterans Association. Guest Preacher the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry.
Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
Sunday 11th November, 10:00am: Special Service of Remembrance, with members of the Civic Authorities in attendance. Special Preacher: Revd Father Pat Fitzgerald.
This listing was first published in the Church of Ireland Gazette.