Irish Times Notes29 Jun 19

Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

New light on the Church in Medieval Dublin

For those interested in the history of the Church in medieval Dublin, the latest collection of essays from the Friends of Medieval Dublin, Medieval Dublin XVII, is absorbing reading. As usual some of the contributions have a marked archaeological focus and as such have a more specialised appeal but there is still much for the general reader of history. In particular, Dagmar O Riain–Raedal’s essay on the beginnings of Christ Church cathedral explores fascinating links with the Benedictine foundations of Gros St Martin and St Pantaleon in Cologne while Sheila Dooley reveals much about the lost medieval church of St Michael which was roughly on the site of the old Synod Hall, now the medieval interpretative centre, Dublinia. Linzi Simpson’s discussion of the archaeological excavation of St John’s church in Fishamble Street has a substantial historical section, while a little further afield, the Abbey of St Thomas the Martyr and its association with the Le Brun family  is examined by Aine Foley.

Medieval Dublin XVII has been edited by Professor Sean Duffy and published by Four Courts Press. The cover design incorporates an image of the church of St Michael the Archangel taken from the handle of a 17th century silver spoon which is part of the exhibition of church plate in the Treasury of Christ Church cathedral.

This year marks the bicentenary of St Matthew’s church, Tullagh, in Baltimore, Co. Cork, and as part of the celebrations there will be a Flower Festival in the church this weekend which will be open form 11am until 5.30 each day. Tullagh is part of the Abbeystrewry union of parishes where the rector is the Revd John Ardis. 

This morning (Saturday) in Kilkenny College there will be a Special Synod of the Diocese of Cashel, Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin which will seek to map the future of the diocese and to do so in manner which is unthreatening and creative. In the evening the Friends of St Canice’s cathedral will hold their AGM at 3pm when Mr Glen Collins will give a talk on the engineering of the medieval cathedral. This will be followed by Evensong at 5pm and, afterwards, a reception in the Deanery. Next week also sees a week–long choral music summer camp for children aged 8–12 at the cathedral which includes twice daily choral instruction from Mr Harry Meehan, Interim Director of Music at the cathedral.. 

Today (Saturday) the Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, Dr Kenneth Kearon, will preside at the Diocesan Synod in Villiers School, Limerick.

The Columbia Choirs from Seattle, Washington, USA, will give a concert tomorrow (Sunday) at 3.30pm in St Mary’s Church,  Maynooth, Co. Kildare. They will sing again on  Monday at lunchtime in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin.

Thursday is American Independence Day which will be celebrated in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, with a ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’ concert at 6.15pm featuring music from Star Wars, Superman and The Simpsons. Admission is free with a retiring collection for the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, Crumlin.

Summer Music at Sandford continues on Friday at 1.10pm when there will be a recital by Marian Creely (soprano), Shane Kenrick (clarinet) and the Hanneville String Quartet. John Daly Goodwin, conductor and great grand nephew of Percy French, brings the ‘A Viva Voce Festival Chorus of New York’ to St John’s Church, Sandymount, at 8pm with a programme that includes folksongs and spirituals, old American songs and songs by Percy French: tickets (€20) from Eventbrite and at door.