Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Guide to the West
One of consequences of the Covid–19 pandemic has been to seriously restrict overseas travel, and the government has been anxious to stress the value of holidaying in Ireland both to protect public health and to boost the domestic economy. As a result many domestic resorts have been packed with Irish visitors which has compensated, in part, for the very obvious absence of foreign tourists.
All parts of the country have their own unique appeal but for many there is something magical about the west of Ireland. Yet for some this year may be their first sustained visit and their knowledge of the area may be slight. Fortunately the award winning Guide to Lough Corrib’s Early Monastic Sites, written by Anthony Previté, has just been reprinted and is now available at the price of €15 from Charlie Byrne’s and other bookshops. Containing photos, maps and brief descriptions of 31 sites around Lough Corrib’s shores this book is an invaluable guide to students, visitors and residents alike. Together with comments on the sites, and the early saints connected with them, are also maps and their locations and how to find them. These unique and often isolated sites are all highly significant aspects of our national archaeological heritage and a testimony to the skills, hardiness and learning of the early ascetics who settled here well over 1,000 years ago.
Anthony Previté trained in the Church of Ireland Theological College and has spent his entire clerical career in the west of Ireland. He was ordained in 1988 for the curacy of Galway and Kilcummin (Oughterard) and was subsequently Rector of Omey (Clifden), Dean of St Mary’s cathedral, Tuam, and Archdeacon of Tuam. He retired in 2006.
The Charles Wood Festival which has presented its first ever Digital Festival, replacing its renowned Summer School this year in light of the Covid–19 pandemic, concludes this weekend in Armagh. Today (Saturday) at 11am in St Patrick’s cathedral there will be a recording of Ben Comeau, winner of the 2011 competition, and at 3pm, in a Festival of Hymns, Dr Gillian Warson, a renowned British hymnologist, will offer a commentary on a selection of hymns. Tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am there will be a recording of Richard Gowers, winner of the 2013 competition and at 7pm organist Philip Scriven accompanies the Digital Festival Choir in the final performance of the week ‘O Thou the Central Orb’ by Charles Wood. Details at www.charleswoodsummerschool.org
On Wednesday, the Episcopal Electoral College for the Diocese of Clogher will have its first meeting in St Macartin’s cathedral, Enniskillen, commencing with a Service of Holy Communion at 10.30am. The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, will preside and preach at the Eucharist and will chair the meeting of the College.
The consecration of Archdeacon George Davison as Bishop of Connor will be held on Thursday, the Feast of St Oenghus MacNissi of Connor, in St Patrick’s cathedral, Armagh, at 4.00pm. The co–consecrators, along with the Archbishop of Armagh, will be the Bishop of Meath & Kildare and the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe. The preacher will be the Rt Revd Kenneth Clarke, formerly Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh. Because churches are still operating under strict rules of social distancing, attendance will be limited to the family, close friends and colleagues of the Bishop–elect, with an opportunity for a more expansive liturgical event at a future date in Belfast Cathedral. However, the service in Armagh will be streamed and recorded.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times