The C of I correspondent to the Irish Times in his latest column writes:
Standing Committee of the General Synod recently appointed a small group to consider how the Church of Ireland might respond to the impending decade of anniversaries from 2012 to 2022.
The nature of the Church’s response has yet to be formalised but within the Church there are organizations and interest groups which have begun to lay their own plans.
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (the Irish Guild of the Church) will be celebrating its centenary in 2014. The aim leading up to this great occasion is to provide increased opportunities for people in the Church of Ireland community, who are interested in Irish, to enjoy it. A full-time Irish Language Development Officer, Caroline Nolan, was appointed earlier this year to help to put the three year plan into action. Ms Nolan is supported by a newly elected committee consisting of Daithi O Maolchoile (chairman and honorary treasurer), Aonghus Dwane (honorary secretary), the Revd Mairt Hanley, the Revd Elaine Dunne, Dr Kenneth Milne, Seathrun MacEin and Eileeen McCracken.
The Cumann has been heartened by the level of support and enthusiasm from the clergy for its plan to promote the greater use of Irish in church services, and raise awareness of the opportunities to use Irish within the dioceses and the schools. It hopes that it can be a catalyst to connect people and activities and raise awareness of the resources available.
A programme of activities with schools will begin later in the year and it is also aimed to have a website up and running by September with information on services in Irish, details of new initiatives being planned in the dioceses and links to worship resources in Irish.
The Church of Ireland has a special relationship with the language due to the distinctive and noble contribution made by many of its members. The contribution of three successive archbishops of Dublin, George Simms, Harry McAdoo and Donald Caird, is a case in point. This tradition lives on, evidenced for example by the appearances on TG4 by the Archdeacon of Tuam, the Ven. Garry Hastings, and the Cumann would like to strengthen these links and construct new ways to encourage all to celebrate the Irish language.
If you are interested in finding out more about what is happening please do not hesitate to contact gaeleaglais@gmail.com or telephone Caroline Nolan, 026 45741 or 085 1632 772