Royal congratulations; Bethany Home survivors call for cross-border investigation into neglect; This week in the C of I; Parishioners Walk to Church to Mark Clonakilty 400; Man and woman may hold vital clues to church paintings theft
Royal congratulations
The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has extended congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their first child –
I wish to join my sincere good wishes to those of many in the Church of Ireland and beyond to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the news of the birth of their first child. The safe delivery of any new baby is a time for rejoicing and thankfulness for the parents and family and, indeed, for a wider community. I take this opportunity to wish the Duke and Duchess well as they assume the enormous privilege and responsibility of parenthood, and I pray that they will be blessed by God in cherishing their son and encouraging him in faith, and in the ways of truth and of love. We pray also for all other children born at this time, and that their parents too may know the joys of parenthood in the months and years ahead.
I extend good wishes to the other members of the Royal Family and the Middleton family as they now give thanks for this new child, and as they look forward to enjoying the great pleasure of watching him grow and develop in the months and years ahead.’
Bethany Home survivors call for cross-border investigation into neglect
The survivors are looking for their cross-border experiences of neglect to be investigated under the Joint Ministerial Council of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
Bethany Home survivors have travelled with former residents of Wicklow’s Westbank Orphanage to Northern Ireland to ask for their cases to be investigated.
They describe themselves as “cross border Protestant orphans” and say they were “unwanted, abused and exploited in Northern and Southern Ireland”.
Today, they are meeting with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Ministers and MLAs in Stormont on the issue.
They say they want their cross-border experiences of exploitation, neglect and abuse investigated under the Joint Ministerial Council of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
They are also calling for answers and redress. Bethany Home closed in 1972, while Westbank closed in 1998. The men and women say that they were mistreated and physically abused in the homes, and that they have suffered long-term effects because of this.
Some have also had issues with recovering documents relating to their identities.
Cabinet is expected to make a long-awaited decision on redress for Bethany survivors tomorrow. Derek Leinster of the Bethany Survivors Group told TheJournal.ie that the group are “now hoping [the Government is] going to do the right thing”.
The bodies of 219 Bethany children lie in unmarked graves in Dublin’s Mount Jerome cemetery, and the Bethany Homes survivors are calling for a memorial to be put up in their name.
According to the groups, the Irish state argues that their unwed mothers abandoned them privately and voluntarily.
The combined Bethany Westbank delegation meeting the DFM and other representatives are: Victor Stevenson, Westbank (mother from Cork, adopted in NI); Patrick Anderson McQuoid, Bethany, Smiley’s Home (mother from Wicklow, adopted NI); Eileen Macken, Bethany, Kirwan House (mother from NI); Betty Honan, Kirwan House (mother from NI, sister in Bethany), as well as Pamela Dooley, UNISON and Chair of NI Committee of ICTU and Niall Meehan, secretary, Bethany survivors.
This week in the C of I
On Sunday morning last the Dean of Cashel, Dr Philip Knowles, preached in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin.
In the afternoon,he was the organist at the Songs of Praise Service in Castletown church in Co. Carlow, and in the evening he conducted the annual Pattern Festival in Clonbeg church in the Glen of Agherlow where the special guest was Fr Liam Lawton.
The Clonmacnoise Annual Outdoor Service was held on Sunday at which the address was given by the Ven. Leslie Stevenson, Rector of Portarlington.
Tomorrow – Wednesday – the lunchtime recital in St Peter’s church, Portlaoise, will be given by Vocalese, directed by Nuala Kelly, while on Thursday evening the Westland Piano Trio will perform at the St Barrahane’s Festival of Music in Castletownshend. On Friday Ciaran O’Connell (flute) and Siobhan Kilkelly (organ) will play music by Mendelssohn, Hiller and Bach in Sandford parish church at lunchtime.
The Ardamine Union Bazaar will be held in Riverchapel Community Centre on Wednesday evening at 7pm.
On Thursday evening the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Christ Church, Bray, continue with a rose planting ceremony, and Evensong at 8pm followed by stories and memories and the cutting of a celebration cake. – Irish Times.
Parishioners Walk to Church to Mark Clonakilty 400
On Sunday last, 21st July 2014, the parishioners of Kilgariffe Union (based in the town of Clonakilty, County Cork and the surrounding region) walked to Morning Service, from the old, ruined Kilgariffe Church to today’s Kilgariffe Parish Church.
For this historical walk more than 120 parishioners led by the rector the Reverend Daniel Owen, were joined by representatives of Clonakilty Town Council led by the Mayor Cllr. Phil O’Regan, representatives of Dúchas (The Heritage Service) and the Clonakilty 400 Committee.
The walk marked 400th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the town of Clonakilty. At the site of the old church a talk was given by Tomás Tuipéar.
Man and woman may hold vital clues to church paintings theft
Irish Independent – A man and woman could hold vital clues to the theft from a church of six valuable paintings depicting scenes from the Stations of the Cross.
The works, commissioned in 1946, were by stained glass artist Evie Hone and had hung in St Peter and Paul’s Church Kiltullagh, Athenry, Co Galway. The works, commissioned in 1946, were by stained glass artist Evie Hone and had hung in St Peter and Paul’s Church Kiltullagh, Athenry, Co Galway.
Gardai have alerted auction houses in Ireland and Interpol has also been notified in an effort to prevent the incomplete set being sold off.
The paintings – the third, fourth, fifth, 10th, 11th and 12th stations – were stolen on June 22.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/man-and-woman-may-hold-vital-clues-to-church-paintings-theft-29438399.html