Since the late 1960s, the Civic and Festival Eucharist of St Patrick’s Day in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral has been the first port of call for the Lord Mayor of Cork and the City Council signalling the start of the national day in the City. Also present each year are representatives of the Oireachtas, Cork County, the Defence Forces, the Naval Service, An Garda Síochána, public bodies, business groups and voluntary organisations.
This year, as every year, the Bishop and Mrs Colton hosted a reception at the Bishop’s Palace for more than two hundred invited guests. Among those guests this year were schoolchildren and their families representing the schools of the Diocese. In this centenary year they delivered their ‘Proclamations for a New Generation’ which will be on display in the ambulatory of the Cathedral throughout the Easter season. Every year too, the scout leaders and venture scouts from 2nd Cork help with the parking and the scouts do the washing up.
Here are the photographs of St Patrick’s Day at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and afterwards at the reception at the Bishop’s Palace:
- Representatives of Cork Women’s Organisations arrive for the Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Sylvia and Keelan from The Model School Dunmanway. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- The Sandes family from Midleton arrive for the Service. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The Shorten Family, Enniskeane. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Annemarie and Amelie from St. Michaels School Blackrock. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Simon Coveney TD and Captain Mick Malone, Irish Naval Service. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Pat O’Connell, President Cork Business Association and Cllr John Buttimer. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Ann Doherty, CEO Cork City Council, Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary and Lady Mayoress Angela O’Leary. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O’Leary and Simon Coveney TD. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- The Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, receives the Lord Mayor and City Council. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The City Council arrive in the Cathedral Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession of clergy and schoolchildren. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Representatives of the schools of the Diocese Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The choir: Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Welcoming everyone Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress and Ann Doherty, CEO of Cork City Council. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O’Leary, reads the lesson. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- Choir member. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Bishop Colton addresses the congregation. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The scene in St Fin Barre’s Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The scene in St Fin Barre’s Photo: Jim Coughlan
- At the close of the Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- At the close of the Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The mace bearers lead the Bishop, the Lord Mayor and City Council from the Cathedral Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- Bishop Paul Colton and CLlr Chris O’Leary, Lord Mayor of COrk. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The procession heads to the Bishop’s Palace. Photo; Jim Coughlan
- Welcome to the reception afterwards: Former Lord Mayor, Donal Counihan and Frank Murphy, Secretary, Cork County Board of the G.A.A. .Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Welcome to the reception afterwards: Simon Coveney TD and Paddy O’Brien, Over 60’s Competition. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Pat O’Connell, President CBa, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald and Paul Moynihan, Director of Services Cork City Council.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Billy Kelleher, TD and Ann Doherty, CEO Cork City Council.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Jerry Buttimer and Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Margaret Murphy O’Mahony TD and Cllr John Sheehan.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:John Ger O’Riordan, Cork City Council and Former Lord Mayor Jim Corr.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Micheál Martin, TD and Cllr Tom O’Driscoll.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Cllr Mick Finn and Lord Mayor Cllr Chris O’Leary.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Ted Owens, CEO Cork ETB and Frank Murphy, Secretary, Cork County Board of the G.A.A.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Dr. Brendan Murphy, President CIT and Captain Mick Malone, Irish Naval Service.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Micheál Martin TD.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace:Grace and Damian Wallace, former Lord Mayor of Cork with Bishop and Mrs Colton.Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Captain Mick Malone, Irish Naval Service and Bishop Colton discuss the Bishop’s forthcoming visit to the Naval Service. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- At the St Patrick’s Day Reception at the Bishop’s Palace: Brother Rupert O’Sullivan and Bishop Colton. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- A student from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Jerry Buttimer and Bishop Paul Colton. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
- Schoolchildren from one of the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- The group of schoolchildren from the schools of the Diocese at the reception after the Civic Service. Photo: Jim Coughlan
- Scouts on duty on St Patrick’s Day photographed after the annual St. Patrick’s Day Civic Service at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral with Bishop Paul Colton including Provincial Commissioner Chris McSweeney. Photo: D.P.Barry
- Bishop Colton welcomes representatives of Scouting Ireland to the reception on St Patrick’s Day. Photo: D.P. Barry