The annual gathering of the clergy of the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross at Ballylickey, near Bantry, County Cork, took place from Monday, 15th October to Wednesday, 17th October.

The visiting speaker this year, the latest in a long line of distinguished speakers at Ballylickey, was the Leader of the Corrymeela Community, Pádraig Ó Tuama.  Originally from Carrigaline, County Cork,  Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian based in Belfast. Since 2014 he has been the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation witness dedicated to transforming conflict through human encounter.  His interests encompass poetry, religion, conflict and storytelling.

Pádraig Ó Tuama with Bishop Paul Colton.

At Ballylickey this year, for the clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, he took the theme of ‘Borders and Belonging in the Biblical Witness.’  His addresses were engaging, inspiring, thought-provoking and motivating.  Rooted in familiar bible characters, there was a strong contemporary feel to the four talks, which were:

• ‘Ruth, the border crosser’
• ‘Tamar, the tamer of the Lion of Judah’
• ‘Jesus and Gentiles: an exploration of friendship.’
• ‘Jesus in the wilderness: loneliness and leadership.’

Some of the clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross at Ballylickey with Pádraig Ó Tuama and Bishop Paul Colton.