Following the Government announcement that 18th March 2022 would be a public holiday, described by An Tánaiste as a ‘day of remembrance and recognition’, the clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross agreed to open churches across the Diocese to make symbolical, liturgical and prayerful space for remembrance and recognition.

From St Patrick’s night until the morning of 18th March church light will be left on to proclaim Christ the light of the world, shining in darkness. On 18th March, principal churches in all parishes will be open for people to visit and pray between 10am and 12noon. Some churches will hold a specific liturgy. In those churches where there is a bell/bells, they will be bellringing at 11am. 

For specific events in each parish please refer to the list below. 

The Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, welcomed these initiatives from the parishes and chaplaincies of the Diocese:

When I met on ZOOM with the group of clergy in response to the announcement by An Taoiseach of this public holiday as a day of recognition and remembrance, everyone agreed that we should do something appropriate not only to acknowledge the suffering of so many during this pandemic and not only to remember all who have died, but also to give thanks for the so many generous, sacrificial, human responses to the challenges we have all been living through, most especially by frontline workers. As the war in Ukraine now, understandably, dominates our news and preoccupies our current responses, it is important that we do not ‘move on’ from the shared experience of the pandemic, without remembering and recognising those who need to be remembered and recognised. In any case, the pandemic, like this war, has changed and is changing our world. Christian neighbourly responses of generosity, hospitality and compassion, will continue to be needed for a long time to come.

The parishes below have supplied information about their plans for Friday 18th March. For other parishes, please consult the local clergy. You will find the places listed on the Diocesan website HERE.

Abbeystrewry Union

Abbeystrewry Church and St. Barrahane’s, Castletownshend will be open for the day.

The Bells in Abbeystrewry will be rung at 11 am, and this will be followed by a liturgy in Abbeystrewry Church.

Ballydehob Union

St Matthias Church, Ballydehob will be open between 10am and 12noon.

Bandon Union

St Peter’s Church in Bandon will be open between 10am and 12noon. A liturgy is planned for 11.30am, please contact the Rev. Denis MacCarthy for more information. 

There will be bells rung at 11am.

Carrigaline Union

The lights in St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline and St John’s Church, Monkstown will be left on overnight from 17th to 18th March. 

St John’s Church, Monkstown and St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline will be open between 10am and 12noon on 18th March.

There will be prayers in St John’s at 10am and prayers in St Mary’s at 12noon.

St John’s and St Mary’s bells will ring at 11am.

Carrigrohane Union

St Peter’s Church, Carrigrohane will be open between 10am and 12noon. 

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

The Cathedral will be open between 10am and 12noon. 

Candle lighting and prayers in the Choir and Chancel with members of the Diocesan Youth Council, the Bishop and the Dean will take place at 11am. 

There will be bell ringing at 11am. 

Cobh and Glanmire Union

Christ Church, Rushbrooke will be open between 10am and 12noon.

At 10am the LAC approved liturgy will be read.

The bell will be rung at 11am.

Cloyne Union

St John the Baptist Church, Midleton will be open between 10am and 12noon.

The liturgy will be held at 12.45pm.

The bell will ring at 11am.

Douglas Union

All of the churches in Douglas Union with Frankfield will be open for prayer between 10 and 12 noon. 

A short liturgy will be held in St Luke’s Douglas and St Michael’s Blackrock shortly after 11.00am. 

The bells will be rung at 11 in Passage, Blackrock and Douglas.

Fanlobbus Union

St. Mary’s Church, Dunmanway will be open between 10am and 12noon. 

There will be liturgy at 11.15am.

The Sam Maguire Community Bells will be rung at 11am. 

Kilgariffe Union

Kilgarriffe Church, Clonakilty will be open between 10am and 12noon.

The bells will be rung at 11am.

Kilmocomogue Union

St James Church, Durrus will be open from 10am to 12noon. St Brendan’s Church, Bantry will be floodlight over that time.

The bell at St Brendan’s Church, Bantry will ring at 11am.

Kinsale Union

The Church of St Multose, Kinsale, will be open all day.

Mallow Union

All churches in Mallow Union will be open between 10am and 12noon.

Prayers will be said at 11.05am

Moviddy Union

St Mark’s Church, Kilbonane will be open between 10am and 12noon. 

St Martin’s Church, Templemartin will ring their bell at 11am. 

Templebreedy Group

Nohoval Church, Nohoval and Holy Trinity Church, Crosshaven will be open between 10am and 12noon. 

There will be a liturgy at 11.05am. For more information please contact the Rev. Isobel Jackson. 

Nohoval Church and Holy Trinity Church will ring their bells at 11am. 

Youghal Union

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal will be open all day.