Seven National Schools from Cork City and its environs gathered in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Tuesday 10th October 2023 to celebrate the start of the school year and to give thanks for the harvest. This was the first of three services organised by the Diocesan Church Music Scheme to gather together all Diocesan Schools at the beginning of this academic year.

The Dean of Cork, the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne opened the service by showing a video of the cathedral bells and then encouraged all of the schools to ring their own bells by way of a greeting. The lesson from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was read by pupils from Bandonbridge NS, a thanksgiving was led by pupils from St Michael’s NS, Blackrock, and the prayers were read by pupils from St Mary’s NS, Carrigaline. Director of Music, Peter Stobart conducted Templebreedy NS, who sang Maurice Greene’s anthem Thou visitest the earth. 

All of the schools had been practising the hymns and the service concluded to the rousing sounds of We plough the fields and scatter.