From Wednesday, 11th October until Friday 13th October, the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell visited Cork, principally, to speak at the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Clergy Away Days at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

Every year, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton invites all the clergy of the Diocese to spend time together to reflect on ministry and to engage with a guest speaker. Archbishop Cottrell’s talks throughout the two-day event centred around the theme of ‘How to lead in a world without maps: four images that may help.’

Before heading to West Cork on Wednesday, Archbishop Cottrell visited St Anne’s Church, Shandon and climbed up the tower, one of Cork’s most significant and well known landmarks, to ring the famous Shandon Bells. He opted to play the tune of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ on the bells.

On Friday, before returning to the UK, the Archbishop attended a lunch for lay ministers in the Diocese, which was hosted by the Bishop and Mrs Susan Colton at their home.

Children from two schools involved in the Diocesan Church Music Scheme – Saint Luke’s National School, Mahony’s Avenue, and St Michael’s National School, Blackrock under the direction of Peter Stobart – came in especially to sing for the Archbishop before he spoke to the group of lay ministers that had gathered at the cathedral. Afterwards, Archbishop Cottrell, Bishop Colton, and Dean Dunne lit candles at the newly commissioned Holy Icon of Saint Fin Barre.