Group from Dunmanway attend Sam Maguire Summer School in Croke Park

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

At the end of June a group from Dunmanway, including the Church of Ireland rector, the Reverend Cliff Jeffers, made the journey to Croke Park in Dublin to attend the Sam Maguire Summer School.

The Sam Maguire Cup’

Sam Maguire was a parishioner of the Church of Ireland parish in Dunmanway, known as Fanlobbus.  The event dealt with Sam’s life, the context of the period in which he lived, his GAA involvement, the history of trophies, and the making of the Sam Maguire cup.

At the Sam Maguire Summer School in Croke Park were (l-r)  Kieran Connolly (author, of ‘Sam Maguire, the man and the cup’), Helen O’Reilly (Dunmanway Chamber of Commerce) , Cllr Declan Hurley (former Mayor of Cork County), the Reverend Cliff Jeffers, and Mrs Eunice Jeffers.

Posted in Centenaries in Ireland, Church in Society, Community Involvement, Decade of Centenaries, GAA, Parish News | Comments Off on Group from Dunmanway attend Sam Maguire Summer School in Croke Park

Photos from the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Synod 2018

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

As previously reported, the annual Diocesan Synod of Cork, Cloyne and Ross was held on Saturday, 9th June beginning with the Eucharist in Holy Trinity Church, Frankfield, and continuing at the Cork International Airport Hotel.

Our Diocesan Media Officer, Sam Wynn, was on hand to take the photos:

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Church of Ireland Parish to the fore in Dunmanway Tourism Launch

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Hot on the heels of the opening of the innovative Sam Maguire Community Bells which were installed in St. Mary’s Church in Dunmanway in 2017 to remember Dunmanway’s most famous son (Sam Maguire), on Wednesday, 20th June, the official launch of a new Dunmanway Tourism Brochure, Website, and Tourist Information Point took place in the recreational area of Dunmanway Swimming Pool.

Photo: George Maguire

The launch included the Discover Dunmanway tourism brochure, the opening of a Fáilte Ireland Tourist Information point in EuroSpar, Dunmanway, the new http://www.visitdunmanway.ie website,  and the unveiling of the Sam Maguire Story Board Exhibition at Dunmanway Swimming Pool.

Helen O’Reilly, Chamber of Commerce, Cllr. Declan Hurley , Mayor of Co Cork, Clodagh Henehan, Divisional Manager West Cork CCC, John Power, CIT Marketing Intern, the Rev. Cliff Jeffers, Michelle Collins, CIT Placement Officer, Marie Healy, Fáilte Ireland Project Officer. Photo: George Maguire

This project was initiated by the Rev. Cliff Jeffers of St.Mary’s Church of Ireland, Dunmanway (where Sam Maguire is buried) in partnership with the Dunmanway Chamber of Commerce. In September 2017 they approached Cork Institute of Technology’s school of marketing to be involved in their extended campus program for placing of interns in industry and community projects.

Brendan Hayes (Sam Maguire Documentary Producer), the Rev. Cliff Jeffers (Church of Ireland Rector, Dunmanway).Photo: George Maguire

Ten of the fifteen attractions highlighted in the Dunmanway area are free to visit. The attractions which were selected including a Windfarm walk, Funmanway, West Cork Biscuit Factory, St. Mary’s Church and the Sam Maguire Community bells, guided and self-guided historic walking tour, Sam Maguire’s Homestead, Dunmanway Swimming Pool, (and 8 more).

John Power (CIT Marketing Intern), Michelle Collins (CIT Placement officer), Cllr. Declan Hurley (Mayor of the County of Cork), Marie Healy (Failte Ireland) and the Rev. Cliff Jeffers (Church of Ireland, Dunmanway).
Photo: George Maguire

John Power, a third year marketing student from Clonmel in Co. Tipperary was selected, and his internship started on the 1st February 2018. This launch is the outcome of the objectives that he has been developing for the promotion of tourism in Dunmanway with the focus on good value for money and telling the story of Sam Maguire. Funding for this initiative has been provided by Cork County Council through the Towns and Village Renewal Scheme from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Tony Power, John Power, Mary Power and John Power (CIT Marketing Intern).Photo: George Maguire

Dunmanway is determined continue to build on their unique position as the birth and burial place of Sam Maguire, and members of the local community will continue to work together to develop an excellent value experience for visitors to Sam Maguire’s hometown in the years ahead.

Sam Maguire Community Bell ringing team: Barry Collins, Rev. Cliff Jeffers, Betty Kingston, Valerie Jennings, Margaret Hennessy, Eunice Jeffers and John Deane. Photo: George Maguire

Posted in Announcements, Centenaries in Ireland, Church in Society, Community Involvement, Diocese, Ecumenism, Five Marks of Mission, GAA, Launch, People from Cork, People from the Diocese, Voluntary Work | Comments Off on Church of Ireland Parish to the fore in Dunmanway Tourism Launch

Eco Approach to Rural Churchyard in West Cork

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Some graveyards are beautifully manicured with neatly cut grass while others have a more natural, even wild appearance. Myross churchyard, at Union Hall in West Cork, falls into the latter category. As a result, it is home to a rich biodiversity of plant and animal life. At the initiative of members of the congregation, headed up by churchwarden Ann Beare, the parish aims to safeguard and promote the species count of plants and animals found within the churchyard.

Members of the congregation gathered at the information sign: ‘Myross Churchyard Biodiversity.’

A sign has been erected at the gate providing information along with an invitation for people to come and enjoy this beautiful place.

Dean Christopher Peters has said

I am delighted that members of the parish have taken this initiative which makes an important contribution to the community. It also represents a practical application of the Anglican Church’s mark of mission: ‘To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth”

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Appointment of Priest-in-Charge of Youghal Union of Parishes and Part-time Chaplain to Midleton College, County Cork

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The appointment is announced of the Ven. Andrew Orr (who is currently Rector of the Tullow Group of Parishes in the United Dioceses of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, and Archdeacon of Ossory and Leighlin) to serve half-time as priest-in-charge of Youghal Union of Parishes in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, and also as part-time Chaplain to Midleton College, County Cork.  This is a new post within the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross that has been developed by the Bishop and Diocesan Council with the imaginative energy and commitment of the people of Youghal Union of Parishes, as well as the Principal and Boards of Midleton College.

Andrew was born in Belfast.  He attended Sullivan Upper School in Holywood, Co. Down, before studying for a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology and Physical Geography at the University of Sheffield. He was awarded a Bachelor of Theology from TCD in 1992 and was ordained deacon the same year.

He served a curacy in the parish of Ballymacash in Lisburn, before moving south to become Rector of the Castlecomer Group of Parishes in the Diocese of Ossory. In 2000, he followed Bishop Colton to become Rector of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla in northwest Dublin. In that fast growing and diverse parish, he became deeply involved in interfaith dialogue with the new Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Orthodox communities. He returned in 2009 to the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory to become Rector of the Tullow Group of Parishes on the borders of Carlow and Wicklow. Bishop Michael Burrows appointed him Archdeacon of Ossory and Leighlin in 2014.

A life long interest in environmental issues led to him becoming Church of Ireland representative and then chair of Eco Congregation Ireland, as well as representing the Church on other bodies such as the Anglican Communion Environmental Network. He and his wife Susan have three children, Rachel 21, Patrick 19 and Ciara 17.

Andrew says:

I am very much looking forward to coming to minister in the beautiful setting of Youghal Union, and also undertaking the exciting role of chaplain in Midleton College.

I’m sad to be leaving our many friends in the Tullow Group and the wider diocese after more than nine very happy years but this is a fascinating opportunity to work in different settings with both parishioners and young people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Susan and I are very excited to be getting to know the people and places of East Cork.

The Principal of Mildeton College, Dr Edward Gash, welcoming the appointment says:

I am delighted with the appointment of Andrew Orr to the post of Chaplain of Midleton College.  Andrew will carry on the good work of previous lay Chaplains and the local clergy in supporting the inclusive Church of Ireland ethos of our school.  Andrew brings a wealth of experience in the spiritual development of young people and I look forward to welcoming him into the Midleton College community.

Bishop Paul Colton adds:

This is an exciting new position based on creative thinking and developing, in an imaginative way, the diocesan partnership with Midleton College, and harnessing the considerable synergy of people in the East Cork area with the College also.  The people of Youghal Union, in line with our Diocesan programme ‘Charting a Future with Confidence’, have also shown imagination and flexibility in taking this step of faith.

I am thrilled that Andrew Orr, someone with experience, calibre and immense gifts has felt called to this position. This post presents wonderful opportunities in ministry, in Parish and College alike.  He will be a great addition to our Diocesan team.

Youghal Union, centred on the historic town of Youghal and the Collegiate Church of Saint Mary (an historic medieval church and one of the oldest and most important ecclesiastical buildings in Ireland), includes also the seaside town of Ardmore in County Waterford and the rapidly growing village of Castlemartyr.  There are historic and contemporary family and personal connections between the parish and Midleton College in the neighbouring parish. Midleton College is a prestigious Church of Ireland, co-educational, boarding and day school founded in 1696 has an enrolment of 415 pupils, 35 teaching staff and another 35 non-teaching and coaching employees.

Archdeacon Andrew Orr

Posted in Announcements, Appointments, Eco Congregation, Environment, Environmental Issues, Midleton College, Parish News | Comments Off on Appointment of Priest-in-Charge of Youghal Union of Parishes and Part-time Chaplain to Midleton College, County Cork