Bishop Paul and Mrs Susan Colton were Guests at New Páirc Uí Chaoimh for All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-Final

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Saturday, 22nd July, an auspicious and historic day for Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (the Gaelic Athletic Association), Bishop Paul and Mrs Susan Colton were the guests of the Cork County Board at the Quarter-Final of the All-Ireland Hurling qualifier between Clare and Tipperary in the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.  They were also invited to be present again on Sunday 23rd July for the second qualifier between Waterford and Wexford but were unable to attend.  Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been developed at a cost of €80,000,000 and replaces the previous stadium which was opened in 1976.

‘I remember when the previous stadium was opened,’ said Bishop Colton, ‘I was a teenager in Cork in those days.  The excitement was great then and there is the same excitement this week in Cork, as well as throughout the sporting community in general about the new stadium.’

At lunch prior to the first Quarter Final of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship 2017 were (l-r seated) Mrs Susan Colton, Mr Páraic Duffy (Director General of the GAA), and Mr Christy Cooney (President, GAA, 2009-2012), and (l-r standing) Father Seamus Gardiner (GAA), Mr Frank Murphy (Secretary, Cork County Board, GAA), and Bishop Paul Colton.

Before the matches of the day, the Bishop and Mrs Colton were also guests at a lunch in the new stadium.

Bishop Colton said:

Susan and I are thrilled to be guests of the GAA today and to be back at a match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh which we know well from attending matches each year.  The new stadium is simply magnificent and huge congratulations are due to everyone associated with the project.  I sat on the fence for today’s match between Clare and Tipperary.  Susan was less neutral as she has many cousins in Tipperary!

As reported by journalist Eoin English in the Irish Examiner,

It’s taken over €80m, 33,000 tonnes of concrete, 1,500 tonnes of steelwork, some 500 construction workers and about two years — but Ireland’s newest sports stadium has finally been unveiled. And the regenerated 45,000-capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh GAA stadium in Cork is set to deliver an immediate €25m boost to the local economy this weekend.

Frank Murphy (Secretary, Cork County Board, GAA) welcoming the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton and Mrs Susan Colton to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. (Photo: George Hatchell)

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Cork Mothers’ Union Help Out at Cork Summer Show

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Mothers’ Union in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross enjoyed a really busy weekend last month at the Cork Summer Show (17-18 June), in the lovely sunshine.

The Mothers’ Union at Cork Summer Show

They provided a baby change facility and colouring for kids space – with plenty of room for parents and carers to rest or feed babies.  This was so much appreciated, and judging by the use made of it, was very popular.!  Everyone was so busy and the amenity stayed open an extra 2 hours on Sunday – lasting until everyone was packing up!

Thanks to the lovely family with 8 week old twins and big sister, for giving us permission to share the photo of them as they rested and fed the babies!

Making good use of the Mothers’ Union facilities at the Cork Summer Show.

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10,000 Mile Cyclist Visits St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Sunday 25th June Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork welcomed Nick Simon (59) to the 11.15 am Choral Eucharist.  Nick is undertaking a 10,000 mile cycle in aid of Christian Aid projects in Africa.  Having already completed a staggering 8,000 miles which took him from Cairo to Cape Town in 2016, Nick is completing the last leg of his cycle from Cork to Camden Town this summer.

At the end of the Service the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Nigel Dunne offered a special blessing for Nick for his journey which began the next morning.  His daughter, Emma, also joined him for the first leg of his journey to Dublin.  Nick hopes to reach his target of £80k before reaching the well-known London borough of Camden Town in October 2017.

Not only is Nick cycling the 2,000 miles that will take him across Ireland and Britain he will also climb the five highest peaks along his travels – Carrantuohill Mountain 3,406 feet, Slieve Donard Mountain 2,790 feet, Ben Nevis 4,413 feet, Scafell Pike 3,209 feet, and Snowdon 3,560 feet.

Speaking about his journey so far Nick said:

It was a big challenge but a privilege to cycle 8,000 miles independently through Africa for Christian Aid in 2016. The CTCT Challenge took me through 11 countries from Cairo in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The aim was to raise funds to reduce extreme poverty.

All funds generated directly by Nick through donations to the  link here will be used to support the range of programmes provided by Christian Aid’s African programmes.  Readers can also donate directly to Christian Aid here.

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New Rural Dean of North-East Cork in the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The Reverend Tony Murphy

The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, has announced the appointment of the Reverend Tony Murphy as new Rural Dean for North-East Cork.  North-East Cork Rural Deanery comprises five parishes: Youghal Union, Cloyne Union, Cobh and Glanmire Union, Fermoy Union and Mallow Union.

The Reverend Tony Murphy is a licensed auxiliary minister in the Diocese.  He was ordained deacon in 2011 and priest in 2012.  He is currently serving in the Fermoy Union of Parishes.  He is a graduate of University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, and the University of Chester.

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Rosscarbery Youth Worker takes part in joint Anglian/Old Catholic Pilgrimage

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Katharine Deane, a youth worker from the Ross Union of Parishes in the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, followed the example of St. Willibrord (the first Bishop of Utrecht) in late May of this year by taking part in a gathering of Old Catholics and Anglicans in Echternach, Luxembourg. St. Willibrord was a missionary from Northhumbria who lived in the 7th and 8th Centuries, and who became known as ‘the apostle to the Frisians’.

Echternach is St. Willibrord’s final resting place.  It was an excellent destination for Old Catholics and Anglicans to meet and build new and long lasting ties. While there the participants were immersed in each other’s cultures and beliefs.  It was an opportunity to build new friendships with other Anglicans and Old Catholics from all over Europe.

Homes of those who were at The Echternach Gathering in Luxembourg

The group stayed at a youth hostel on the edge of Echternach, beside the lake,  within walking distance of the town. Each day, there was the opportunity to engage in discussion about beliefs and traditions in the two churches. Each morning there was a thematic conversation or workshop, followed by activities in the afternoon.  Later each day the group made the 20 minute walk to the cathedral in Echternach where there was an evening Service. This was held in the catacombs of the cathedral near to the final resting place of St. Willibrord.

Evening Prayer at the Cathedral

Working together to discover and write a shared common vision, the group created a declaration known as ‘The Willibrord Declaration 2017’ which sets out aims to bring about unity between Anglicans and Old Catholics.

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