Famous Mathematician speaks about Jokes at Men’s Breakfast in Douglas Union of Parishes

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

By 9.00am on Saturday 11 March a group of about 110 men filled Bull McCabes (Pub and Restaurant) on Airport Hill near Cork, for a special parish breakfast. In recent years, this event has become a popular part of the Lent programme in Douglas Union of Parishes. Previous speakers have been the Revd Michael Cavanagh, who spoke about the Men’s Shed project in Kenmare, and rugby pundit George Hook. Often it is good to note several generations of the same family meeting to enjoy food and conversation and this year was no exception.

Douglas Union ~ Men’s Breakfast at the Bull McCabes

The guest speaker on Saturday morning this year was Professor Desmond MacHale, retired professor of mathematics at UCC. He is also the author of the highly-acclaimed biography of George Boole, who developed what became known as Boolean Algebra and was one of the first professors at Queen’s College Cork. However, on this occasion Professor MacHale was not giving a history or maths lecture, but speaking about one of his other great passions, humour. Over the years, he has collected jokes and has published over thirty books on the subject.

Douglas Union ~ Professor Desmond MacHale (right) at the Men’s Breakfast at the Bull McCabes

The title this year was ‘God and Humour’. In the introduction to one of his joke books, Desmond writes ‘I have been, as long as I can remember, a practising Catholic and I take my religion very seriously. I firmly believe that Jesus Christ was true man and true God and the He died to save me…Jesus was a joyful person and must have laughed a great deal. Christians, unlike some other religions, have a long and healthy tradition of laughing at themselves. I firmly believe that not only are humour and religious belief not incompatible, but they can actually improve and complement one another.’ Those who attended this event enjoyed some of Desmond’s favourite religious jokes and his reflections on the important contribution humour can make both in life and in the church.

Douglas Union ~ Men’s Breakfast at the Bull McCabes

Concluding the morning, the rector Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson thanked Professor MacHale for accepting his invitation to speak this year. He also thanked Howard and Derek Dunne and their staff at Bull McCabes, who opened up early for this event and served a delicious cooked breakfast.

Howard and Derek Dunne with, Professor Desmond MacHale and the staff at the Bull McCabes, Airport Hill, Cork

Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson, Professor Desmond MacHale and the Reverend David Bowles at the Douglas Union Men’s Breakfast at the Bull McCabes

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Comedian Entertains Millennials in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

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

On Saturday 25th February Mark Palmer, comedian, entertained a crowd of nearly 60 at the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, County Cork. The event, organised by  Cork Diocesan Youth Council, was preceded by dinner. This was the third in a series of events for the 20s and 30s age group – and was hugely successful.

Mark Palmer is originally from South Africa and is now based in London. He travels the world as a stand up comic and is in Dublin for a number of events in comedy clubs and in churches. He also told the audience about his Christian faith.

The Dean of Ross, the Very Reverend Christopher Peters (left) and Mrs Judy Peters (Chairperson of the Cork Diocesan Youth Council) with Mark Palmer

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Bishop Colton’s Annual Morning with Confirmation Candidates

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Saturday, 4th March, Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, hosted his annual ‘Confirmation Morning with the Bishop’ for all those who, starting with the Sundays in the Easter season, will be confirmed in the Diocese in 2017.

Young people from Cork, Cloyne and Ross who will be confirmed in 2017 at the ‘Confirmation Morning with the Bishop’

Once again the event was held in the Canon Packham Hall and Saint Luke’s National School Hall in Douglas, County Cork.  The morning started off with games, followed by group activities, as well as a chance to meet the Bishop in small groups and to hear from him about the Confirmation day.  A willing group of volunteers – clergy and lay people – took part and helped to organise the event.

Some of the volunteers who were on hand to help (l-r) David Bowles, Ted Ardis, Drew Ruttle, Peter Stobart, Isobel Jackson, Susan Colton, Hazel Minion, Kristin Hollowell, John Ardis and Ruth Wolfe, with the Bishop (right)

There was also a hymn to learn which will be sung at all of the Confirmation Services in the Diocese: a link to the morning together and the new friends from other parishes.  One young person remarked ‘I never knew that learning a new hymn could be this much fun!’ The day ended with a final round of the hymn, and prayers, before everyone enjoyed some snacks and drinks.

Fun learning to sing a new hymn

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St Valentine’s Day Gift from Carrigaline School to Cork Penny Dinners

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

To mark St Valentine’s Day recently, the children of St Mary’s Church of Ireland School Carrigaline, County Cork,  once again this year, brought in items for Cork Penny Dinners.

Gifts of food and supplies collected and delivered to the school

Gifts of food and supplies collected and delivered to the school

Cork Penny Dinners was founded during Famine times as a soup kitchen. These amazing people currently serve well over 1000 meals per week, compared to around 150 a week two years ago. Their aim is a simple one –  to give everyone who calls to their centre a hot nourishing midday meal. In addition, their clients get sandwiches and fruit to take away as an evening meal.There’s an open door and a warm welcome.  Their volunteers come from all walks of life; nurses, truck drivers, scientists, general operatives, musicians, teachers, students, solicitors, unemployed people, retired people, clergy and so on. The volunteers are from many nationalities and have many different religions or none; but what they all have is empathy for their fellow human beings, a willingness to offer a hand in support .

Gifts packed

Gifts packed

‘Love your neighbour for St Valentine’s Day’ is an annual event for St Mary’s National School in Carrigaline.  A packed van full of dry goods and kitchen supplies were much appreciated by the hard working staff in the venerable and highly-respected Cork institution.

Van filled and delivery made

Van filled and delivery made

Posted in Charity Work, Children's Work, Church in Society, Community Involvement, Contemporary Issues, Cork, Diocese, Education, People from Cork, People from the Diocese, People in Need, Schools in the Diocese | Comments Off on St Valentine’s Day Gift from Carrigaline School to Cork Penny Dinners

Funeral of former Governor of The Falkland Islands held in Bantry, County Cork

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Latest News and Photos from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The funeral has taken place in the Church of Saint Brendan the Navigator, Bantry, County Cork of Sir Cosmo Dugal Patrick Thomas Haskard, KCMG, MBE, who died recently  at his home at Tragariff on the shores of Bantry Bay, an ocean away from the Falkland Islands where he served as Governor from 1964 to 1970.

Sir Cosmo Haskard, arriving as Governor of the Falkland Islands in 1964.

Sir Cosmo Haskard, arriving as Governor of the Falkland Islands in 1964.

Sir Cosmo died three months after reaching his 100th birthday last November. His health has been very frail for some time during which time he was cared for at his home by his dedicated wife, Lady Haskard, and a team of wonderful carers.

Sir Cosmo Haskard was born in  Dublin in November 1916 and was baptised at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This was more by accident than design. His mother spent her ‘confinement’ in a Dublin nursing home as his father was serving  with the army in France at that time.

Following a childhood and early education which was spent mainly in England, he graduated from Sandhurst and then moved to Pembroke College, Cambridge where he studied modern languages. Following this he served in Africa during the Second World War. By this time his father had built a new family home at Tragariff and it was here that he spent his vacation time.

After the War he joined the Colonial Service and served in Africa where he met his wife Phyllida. He retired from the Colonial Service following his final posting as Governor of the Falkland Islands where he served from 1964 to 1970. He then moved with his wife, and son Julian, back to Bantry to begin a new phase of his life.

Sir Cosmo and Lady Haskard pictured in their garden at Tragariff, Bantry, County Cork.

Sir Cosmo and Lady Haskard pictured in their garden at Tragariff, Bantry, County Cork.

He will be remembered locally in Bantry parish for those 37 latter years. He became a dedicated parishioner of Snave Church, a member of the Select Vestry and served on the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Synod as well as on the Diocesan Council. He loved the traditional language Book of Common Prayer and it was through him, and a small group of other faithful parishioners, that the parish were able to start an ‘early’ Sunday celebration of the Holy Communion. He was a beautiful reader of Holy Scripture. He will always be remembered for his reading at the annual Community Carol Service.

The local rector, Canon Paul Willoughby, said of Sir Cosmo:

We have very many reasons to give thanks for his life. He will be remembered by all in this parish, and indeed in the local community,  as a kind, gracious and ‘gentle’ man. He was a devout communicant and faithful parishioner who showed a genuine, caring interest in everyone he met. It was this care about others that prompted a spontaneous response in many acts of kindness and generosity from the local community during the time of his frail health.  We extend our sympathy to Lady Haskard and to her  Julian, Michelle and their sons Cosmo, Piers and Hugo. May he rest in peace.

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