At Third Attempt, Confirmation Services are to be held in the Church of Ireland in Cork, Cloyne and Ross

Posted on September 3, 2021 by mediaccr

On Wednesday 1st September 2021, following the Government announcement the previous evening, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, announced that Confirmation Services, including some which had been postponed on two previous occasions, would now go ahead this month. Bishop Colton said that these would be the first Confirmations to be held in the Diocese since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic. None were held in 2020. In the Church of Ireland tradition, only the Bishop is permitted to do Confirmations.

The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross The Right Reverend Dr. Paul Colton, at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

The following dates, with restricted attendances in compliance with the new announcements are:

Friday, 10th September:  Kilgariffe Parish Church, Clonakilty for Kilgariffe Union (Clonakilty, Kilmalooda, Timoleague and Courtmacsherry

Saturday, 11th September:  Abbestrewry Parish Church, Skibbereen for Abbeystrewry Union (Skibbereen, Caheragh, Baltimore, and Castletownshend), and also for Ballydehob Union (Ballydehob and Aughadown)

Sunday, 12th September:  Saint Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery for Ross Union (Rosscarbery, Union Hall, Glandore, Leap and Castleventry)

Sunday, 12th September:  Saint Peter’s Church Bandon for Bandon Union (Bandon, Ballinadee, Brinny, Rathclaren and Innishannon)

Saturday, 18th September:  Saint Luke’s Church, Douglas for Douglas Union with Frankfield (Douglas, Blackrock, Passage West and Frankfield)

Sunday, 19th September:  Saint Colman’s Cathedral, Cloyne for Cloyne Union (Cloyne, Midleton, Corkbeg, East Ferry) and also for Youghal Union (Youghal, Castlemartyr and Ardmore)

Saturday, 25th September: Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork for the Cathedral Parish and also for Cobh and Glanmire Union (Glanmire, Little Island, and Cobh)

Saturday, 25th September:  Holy Trinity Church, Crosshaven for Crosshaven and Nohoval

Sunday, 26th September:  St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline for Carrigaline and Monkstown

Three ordinations are also being held in September.  Bishop Colton will ordain two deacons and one priest.

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New Vicar of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church welcomed to St Michael’s, Blackrock, Co. Cork

Posted on September 1, 2021 by mediaccr

On Sunday 29 August, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson met with the Revd Fr Mathew K Mathew at St Michael’s Church in Blackrock. Fr Mathew is a priest of The Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church and is the newly appointed vicar to their congregations in Waterford, Galway and Cork. He is based in Waterford and was meeting the congregation and presiding at his first service in the church that afternoon. 

The Venerable Adrian Wilkinson, Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross together with Fr Mathew K Mathew and Bijoy, a member of the Indian Orthodox congregation

Fr Mathew is from Kerala in south India. He studied at the Orthodox Theological Seminary at Kottayam between 2008 and 2013. Before coming to Ireland a few weeks ago, he was chaplain at Mar Gregorios Orthodox Chapel there, as well as chaplain at St Thomas Orthodox congregation at Manipal in Karnataka. 

For well over a decade, the Indian Orthodox community in Cork and Kerry has worshipped in St Michael’s. Speaking about this ongoing link Archdeacon Wilkinson said:

Over the years I have met all of Fr Mathew’s predecessors who have ministered here in Cork. I have also had the privilege of meeting their bishop when he visited Ireland. It has been an enriching link for us, and we are delighted that the Indian Orthodox community uses our church on a regular basis for their liturgies. I extend a very warm welcome to Fr Mathew and hope that he will know God’s blessing as he begins a new chapter in his ministry here in Ireland.

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“People and Places” St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal

Posted on August 30, 2021 by mediaccr

The interactive experience and audio tour at St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Youghal, Co. Cork has attracted many visitors since its installation in May 2021. In this week’s episode of “People and Places” Canon Andrew Orr offers us a taste of what we can expect from the interactive tour. To get the full experience visit St Mary’s Collegiate Church and ask for the audioguide. 

Watch the video here. 

Posted in Church History, Churches in Cork, Diocesan Youtube Channel, Diocese, Local History, People and Places, People from the Diocese, Social Media, Tourism | Comments Off on “People and Places” St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal

Farmer’s Market in St James’s Church, Mallow, Co. Cork

Posted on August 28, 2021 by mediaccr


On Friday 27th August from 9am to 12 Noon, the Mallow Farmers’ Market opened for the first time in its new home in the grounds of St James’s Church, Mallow. Welcoming the market to the church grounds, the Rector, the Reverend Meurig Williams said:

This is a great opportunity for us to be hospitable, not only to the local producers and growers who have stalls in the market, but people from the town and further afield.

St James’s Church, Mallow

Commenting on the environmental significance of farmers’ markets, the Rector said:

At a time when we are conscious of the need to cut down on food miles, I hope the people of Mallow and the surrounding area will support the market and our local growers – and then stay around the town to use other shops and businesses too.

Photos used with permission from Mallow Farmers’ Market

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Heritage Week at St Coleman’s Church, Macroom

Posted on August 25, 2021 by mediaccr

As part of Heritage Week, environmental educator Ted Cook gave a talk in the grounds of St Coleman’s Church, Macroom on Sunday 15th August. It was a fascinating look into the history of the church, which closed in the early 1990s. During the entertaining, enlightening but also poignant talk, music was played from the recently serviced organ in St Andrew’s Church, Kilmurry. Present at the event were Monsignor James O’Donnell from Macroom Roman Catholic Parish and Priest-in-charge, the Rev. David Bowles. 

After the talk, Ted Cook presented the Rev. Bowles with the autobiography of A.J.S. (Stephen) Brady’s, ‘The Briar of Life’, who was the son of the rector of Macroom, Rev. Albert Brady in the early 1900s. 

  • The Rev. Bowles receiving ‘The Briar of Life’ from Ted Cook

The Rev. David Bowles extended his gratitude to Ted Cook for organising such an interesting event. 

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