Community relations week in Northern Ireland and the challenge of sectarianism; Unionist politician will deliver the Isaac Butt Memorial lecture; Bishops speak out on uncertain future facing rural schools; East Glendalough School Celebrates 25 Years; News from the dioceses
Community Relations Week 2012
Takes place from May 14 to May 20, organised by the Community Relations Council,A full listing of Community Relations Week events can be found at www.nicrc.org.uk and printed programmes can be obtained from local libraries.
End of peace lines is aim of week
Monday marked the start of the 10th Community Relations Week in Northern Ireland, aimed at showcasing work to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18045647
NI ‘still riven with sectarianism’
Belfast Telegraph – Sectarianism remains deeply rooted in Northern Ireland despite progress towards creating a more shared society, the chairman of the Community Relations Council has said. Tony McCusker said he detected a willingness to deal with the legacy of conflict and division but he said there was clear evidence that much more work remained to be done.”There are still many difficult issues to be addressed, including segregated educational provision, interface areas and barriers, residential segregation, misuse of flags and emblems, parades and other expressions of cultural identity,” he said.
He spoke at the beginning of Community Relations Week which will include a conference discussing policies aimed at tackling division. The event, one of a range being held, will take place at Titanic Belfast under the title of “No More Them and Us?”.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/ni-still-riven-with-sectarianism-16158178.html
East Glendalough School Celebrates 25 Years
East Glendalough School has celebrated its 25th anniversary with the opening of its new school archive and an evening of festivities. The event, which took place in the Wicklow town school, drew a large gathering of past and present pupils and parents, teachers and board members. Among the special guests were the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson; the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Right Revd Ken Good, who was the school’s first chaplain; and RTE News journalist, Will Goodbody, who was among the school’s first intake of first years.
Following prayers led by Revd Canon John Clark, East Glendalough’s principal, Alan Cox, welcomed everyone back to the school. He said the school archive had been assembled by Niamh Minogue and would be a great treasure for years to come.
Vice–principal, Vivean Wier, who has been a teacher at the school since the day it opened, recalled the many people who pushed hard to get the school for the children of East Glendalough in the mid 1980s. Ms Wier noted that the school had an excellent reputation and places were much sought after.
Will Goodbody recalled when East Glendalough School first opened in 1987, in the grounds of the nearby Glebe National School and the subsequent move to the new building. He said that East Glendalough was like a family because of its small size. Because of its progressive attitude to learning, it attracted great teachers, staff and principals.
Archbishop Jackson said it was great to visit a flourishing school and praised their foresight in assembling the artefacts for the school archive. “This is important because the life and history of the school reflects the life and history of the nation,” he said. He said that the “whispy word” ethos was tremendously important as a school gives transferrable skills and has the ability to produce good and kind citizens.
The formal part of the evening concluded with a blessing given by Bishop Good.
Unionist politician will deliver the Isaac Butt Memorial lecture
Donegal Democrat – This year’s annual Isaac Butt Memorial Service and Lecture will take place on Sunday week next, May 20th in Stranorlar, beginning with a service at 7pm in Stranorlar Church of Ireland, followed by the laying of a wreath on Butt’s grave in the adjoining churchyard. The lecture will begin at 8pm in the Henderson Hall opposite the church, and is given this year by Dr. Chris McGimpsey from Belfast. Like Butt, he is interested in politics, journalism and law. He is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party and was a Belfast City Councillor for 12 years. He also served on his party’s delegation to constitutional talks on Northern Ireland. He has written articles on Irish politics for The Guardian newspaper, and challenged the Anglo-Irish Agreement in the Irish High Court. He is an acknowledged expert on the work of Isaac Butt, having obtained a Ph.D. in 19th Century Irish history from the University of Edinburgh. All are welcome to attend either the service or the lecture, or both.
Killala bishops speak out on uncertain future facing rural schools
Mayo Today – The uncertain future facing many small rural schools in Ireland has been highlighted by both His Lordship Most Reverend John Fleming, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killala – and The Very Revd Patrick Rooke, Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. Bishop Fleming has said that any decisions regarding the review of small schools need to be made, first and foremost, with the child’s best interest at heart.
And the Very Revd Patrick Rooke as Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry believes that “a disproportionate number of Protestant schools are being affected” by education cuts. He told theGeneral Synod in Dublin on Friday that his diocese had six of the 174 Church of Ireland primary schools in the State, and three of these were in danger of closing. He felt Church of Ireland schools were “being targeted unfairly in that a disproportionate number of Protestant schools are being affected” by cuts.
Primary School Principals and Chairpersons Patron’s Day
The Patron’s Day for Primary School Principals and Chairpersons in the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough will take place this Friday, May 18, in the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm. The theme of the meeting is ‘Challenging Times for our Schools’ and the topics covered will include School Self–Evaluation and an overview of changes in the recruitment process as well as giving participants an opportunity to discuss issues facing schools under Protestant patronage. All principals and chairpersons in the Diocese are invited to attend. Further information is available from Joyce Perdue (086) 2325005 or email joyce6perdue@gmail.com.
Lunchtime Recital
A lunchtime recital by Tamara Niekludow (piano) will take place at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 on May 17 at 1.15 pm. The programme will include D.Shostakovich – Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in A major op.87; L.v.Beethoven – Sonata No. 14 in C#minor op.27 no 2 (”Moonlight Sonata”) and F.Liszt – Mephisto Waltz No.1. Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection. For further information contact (01) 6767727.
St Mary’s, Crumlin, Celebration
St Mary’s Parish in Crumlin, Dublin, will be holding a special service on Sunday May 27 at 10.00 am to celebrate 70 years of worship in the new St Mary’s Church
Irish School-leavers with intellectual disabilities face cuts in support
Irish Times – Health Authorities are under mounting pressure to find places for up to 700 children with intellectual disabilities who require essential services when they finish school next month.
However, several voluntary service providers say they are “cut to the bone” and have started to turn down requests from parents for vital services for their children.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0514/1224316066178.html