NEWS BRIEFS

Philip McKinley’s brilliant programme available on RTE Player

Did you miss Philip McKinley’s brilliant programme ‘The Prophets Are Weeping’ which went out on RTE One on Tuesday September 10? If you did, don’t panic. You can watch it on the RTE Player.

Written and directed by Philip, who has just entered the Church of Ireland Theological Institute to study for ordination, ‘The Prophets Are Weeping’ is part of RTE’s Future Visions series. In it Philip examines what it would look like if the wisdom of Jeremiah as given to the exiled Israelites – build houses, plant gardens and pray for the city – was applied to Dublin’s O’Connell Street, the heart of the country.

He takes his title and starting point from the only poem published by Michael D. Higgins during his Presidency, “The Prophets Are Weeping”. According to Philip, these three practical tools, if initiated on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, the site of the 1916 Easter Rising, could profoundly shape the future well–being of Ireland.

Focusing mainly upon O’Connell Street, his film examines urban renewal in terms of community development, spiritual renewal and reimagining the city environmentally. But the film opens with a journey to Jerusalem where Philip examines the ancient Roman notion of the “cardo” – the heart of the city both as a centre of power and of life in all its fullness.

The documentary, which was filmed in both Jerusalem and Dublin, strongly features St Thomas’ Church, just off Dublin’s O’Connell Street. The Church and its incumbent Discovery Gospel Choir, feature as a significant backdrop and inspiration for a new re–envisioning of Ireland’s capital thoroughfare.

While the programme focuses on Dublin, Jeremiah’s tools could be applied to any town.

RTE player at –
[[] https://www.rte.ie/player/series/future-visions/SI0000006073?epguid=AI000003362 ]

Decision ‘soon’ in case of Prof Kirkpatrick sacked by Presbyterian Church

A sacked academic has moved a step forward in his case against the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick attended a final preliminary hearing in the case at Killymeal House in Belfast on September 9.
Mr Kirkpatrick made an application to amend a claim before Judge Murray, who said she will provide a written decision within “the next few days”. Professor Kirkpatrick – who worked at the Presbyterian Church’s Union Theological College – was dismissed for gross misconduct earlier this year. He is taking a legal case over his sacking, claiming unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment by his employers.

Colonel Robin Charley OBE JP DL

A Thanksgiving Service will be held in Memory of Colonel Robin Charley OBE JP DL on Sunday 20th October 2019 in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast at 3.30pm.