United Parishes of Malahide, Portmarnock & St. Doulagh's

GENERAL EASTER VESTRY MEETING

Brian — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:30:21 +0000

As in the last few years, this meeting was held after a united service of Holy Communion in St Andrew’s Church on the morning of Sunday, 30th March. 37 parishioners attended, and there were a number of apologies including some members at a Refuge Egypt service in Killinchy. The meeting heard reports from the Rector, Karen McAllister on Youth Work, Brian Brown on the BFG programme and Derek George on Fund raising.
The treasurer, Nigel Warburton, presented the accounts which were examined and approved.

Elections were held, when the following were elected or appointed:
Churchwardens:
St Doulagh’s
Mr.Ken McAllister (Rector’s), Dr.Mary Conduit-Dowling (People’s)
St Andrew’s
Mr.Derek George (Rector’s), Mrs.Quinn Walker (People’s)
Glebewardens:
Mr.Christopher Burnby (Rector’s), Mr Don O’Donnell, (People’s)

Select Vestry:
The above + Rev.Dr.Norman Gamble, Rev. Kenneth Sherwood
Mr. Victor Black, Miss Hazel Bolton,Mr. Brian Brown, Mr. Marcus Collie.
Mr. Karl Daly, Mr. John Haynes,Mr. Alan Hyland, Mr. Derek Moffatt,
Mr. Stephen Moffatt,Miss Hilary O’Neill, Mrs. Adrienne Shattock
Mr. Nigel Warburton.

Mr.Desmond Mullock was appointed as Hon Auditor

We welcome Hilary O’Neill to the Select Vestry and also welcome Dr Mary Dowling and John Haynes. We thank Samson Akinrinde, Irene Black and Karl Bousfield for their contribution during the past year.

This was also the year when we elected Parochial Nominators and Diocesan Synodspersons for the next three years.

The following were elected to office:
Parochial Nominators:
Mr.Karl Daly, Mrs.Susie Hall, Mr.Derek Moffatt, Mrs.Norma Williams.
Supplemental Nominators:
Mr.Chris Burnby, Mrs.Janet Davies, Mrs.Olive Haynes,
Mrs.Christine Mullock.
Diocesan Synodspersons:
Mr.Brian Brown, Mr.Trevor Richmond, Mr.Nigel Warburton
Supplemental Synodspersons:
Mr.Karl Daly, Mr.Alan Hyland, Mr.Derek Moffatt

Your Favourite Hymns at St. Doulagh’s

Brian — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:22:36 +0000

On Sunday 20th April at 3.30pm, a service of praise and thanksgiving will take place at St. Doulagh’s Church, incorporating hymns selected by you.
The Portmarnock Gospel Choir from St. Anne’s Church, Portmarnock will take part in the service.

There will a retiring collection in aid of St. Doulagh’s Restoration Fund.

Lenten Meetings in the Parish

Brian — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:38:48 +0000

Parishes of several denominations in the area, including St Andrew’s, St Sylvester’s, St Anne’s Portmarnock, Yellow Walls Parish Seabury,invite you to our Annual Ecumenical & Social Series of Meetings during Lent.
All meetings will take place on Wednesday night starting at 8pm.
Invited guest speakers will address a series of important topics, finishing up with a Questions and Answers session.
Meetings begin with a Time for Worship together, and end with a time for refreshments and an opportunity to meet fellow attendees.

Details of the meetings are as follows:

Feb.13th in St Andrew’s Parish Centre, Church Road, Malahide. Speakers, Fr. Tony Byrne & Sr. Katherine McGuire. Subject—- Harmony in the Home

Feb.20th in St Anne’s Parish Centre, Portmarnock, Speaker, Sr Grainne Hilton, from Sophia. Subject—- Resettling the Homeless.

Feb 27th in St Joseph’s Convent, Seapark, Malahide. Speaker, Rt Rev. K.H.Clarke. Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh. Subject. —- Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland — 1 year later.

March 5th in St Sylvester’s Parish Centre, Malahide, Speakers, Iman Hussein Halawa, from the Islamic Centre, Clonskeagh, & Ali Salim, Sec. General of the Irish Council of Imans.
Subject—- Understanding Islam in an Irish Context.

March 12th in Yellow Walls Parish Centre, Seabury. Malahide. Speaker, Emma O’Hara from Grandmas. Subject—- Supporting Families living with HIV/AIDS.

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS IN THE PARISH

Brian — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:13:21 +0000

The Advent theme of expectation which begins on Advent Sunday, 2nd December,
intensifies during the season as we turn our thoughts to Our Lord’s coming. Advent
Sunday is marked by the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath at the morning
service. These symbolise the Advent theme of preparation for Christ, thinking of the
Patriarchs and Prophets, of John the Baptist and of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
prepared hearts and lives for the coming of the Messiah. In the evening, we will be
holding the annual Carol Service for Advent.
On December 16th we will be holding the annual Children’s’ Carol and Gift Service.
We ask the children of all ages to bring a gift suitable for a boy or girl, indicating on the
gift the age and gender of a child who would most appreciate it. These are presented
during the service and afterwards forwarded through Barnardos to children for whom
Christmas might otherwise be a bleak time indeed. We are grateful to Mandy Fleury
for undertaking the delivery of the gifts on behalf of Barnardos, and to the children and
families who respond so generously each year.
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday 23rd at 7.00 pm.
This is always a most enjoyable occasion supported by the whole community and
provides an excellent opportunity to invite friends and neighbours along to St Andrew’s.
Christmas Day proper begins on the evening of Christmas Eve. The First Communion
of Christmas will be celebrated at 11.30 pm as we remember the birth at Bethlehem
which occurred in the middle of the night (a fact immortalised by Edward Sears’ wellknown
hymn, ‘It came upon the midnight clear’)
There will also be celebrations of Holy Communion at the usual Sunday morning times
for worship (8.00 am and 11.30 am in St Andrew’s, 10.00 am in St Doulagh’s, with the
latter two being particularly suitable for families with small children)

Christmas Market 2007—-Another Major Success

Brian — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:01:29 +0000

The Christmas Market took place on Sat. 24th November in the Parish Centre. The annual event, which is our major fundraiser, was once again strongly supported by Parishioners, Friends and the Community. This year, in excess of €18,000 was raised, giving us a vital boost to our income.
Our sincere thanks are due to all who supported the event in many different ways, not forgetting the stall holders and the hard working organising committee under the joint leadership of Derek George and Stephen Moffatt.

St. Doulagh’s Annual Carol Service

Brian — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:54:50 +0000

St Doulagh’s Church, Malahide Road, (R107) Balgriffin, Annual Candlelight Service of Carols, Old & New, & Readings. will take place on Sunday December 9th at 4pm in this ancient yet vibrant Church. (circa 6th cent.) Music by 1st Co. Boys’ Brigade Brass Band.
Everybody welcome to attend. Special Collection at this service for the Laura Lynn Childrens’ Hospice Foundation.
Bus No’s 42 & 43 stop outside the Church. Parkingi is available by kind permission in the lower car park of St. Doolagh’s Park, opposite the Church.
Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Candle Lit Musical Evening at St. Doulagh’s

Brian — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:41:09 +0000

The Friends of St. Doulagh’s Church invite you to
a candle-lit Vivaldi and Verdi Evening in St Doulagh’s Church
Malahide Road, Balgriffin
on Friday 14th September 2007 at 8.00 p.m.

Recorded music with live musical interludes

Introduced by Ms Dorothy Conaghan, B.A., B. Mus., MusDip.
(Musical Director, Young Dublin Symphonia)

All monies raised go to the Restoration of St. Doulagh’s Church

A guided tour of the church will be given at 7.00 p.m.

Admission €10

St.Doulagh’s Church- National Heritage Week 2007

Brian — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:21:05 +0000

St Doulagh’s Church on the Malahide Road, in Balgriffin, Fingal, Co Dublin, is reputed to be Ireland’s oldest stone roofed church still in continuous use. This ancient church, circa 6th century, is frequently regarded as the “Jewel in Fingal’s Crown. It can trace its history down the centuries, from the time of St Patrick, through its history as a hermit’s cell, a monastery, a church linked with Christ Church Cathedral, and now part of the United Parishes of Malahide, Portmarnock, and Balgriffin. Small in size yet large in heart, it leads the way in building ecumenical relations with its neighbouring churches.
The church draws visitors from far and wide throughout the world, and has been painted by untold numbers of artists, including members of one of Ireland’s leading family of artists, the Hones.One of their paintings of the church is presently housed in The National Gallery of Ireland, in Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
The church is open for guided tours every Sunday afternoon during the summer, and by arrangements at other times for Schools, Clubs and Associations.
It is also open every day during National Heritage Week, which this year will be held from Saturday 25th August to Sunday 2nd September inclusive. Opening times are as follows: Sunday, 25th Aug. & Sunday 2nd Sept 2pm - 6pm and weekdays 11am - 5pm. Throughout the week the church will be on view in all of its glory, as the ladies of the parish are organizing a Festival of Flowers telling the life story of the church.
The festival will be formally opened on Friday 24th at 8pm by the Cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council, Clr Alan Farrell. Admission to events during Heritage Week is free, however donations towards the cost of the event and the Church Restoration Fund will be welcome.
The church is located on the R107 from Dublin to Malahide,and is close to the M1/M50/N32 , just follow the signs to Malahide. Buses 42 & 43 stop outside the church.
Why not organize a Parish, or Mother’s Union or Social/Historical Society outing to this event, and continue your visit on to Malahide and visit its castle and shops?
Further details are available on the website. www.freewebs.com/stdoulaghs or by phone to 353-1-8475217 or mob.353-87-6711547.

Guided Tours of Saint Doulagh’s

Administrator — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:15:08 +0000

After a very busy Heritage Week at St Doulagh’s, Guided Tours will continue up to mid - October every Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. So, if you were unable to visit us during the Summer be sure to do so before the Season ends. Tours can be arranged during the year for Groups, by telephone to 087-6711547, or by email to buaghoduibh2002@yahoo.ie. Don’t let 2006 go without a visit to Ireland’s oldest stone-roofed Church, still in continuous use after 1,400 years of Christian Worship at this site.

The church is located at Balgriffin, on the R107 Dublin to Malahide Road, some 600 metres north of Balgriffin Cemetery.

BUSES: Take route no. 42 or no. 43 from City Centre (buses stop at Church).

DRIVING: Balgriffin is approximately 7 km North of Dublin City, via the R107, approximately 1km north of the intersection of the N32 junction at Clare Hall.

Consecration of St. Marnock’s Chapel

Administrator — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 09:02:53 +0000

The resurgence of the Church of Ireland in Dublin has been given a physical presence with the consecration of a new chapel for the United Parishes of Malahide, Portmarnock and Saint Doulagh’s.

(Mark Russell-Hill)

The new Saint Marnock’s Chapel was consecrated by The Most Reverend Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough, at a service on 10th June. The Preacher was The Most Reverend Dr Robert Eames, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. Readers of the Gazette need no reminding that Archbishop Eames will retire at the end of the year, and the Malahide consecration was the last such event he will attend as Archbishop.

Pictured after the consecration were Archbishop Eames, Archbishop Neill, Revd Ken Sherwood, and Revd Dr Norman Gamble. (Mark Russell-Hill)

Saint Andrew’s Church was built in 1822, and extended some fifty years later. Now, 184 years since it saw its first service, the Church enters a new period, with the consecration of a new chapel, dedicated to Saint Marnock (from whom Portmarnock takes its name).

Speaking after the service of consecration, Archbishop Neill said ‘the building of this new chapel is a wonderful achievement and special credit must go to the Rector, the Revd Dr Norman Gamble, the members of the select vestry, particularly those most associated with the project and indeed all the parishioners. This lovely new chapel, together with other facilities, complements the current Church building very well and I pray that it will serve the parish and the community of Malahide for many years to come’.

Archbishop Eames remarked ‘It is a great privilege to attend the Consecration of Saint Marnock’s which is a notable event not just for the Diocese of Dublin, but for the whole Church of Ireland. This Chapel will provide a vibrant parish community with new opportunities for worship and witness to the community’.

The Rector of the United Parishes, Reverend Dr Norman Gamble, said: ‘Today is a wonderful day for all of us here in the United Parishes. We were honoured and blessed to have both Archbishops here, and I know all of us here in the Parish are encouraged by their presence to work even harder to develop our community of faith’.

The construction of the new chapel, and costing just under €1 million, was funded by the Parish itself, with the support of a fund-raising drive and donations.

Dr Gamble thanked all the parishioners and friends of the parish for their support for the new chapel and issued an invitation to all in the area, and beyond, to visit Saint Andrew’s Church and Saint Marnock’s Chapel. ‘We have worked extremely hard to build welcoming facilities for all those who wish to worship the Lord, or who seek to find comfort and strength in His presence. All are welcome to visit Saint Andrew’s and Saint Marnock’s, and partake in our Christian fellowship’.

The new Saint Marnock’s Chapel is designed to accommodate approximately thirty people, especially valuable for hosting services at which small congregations are the norm, and providing an overflow for larger services such as weddings and funerals. The chapel is furnished with removable chairs, and tea and coffee making facilities, providing comfortable accommodation for small parish functions. The development also provides disabled access to the main church, a large weather-proof entrance area, and toilets.

The overall development included the provision of new lighting, and other refurbishments, in Saint Andrew’s Church.

Low profile in design, the new building complements the existing church structure, with outer walls faced with hand-cut stone to be in visual harmony with St. Andrew’s. Saint Marnock’s is finished to a very high standard, with a range of features including four newly designed stained-glass windows.
(Mark Russell-Hill)
At a reception following the consecration, a special presentation was made to Archbishop Eames to mark his forthcoming retirement. Brian Brown, Chairman of the Parish Development team, presented Archbishop Eames with a print of Malahide Castle, as a memento of his visits to the United Parishes.