Royal School Cavan to Host Information and Enrolment Evening

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Royal School Cavan will hold its Information and Enrolment Evening on Wednesday 7th October, giving prospective pupils and their families the chance to learn more about the Diocesan co-educational secondary school ahead of the transition from primary school. The evening is aimed particularly at pupils currently in 6th class who are weighing up their options for secondary education.

The evening will run in two sessions, with the Principal addressing attendees at either 6pm or 7pm. Each address will be followed by a guided tour of the school, offering families a first-hand look at the facilities, classrooms, and wider school environment before making their decision. Given the anticipated turnout, the school has asked that no more than two people accompany each pupil on the night, helping to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for everyone attending.

For families considering Royal School Cavan for the year ahead, this evening offers a valuable opportunity to meet school leadership, ask questions, and get a genuine feel for what life at the school is like — all ahead of the enrolment process.

Derrylin Community Tractor Pull and Fun Day

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On the 8th August, parishioners from Kinawley Holy Trinity held a charity fundraiser in aid of the Parish Hall and Friends of the Cancer Centre

Derrylin doesn’t do things by halves, and the Community Tractor Pull and Fun Day on Saturday 8th August proved it once again. What began as one man’s idea grew into a four-mile tractor pull along the road from Drumany Church to the Parish Hall, followed by an afternoon of food, fun and family entertainment for all ages in aid of the Parish Hall and Friends of the Cancer Centre.

The Pull

The convoy set off from Drumany at Noon, and it was immediately clear that this was not going to be a leisurely stroll. Team 1 set such a brisk early pace that our cameraman had to break into a run just to keep up. It was a promising, if breathless, start to the event.

The four miles from Drumany to Derrylin were managed with a series of carefully-timed breaks, allowing patient drivers to pass along the road and giving fresh pulling teams the chance to take their turn on the pulling rig. The planning paid off: the whole effort arrived into the Hall car park before 1:30pm.

Olive Roe coordinated the pull from the front throughout, keeping teams organised, spirits high and the whole operation moving smoothly along the route. At the Derrylin end, Hall Committee stalwarts Suzannah Cathcart and Elizabeth Rutledge were waiting to welcome the tired but triumphant pullers home, helping guide them through the final leg into the car park to a well-earned rest.

And what a tractor it was. Derek Thornton had lovingly restored Willie Breen’s old Davy Brown, engine and all, over many months. Its original power plant was a solid 35 horsepower, but for the day itself, Derek was more than happy to let it run under an altogether different kind of power: a 40 personpower engine, made up of willing volunteers, with the tractor’s own engine along for the ride rather than doing the work. It’s not every day a tractor gets a rest like that.

Family Fun Day

With the hard graft of the road behind them, attention turned to the Family Fun Day at the Hall. The weather, mercifully, played its part, staying dry for the whole afternoon. There was even the odd ray of sunshine. A large and cheerful crowd gathered to enjoy a packed programme of entertainment.

There was a hugely popular Afternoon Tea, coordinated by Yvonne Swan and a team of volunteers, to refuel pullers and visitors alike; face painting for the younger attendees, and a visit from Fermanagh Fun Farm that proved a highlight for children throughout the day. Bouncy castles kept the youngsters’ energy levels high, while ice cream, burgers and coffee kept everyone well fed and watered. Sports coaching gave the more energetic visitors something active to do, and for those who fancied trying their feet at something new, Tina of Modern Country Moves led jiving lessons, with Vincy Walmsley providing the music that carried across the Hall grounds all afternoon. A display of vintage vehicles, Derek’s newly restored Davy Brown proudly among them, rounded out an afternoon with something for everyone.

Thank You

An event of this scale and success simply doesn’t happen without an enormous amount of goodwill and hard work from a great many people.

Thanks are due first to Seamus, Colm and Joanne from Ernco, who gave a thorough safety briefing and helped ensure the pull along the road was managed safely from start to finish, and to the PSNI and our team of marshals for their assistance with traffic management throughout. Sharon Finlay kept the pulling teams going with breakfast baps before the off, and the Hall Committee deserve enormous credit for months of work both behind the scenes and out in the community, building excitement for the day and gathering sponsorship to make it all possible.

Particular thanks go to Derek Thornton, the man with the plan, who not only dreamed up the whole event but restored the tractor at its centre with his own hands. Thanks also to Archdeacon Hazel Hicks, for a lovely prayer and blessing before the pull got underway, and to St Aidan’s High School for the generous use of their car park for the day.

Finally, thank you to every member of the pulling teams, and to everyone across the community, near and far, who sponsored the effort, supported it in whatever way they could, and came along to enjoy the day itself. The event showed what a community can do when it pulls together.

 

 

Walking the length and breath of Loop Head within one day in memory of Canon Jim and Margaret Sides

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Many of our followers will have very fond memories of the late Canon Jim and Mrs Margaret Sides from their long ministry in our diocese – from their early years in Ballyconnell, through 17½ years in Killesher Parish, Florencecourt, their years in the Kildrumferton Group of Parishes and retirement in the Edgeworthtown group. Canon Jim was well known for his fundraising ventures among other things, see some of the examples pictured. Now his daughter, Patricia, is setting out to do some fundraising of her own for her own beloved Church in memory of her equally beloved parents.

Patricia writes: “Please help me to help my beloved warm, friendly welcoming Church Family close the gap needed in fundraising for some essential works in memory of my equally beloved warm, friendly and welcoming parents, the late Margaret and Jim Sides. The Church’s motto – in the community for the community – illustrates it cares for it’s long lost family without as well as those found within. Those of you who knew my dad knew he was heavily involved in community work and my Church family here have been a great support during difficult times, not least the times we lost our parents, Dad in 2009 and mum in 2022.”

Any donation large or small will be very welcome.
Please go to the following justgiving link https://www.justgiving.com/page/patricia-sides-1 to donate online or post cheques made payable to Mount Merrion Parish Church to Honourary Treasurer, Mount Merrion Parish Church, 122 Mount Merrion Avenue, BELFAST BT6 0FS

New Wine Conference returns to Sligo – 12th to 17th July

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Next month, something significant is happening right on our doorstep. New Wine Ireland’s Summer Conference, one of the biggest all-Ireland Christian gatherings of the year, is coming to ATU Sligo & Knocknarea Arena from 12th to 17th July 2026. For those of us in this diocese, it’s a real privilege to have such a major event taking place at home, and it’s well worth considering whether this might be the year you go along.

New Wine Ireland describes its vision simply: it is about an understanding that God is doing a new thing, involving the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. The name itself comes from Scripture:

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:37-38, NIV)

It’s a striking image, a reminder that renewal often calls for fresh capacity, fresh openness, and a willingness to be shaped anew. That spirit runs through the whole week.

The conference runs as a full week of worship, teaching, and ministry, with something for every age group. Mornings include Bible study led this year by Tommy and Donna MacNeil from Martin’s Memorial in Stornoway, while evening celebrations will feature speakers including Matthew Rudolph, Alex Rayment, Steve Burston, Timothy Cho, and Donna MacNeil. There’s dedicated programming for children and youth, as well as “Our Place” for adults, so families can attend together with each generation cared for.

You don’t have to commit to the whole week if that’s not possible, day tickets are available too, and these give a taste of what the conference offers without needing to take the full time off.

Whether you’ve been to New Wine in Sligo before or you’ve never experienced anything like it, events like this offer something different from the rhythm of ordinary parish life: a chance to step back, worship alongside thousands of others from across Ireland, hear fresh teaching, and return home renewed. Many who attend speak of it as a real turning point in their faith, a week that reshapes how they see God, themselves, and their community in the months that follow.

Whether attending as an individual, a family, or even as a small group from the parish. It could be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship as well as spiritual refreshment.

For more information, speaker details, accommodation options, and to book your tickets, visit:
Sligo 26 | Summer Conference — New Wine Ireland

Ordination Service at Sligo Cathedral

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Sunday 21st June was a day of great joy and celebration at the Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St John the Baptist, Sligo, as Bishop Ferran Glenfield ordained Victoria Pringle, Joshua Pringle and John Young as deacons.

The service was a significant and uplifting occasion for the diocesan family, as the three ordinands began a new chapter of ministry and service within the Church. Surrounded by family, friends, clergy and members of the wider Church community, Victoria, Joshua and John were prayed for and commissioned for their calling to serve God and His people.

The visiting preacher, Revd Ian Horner, brought a message of encouragement and reflection, reminding those gathered of the importance of faithful discipleship, service and responding to God’s call.

The service also included the commissioning of the Diocesan Agricultural Chaplain, Rachel Cox, as a Diocesan Reader to add a further joyful dimension to the celebration and recognising Rachel’s ministry and commitment to serving the Church and wider community.

Held on the longest day of the year, the occasion was filled with hope, thanksgiving and celebration — a fitting reflection of the light and new beginnings represented in these ministries. The cathedral congregation and diocese rejoiced together in welcoming these new servants of the Church and in giving thanks for God’s continued work among them.

Afterwards, the congregation gathered in the hall for refreshments and fellowship, a lovely way to round off such a special day. Sincere thanks go to all who helped prepare and serve the spread, and whose generosity and hard work behind the scenes added so much to the occasion.

 

 

 

Faith Reignited – Elphin Archdeaconry 14th-24th May

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The feast days of Ascension and Pentecost marked the outline of the special emphasis time in the Archdeaconry of Elphin called Faith Reignited. In brief, it involved each Parish or Group running an event or two themselves aimed at reconnecting with some of the disenfranchised Church of Ireland community in their area. Then in the evenings we held a series of eight meetings in different venues, each arranged around a question including: ‘How can I have confidence in the Bible? How can I know what’s real?’ And to conclude, ‘How can I experience God?’

It was very much a team effort, the ideas being developed from our clergy and reader Archdeaconry gatherings. Revd Luke Pratt explains how we sensed the Spirit leading us in the direction we went. He writes:

‘After some discussions at the initial prayer and planning meeting for Faith Reignited, an image came to me which helped steer our conversations and focus our subsequent plans for this archdeaconry mission initiative.

I saw a large temple with many strong and sturdy pillars — clearly old, but remarkably well maintained — sitting in bright daylight against a blue sky. What first struck me about the image, as I held it in my mind, was how impressive it looked. Nevertheless, what then became more apparent was how, when I peered past the façade, there was just darkness. There were no torches lining the colonnade, or people milling in or out. In a word, there seemed to be little in the way of life.

Sharing the image with the group, it appeared to chime with other observations which were being offered, and was a cause for reflection on how the Church in our context can sometimes look a little like that to us.’

Looking back we can say it was a very encouraging time. The parish events went well and attracted a fair few fringe people. These included messy church, walks, picnics, quizzes, prayer stations in the Cathedral and even displays of Sunday School memorabilia. The evening meetings were great. A nucleus of people came to most of them with others who came to just one. The addresses were engaging, stretching, stimulating and biblical. On the penultimate night one young couple in their 20s asked when we were going to do it again!

At the start we really didn’t know who would show up or how it would work out. People did, and benefitted. However, it feels like it was a start – there is a lot more to be done and many more people to reach. Please pray that we would discern the Spirit’s leading as to what we should do next.

DKEA Mission trip to South Africa (4th – 12th July)

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For I know their works and their thoughts and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory… v19And they shall declare my glory among the nations (Isaiah 66:19-19)

This summer a team 7 people from the diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh will be heading to South Africa for a missions trip over 10 days.  The team will be based St Thomas a church in township called Heideveld, just outside of Cape Town.  The team will be coming alongside Crosslinks mission partners Alun and Debbie Burt who are leading the church about 10 years and previous to that were involved in other roles with St Thomas.  Hedeveld is a socially deprived area of the city known as the Cape Flats. The Cape Flats owe their existence due to the system of racial segregation and discrimination known as Apartheid.  Even though Apartheid has been dismantled the legacy of it can still be seen visibly.

On a Saturday in April the team gathered for a day of orientation with Crosslinks staff.  We took the time to understand what mission is and why it is important.  We thought about what is involved with cross cultural work. We were shown a useful evangelistic tool called Two Ways to Live that is a tool designed to explain the gospel in 6 simple drawings.   We explored the context of South Africa and we thought about the importance of working together as a tram.

One of the main things we will be engaged with is a children’s holiday club at St Thomas.  We will also be visiting some other ministries in Cape Town.  One of these is a homeless ministry called U Turn where we will be getting an overview of what they do and visiting two of their social enterprises.  These initiatives aims to help facilitate recovery and reconnection to those who are homeless as well as giving access to basic needs such as meals, clothing and ablution facilities.   We will also be involved in the Sunday morning service at St Thomas over two Sundays, help run a youth group meeting, a ladies breakfast and visiting a township in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch where a local bishop is planting a church.

It won’t be all work however. We also have a day set aside to experience some of the many tourist attractions that Cape Town has to offer.   The team is very excited to partner with the Burt family and look forward to meeting them and the church family in St Thomas. We pray that it will be transformative time away, a blessing to each individual on the team and our host church St Thomas.  But pray most of all that the trip will bring glory to God as we join in his mission in South Africa.

Canon Christiaan and Karen Snell

 

How can you pray for the team?

Give thanks to God for his provision for the trip.

Give thanks to God for the link with Crosslinks and committed and faithful mission partners Alun and Debbie Burt who are based there.

Pray for the team (Christiaan, Karen, Marion, Mary, Jeniffer, Raimey, Joel, Joshua and Victoria) as they prepare to go that God will prepare their hearts and take away any worries.

Pray for holiday club that children will be excited about the good news of Jesus as we share it and that God would be gracious to save.

Pray for our host church St Thomas that we will be warmly received and that we might build strong relationships with the Burts and the congregation.

Pray for team harmony as we serve together.

Pray for team’s safety as we move from place to place on the trip and that we might be alert and wise.

Pray that the trip will excite us about God’s mission in the world and give us eagerness to see his kingdom grow, there and here as we return

Girls Friendly Society Diocesan Festal Service at St Fethlimidh’s Cathedral, Kilmore

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On a beautiful sunny Pentecost Sunday (24th May), the GFS Diocesan Service was held at Kilmore Cathedral, led by Dean Nigel Crossey.

The address was given by Luke Hawkins, Church of Ireland Youth Development Officer, who opened by asking the girls what their most precious possession was. Answers ranged from siblings and teddies to, memorably, a fire extinguisher! Luke reminded us all that The Bible is the most precious thing we can have. He spoke on the Parable of the Sower and encouraged the girls to root themselves in God’s Word.

Gillian Kellett then introduced trainee teacher Oriel Waters, from Longford Branch, who will be representing Ireland at the GFS World Council in Sri Lanka this July. Oriel described the GFS as “so special” and we wish her every blessing on her trip.

Dean Crossey then announced that the service would include the dedication of a very special addition to the Cathedral’s furnishings. Gillian Kellett and Sylvia Quinn took part in the ceremony. The side chapel at Kilmore is now home to the Lord’s Table that was originally made for the GFS at Oak House. It had been housed in Christ Church, Leeson Park, until that church closed last year and has now returned to what can truly be described as its spiritual home in Kilmore. The beautiful embroidery on the table was the work of girls from this very area, and we were blessed to have two of those gifted needlewomen with us: Elsie Heaslip and Elizabeth Hislop, who stood proudly beside their handiwork, along with the Kilmore GFS banner they also helped to create.

The moment the girls had all been waiting for then arrived as Gillian Kellett presided over the prizegiving. Girls from across the Diocese collected a wonderful haul of cups, plaques and certificates, with notable success in the All-Ireland competitions. Gillian especially highlighted the girls’ outstanding achievement in Bible Study. It has been another wonderful year for the GFS. Well done, girls!

The service was followed by a lovely spread of tea and refreshments in the cathedral hall, the perfect end to a joyful and memorable day.

 

Two new curates appointed in the Diocese

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Ordination service: 21st June · St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo

The Diocese is delighted to announce the appointment of two new curates, Victoria Pringle and Joshua Pringle, who will be ordained on Sunday, 21st June at St John the Baptist Cathedral, Sligo.

Victoria Pringle has been appointed as curate to Archdeacon Patrick Bamber, where she will serve in Elphin. Victoria, commenting on her appointment, writes: “I am so thankful to spend the next three years in Calry as a curate, continuing and sharing in God’s work already active here in Sligo. This time in ministry will be such a blessing on this God-given journey, and I look forward to working with Patrick as his curate and with other colleagues in KEA.”

Joshua Pringle has been appointed as curate to Canon Simon Scott, serving in Ardagh. Reflecting on his new role, Joshua writes: “I am delighted to be appointed Curate of the Longford Group of Parishes under the leadership of Canon Scott. I look forward to serving the people of the parish and beyond, working together with Simon in the service of God’s Kingdom.”

Their ordination service will be a joyful occasion for family and friends of the Pringles, and all are invited to join in praying for Victoria and Joshua as they embark on their ministry across the Diocese.


Victoria and Joshua Pringle

The Archbishop of Armagh’s Presidential Address to General Synod

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For full text of the Archbishop’s Presidential Address to General Synod on Thursday 11th May 2026, please click HERE.