We gathered for Ireland Yearly Meeting 2023 in the Dominican Retreat Centre, Tallaght, West Dublin.   Tallaght was a small village in the 1950s and has grown to be the third largest town in Ireland.  St. Maelruan founded a monastery there in 769 and it was a place of pilgrimage for a thousand years.  The four pillars of Dominican Life are prayer, study, community, and preaching, neatly capturing our theme for 2023 – Building Community Together – and gently reminding us that there are few ideas or aspirations novel to Christians over the past 20 centuries.

As ever, the joy and miracle of IYM is the meeting of old Friends and the making of new ones. We need only make one new acquaintance or come away with only one resolution, but that is sufficient. More is less. Coming together in person is invaluable beyond any zoom or remote contact. It is why IYM in person continues to be the highlight of our Quaker year. 

For those who cannot attend IYM in person, it is wonderful that we can now offer the option of attending remotely.  All the plenary sessions this year were blended, with several speakers joining us online, and the quality of sound and video recording was very good.   

During the week before IYM began in person, a series of Special Interest Groups were held on Zoom – exploring Quaker history, life reflections, peace-making and food waste.  These encouraged thoughts and conversations to which we returned during the in-person meetings.    

A notable concern across many of our sessions was how to connect, or reconnect, our communities in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.  We shared experiences from our meetings and heard from representatives of other faiths.  We heard that post COVID is an opportunity not a threat, that we need to break out of buildings to “be a light in our communities”.  We should concentrate less on “events” and more on service to the community.  Interfaith dialogue can be hard work, with a mix of attraction and aversion, like magnets. “Why do Quakers do it?”  We do it to find out others’ experience of the Light. If we do not do it, then misunderstandings can grow into difficult barriers.

We also considered our wider Quaker Community. It was heartening to hear from Friends from Brussels, Britain, Norway and Finland. Stuart Masters from Woodbrooke joined us on Zoom and shared information on the Community of Early Friends. Tracey Martin of QCEA in Brussels spoke of the progress they had made after the difficulties that followed Brexit.

At our Yearly Meeting on Ministry and Oversight, a panel of three friends reflected on how we can encourage ministry in our meetings.  The question was asked: “is our silence killing Quakerism?”   One speaker quoted Thomas Kelly, that we should seek the inner flame, to listen to that of God within and ask oneself “What do you find of God there?”.  Another speaker found that she had learned to listen to the still small voice within. To speak only from the heart. To encourage one another to minister, but to be led by the spirit as to whether one might speak or not.  A third speaker reflected on George Fox’s experience at Firbank Fell – “Let your life speak”.

In the discussion that followed, some spoke of the deep value of the silence, especially new attenders.  There was a suggestion that one might use a verse of scripture.   Another spoke of the value of spoken and unspoken ministry; that both are valuable.

Another concern which manifested over several sessions at IYM was peace making and peace building.  Reflecting on the Quaker Peace Testimony, we heard how Quakers have responded differently to wars over the past century.  While all Quakers are peace makers, not all are pacifists, and we rely as always on the Spirt and our conscience to guide us. It was accepted that the current war in Ukraine does not admit simple analysis but requires prayer and reflection and patience with one another. A practical solution which might be offered is to make refugees of whatever origin feel welcome and to work against a pernicious anti-immigrant culture, still small but vocal in Irish society.

We reflected on how we can prepare for peace, hearing about work to prevent increasing militarism, and campaigning against the arms industry.  Florence Foster spoke about the peace building work of QUNO in Geneva.  Friends also spoke of their experience hosting refugees from Ukraine.  In discussion, we asked how Friends can help to create the conditions for peace in our own communities, with peace education programmes in schools and organising local events suggested.  

As always, our Young Friends both inspired and challenged us.  Our under-10s had learnt about Ukraine and the experience of the refugees.  They displayed their stones painted in yellow and blue and their paintings of sunflowers, which brightened our day.  We heard the epistle from JYM which appealed for more support and guidance from IYM.  More adult volunteers are needed to enable fun weekend events to be organised.

We were also challenged at a session on nurturing community, which dealt with our role on social media.  As well as a form of outreach, social media is a way of building and nurturing community, but Friends are not availing of it.  We heard about The Friendly Podcasts, a lockdown project which interviewed Irish and international Friends, now available on our website.  A show of hands proved that a significant number of Friends are active on social media in their daily lives, but a second show of hands showed that very few were engaging with Quaker material.  We left with a renewed sense of purpose, to follow IYM on Twitter and Facebook, and to like and share the posts regularly!     

A highlight for many at IYM this year was the Public Lecture given by Harvey Gillman on “Hospitality and the Pilgrim – a Quaker’s reflection on communion and community”.   It was a highly entertaining and engaging lecture, if indeed the word lecture is appropriate.  Harvey gently chided us for using ‘quakerspeak’ with people unfamiliar with our culture. One could see why Harvey served for a quarter of a century as outreach coordinator with British Friends in London. He managed to speak to people where they are, not where we might wish them to be.   It was Harvey’s experience that it was within the Quaker community he could find his real voice, his real self and his happy home. Many Quakers by convincement can find an echo is this sentiment.  The entire lecture is available online on www.quakers.ie 

Of course, as well as the plenary sessions we had bible readings, candlelit worship in the oratory, poetry reading, dancing and the much-loved IQFA and book stalls, all facilitated by the many Friends who volunteered.  Special mention to all who facilitated the catering and the numerous cups of tea during the day. If an army marches on its stomach, Quakers survive on caffeine. A friend once remarked the most important part of Meeting was the cup of tea afterwards!

Valerie O’Brien, Colm Hefferon, Padraic Murray and Bairbre Nic Aongusa