Click on the link below to read the Irish Times article about Chuck and Nell Kruger’s last Meeting for Worship on the beautiful island of Cape Clear.
Stephen Collins: An Irishman’s Diary on a fond farewell to Cape Clear
Nine Young Friends enjoyed a trip to 1652 country in the north of England where they enjoyed learning about the roots of Quakerism.
Read their epistle here.
The Quaker Historical Committee has just published a remarkable book with the title The Quakers of Baltyboys, Co. Wicklow, Ireland 1678 to 1800s, which was launched in June in connection with the author, John Hussey’s, lecture.
The book tells the story of the Quakers who settled in west Wicklow and became involved first in the wool trade and, when it collapsed, in the weaving industry. Its particular interest lies in the details it provides of the fortunes of a small rural community of Friends.
Copies are available for €10 from Friends Historical Library, Stocking Lane, Dublin 16.
Ulster Quarterly Meeting was held at Richill Meeting House on 11th June 2017.
A full report may be read here.
Ireland Yearly Meeting took place in The High School, Rathgar, Dublin from 20th to 23rd April 2017. The theme was ‘Live simply, so that others may simply live.’
A report on IYM is available to read here >> IYM 2017 report
Leinster Quarterly Meeting will take place in Enniscorthy on Saturday 24th June.
Following meeting for worship at 11am, there will be a business session.
Following packed lunch there will be a worship sharing session with the theme of forgiveness.
The day will conclude with the famous Enniscorthy tea with strawberries and cream and home-made cakes!
The theme of this year’s Yearly Meeting, which was held in Dublin from 20th to 23rd April, was “Live simply, so that others may simply live” (Mahatma Gandhi).
The full text of the Epistle may be read here >> IYM 2017 Epistle.
Rachel Bewley-Bateman of Churchtown Meeting delivered the Public Lecture at Yearly Meeting in The High School, Dublin, on Friday 21st April 2017 on the topic ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life … what does this mean for us today?’
Her wide-ranging lecture encompassed Biblical references, consideration of the Reformation and the influence of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) since its inception as well as her own personal spiritual journey.
Rachel talked about how George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, came to realise it was possible to have a direct relationship with God. “Over time seekers became finders and the good news spread rapidly,” she said.
She concluded that “Quaker testimonies are still valid and should challenge us daily – truth, integrity, peace, justice, simplicity, equality, community, the earth and environment …. We can call on God to guide us and give us the strength to undertake what He requires of us.”
You can read the full text of Rachel’s talk here >> IYM PUBLIC LECTURE 2017
‘Feeling Alone’ was the title of the Ministry and Oversight session at Yearly Meeting, held in the High School, Dublin, from 20th to 23rd October. It was led by members of Richhill and Grange Meetings.
A full report of the session can be read here >> M&O session at Yearly Meeting
‘Wear a Bonnet – Living Art Installation’
Christina Henri’s successful Living Art Installation,
part of ‘Roses from the Heart’
comes from Tasmania to Ireland at Grangegorman, DIT. (An Croi)
on FRIDAY, 3rd MARCH 2017, 10.30am
All are welcome and are invited to wear a ‘Roses from the Heart’ cloth bonnet that will be provided on loan.
This bonnet will symbolise the life of one of the 3,216 Irish women and their 506 children held at the Grangegorman Female Depot (1840-1852) prior to transportaton to Tasmania. (http:// rosesfromtheheart.tumblr.com)
The installation will also pay tribute to Quaker social reformer, Elizabeth Fry, first woman to campaign for better prison conditions. Grangegorman Female Depot (now the Grangegorman Development Authority) opened in 1836. It was the first female penitentiary in the then Britsh Isles that was built according to Quaker prison reformer, Elizabeth Fry’s precepts. She was also instrumental in the placement of Mrs Marian Rawlins as matron.
Time: Arrive at An Croi prior to 10.30am in readiness for receiving loaned bonnet to be ready for aerial photograph. RTE Nationwide has committed to a second documentary on the ‘Roses from the Heart’ journey and will film the 3 March event at Grangegorman.
Artist Dr Christna Henri will attend, as will the Mayor of Dublin and the Australian Ambassador to Ireland along with other dignatories.
Students from all local Dublin schools are invited to attend the event, as are pupils from the Quaker Schools, Newtown, Waterford, Rathgar Junior School, Dublin, and Friends’ School Lisburn.
Christina’s Irish visit will include a visit to Waterford from 13th-19th March. She will give two public lectures, in Waterford and Dungarvan, some workshops to Waterford women’s groups and at both Newtown School and Newtown Junior School.
For further information email Joan Johnson (Waterford Quaker Meeting) at rogerjoan5@gmail.com
quakers-in-ireland.ie 
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