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Quarterly Meetings

Ulster Quarterly Meeting – February 2013

Ulster Quarterly Meeting

16th February 2013

 The annual report to UQM of Friends School Lisburn (2011-2012) was in the main extremely encouraging. Academic Achievement had been exceptional within the school and relative to Northern Ireland averages. But the amazing variety of ‘Community Relations’ projects, events and challenges was impressive and their value for  pupils and the community should not be underestimated. Serious concern with the recent effects of budget cuts and the possible new state involvement in governance was expressed by Meeting. The Archives Committee report was brief but with the expected tidbits that make it one of my favourites. The hours of work put in by its members on certain projects was emphasised.

 The afternoon session ‘Enough is Plenty’ was organised by the Testimonies and Witness Committee. The speaker was Anne B Ryan, author of the book of that title. She began by asking ‘what is enough’ and enlarged by suggesting that this involved not simply practical needs but ideas of resilience/sustainability, ecosystems, morality, spirituality, peace of mind, aesthetics and more. She then introduced the economic concept of ‘Universal Basic Income’  which was new to many. Discussion groups were formed to be guided by three questions: What is your immediate response; What is your deeper response; What are the challenges/opportunities ie personal, family, community, society? When we reassembled, brief summaries were read. Thoughts of  the Idealists and the Realists among us were represented. Basic human greed emerged as A or The stumbling block. The afternoon session was thought-provoking and fuel for further discussion.

 Lynn Benson

News and Events, Notices to Members

Dublin Quakers podcast

On Christmas Day Dublin South FM presented an hour-long broadcast entitled Our friends in Dublin.  Their presenter Mary Lavin had spotted the poster announcing the 150th anniversary of Churchtown Meeting and decided to investigate Dublin Quakersand their faith and practice.  During the previous summer she had interviewed a number of Dublin Friends  and this was the result.  To hear the podcast click on
www.dublinsouthfm.ie and scroll down to Our Friends in Dublin.

Articles, News and Events

Bloomfield Quaker Care Centre celebrates 200 years

Over 100 people attended a special event held at Bloomfield, Stocking Lane, Dublin on 28 November 2012 to celebrate 200 years of Quakers caring for mentally ill and frail elderly people in Ireland.Friends from throughout the country were joined at the special celebration by politicians, healthcare workers and members of the local community.
 Since its foundation by Friends in 1812, Bloomfield has sought to provide person-centric mental health and nursing home care to elderly people and those with dementia. The original aim was to bring about a seminal change in the nature of care from restraint to ‘moral treatment’ and the Society proved to be pioneering in its care and treatment of both the elderly and mentally ill.
Bloomfield moved from its original Donnybrook site to its current location in Rathfarnham in 2005. In 2006 the Jewish Home of Ireland and in 2007 Kylemore Clinic (established by the MethodistChurch in Ireland) were also incorporated into Bloomfield, with the stage-2 completion in 2009 bringing the total bed count to 152.
Olivia Mitchell TD planted an oak tree in the grounds to mark the 200th anniversary before Chairman of the Board, John McNeilly (Rathfarnham Preparative Meeting), assured guests that the original mission of the founding members of the Quaker community remained at the core of everything Bloomfield does today.
CEO Damien O’Dowd then outlined how Bloomfield would respond to the needs of people with dementia and mental illness over the next few years.
Robin Goodbody (Monkstown Preparative Meeting) summarised the highlights of the 200-year history before Professor Michael Gill, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, launched the newly-published book – ‘Bloomfield, A History 1812 – 2012’. The book, which literally arrived hot off the presses, is the result of great teamwork and painstaking research by Glynn Douglas (Monkstown Preparative Meeting), Robin Goodbody, Alice Mauger and John Davey.*
Prof Michael Gill, keynote speaker for the evening, spoke about “exciting advances” in genomic medicine and how this was being applied in psychiatry, with particular emphasis on alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.
He said Trinity was delighted to be associated with Bloomfield: “I have visited Bloomfield on quite a few occasions and I‘ve been really amazed by what has been happening here. Bloomfield is an important resource for the College for teaching medical and healthcare students and for offering research opportunities and we look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.”
Damien O’Dowd, CEO of Bloomfield Health Services, said: “The marking of 200 years of providing treatment and care by Bloomfield is a significant achievement for the organisation and is a tribute to the steadfastness of the original mission to provide person-centred quality care to those with mental health needs and to frail elderly. The change in society over that period of time has been immense but our mission and the focus of our service provision has remained strong.
“Today at Bloomfield our commitment to our patients and residents, and the treatment and care provided to them, continues to be our focal point and the core of our mission. As we look towards the future, our continued desire to meet the expanding needs of our older generation is to provide a greater scope of services to include families and supported by the most progressive education and research.”
John McNeilly, Chairman, said Bloomfield was constantly balancing its desire to provide leading edge person-centred care while meeting the constantly changing and developing standards from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Mental Health Commission (MHC).
“Bloomfield’s strategic plan for years 2013 through 2015 is suggesting a slight change of direction, with a re-balancing of our nursing home and approved centre beds to allow for the development of new services around day care provision, respite, acute services and the provision of rapid assessment clinics,” said John. “To reflect the new services being offered, Bloomfield Care Centre will now be known as Bloomfield Health Services incorporating BloomfieldHospital and New Lodge Nursing Home.”
“Bloomfield Health Services has partnered with Trinity College Dublin, giving students the chance to spend time in Bloomfield, to develop hands-on experience and learning opportunities with our residents, all under the strict monitoring and tutelage of our medical and nursing teams. Bloomfield has also partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, with the commencement of a ‘Tuesday Club‘ and ‘Alzheimer’s Café‘ within our facility.
“Bloomfield has engaged more closely with our surrounding community by starting a series of public lectures, with topics ranging from “Diagnosis of Dementia: Where to From Here?”, “Keeping it All Together” and “Relaxation for Everyday Living”. Attendance has been very encouraging and the feedback has been very positive. A repeat series is being considered for the Spring/Autumn of next year. We are also engaging with local medical professionals, mainly aimed at GPs and members of health care teams in our area, offering an educational lecture from our consultant psychiatrist and other guest speakers.”
After the speeches everyone enjoyed a splendid meal provided by Compass Group and Olivia Mitchell TD cut a specially-commissioned cake, supplied by Superquinn.
Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, had hoped to attend the celebration but due to work commitments in the Dáil was unable to attend on the evening. She did, however, send a message of congratulations in which she recognised the commitment and dedication of Bloomfield to people with mental health problems and older people.
“The delivery of mental health care services has come a long way since Bloomfield first opened its doors back in 1812 and Bloomfield itself has been very much part of that change,” she said. “Even today, we see that this important service is continuing to develop and adapt for the benefit of all their clients and family members.”                 Fiona Murdoch

*‘Bloomfield, A History 1812 – 2012’ is a beautifully-presented book which captures the life of Bloomfield over the years. A small number of copies are available for purchase at €20 from Bloomfield reception.  Also available by mail order from qhist@eircom.netat €20.65 including post and packing.

 

Events, News and Events, Notices to Members

The Palestinian/Israeli situation: talk by Ian Bell

Seeking Peace in a Difficult Place –
A hard task to follow

 Saturday 20th October, 2012
At Churchtown Meeting House
10.30am- 1.00pm

 Last May, Ireland Yearly Meeting Peace Committee co-operated with Dublin Monthly Meeting Peace Committee and Churchtown Meeting to arrange a seminar at Churchtown Meeting House.  We discussed the situation in Palestine and Israel.

 The four speakers there gave quite differing views on the subject.  It was important that this breadth of thinking was equally shared and respected. These talks were followed by a general discussion, followed by lively discussions in groups.

 Friends there made it clear that they would like to see this followed up by other meetings. To help us to address an often contentious and emotive subject, we all felt that the input of qualified information and experience was vital.

 With this in mind, we are arranging a further meeting, again in Churchtown Meeting House, for 20th October, 2012.

 Ian Bell, a non-resident-in-Ireland Friend of Lisburn Meeting, with wide experience of the Palestininian/Israeli situation and other international problem areas, has been asked to speak to us.  Ian has spoken widely on the subject to many people in many places throughout the British Isles and beyond. 

 He was an ecumenical accompanier in EAPPI [The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel].

 As well as talking about his own experiences, he will put them in the context of what EAPPI seeks to achieve, why, the rationale of its methods and their effectiveness and its selection process. He has wide international experience in his career. Why did EAPPI seem a good project for him to become involved in?

 Yourquestions and your part in the open discussion are absolutely central to this event. So please put Saturday 20th October into your diary.

 The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) brings internationals to the West Bank to experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) provide protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human rights abuses and support Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace.

The World Council of Churches set up this programme in 2002 in response to requests from Palestinian Christians to people of goodwill around the world who wish to see the realities of occupation for themselves.

It is managed by the Religious Society of Friends from Friends House in London.

10.30-11.00am – coffee
11.00 a.m. – Ian Bell
12.00 – open discussion and questions. Finishing at approximately 1.00 p.m.

Tea and Coffee will be provided.  Please bring your own lunch.

Events, News and Events

Find out about Quakers in Ireland at the Irish Film Institute

Quakers on Eustace Street is the title of a presentation to be given at 3.0 pm on Wednesday 5th September in conjunction with the celebration by the Irish Film Institute of the first twenty years of their presence in part of the Meeting House.  The Quakers have been on the site since 1692 and continue to hold Meetings for Worship next door to the IFI every Thursday and Sunday.  Join us for a great session on Quaker faith and old Dublin.

Articles, Events, General Archives, News and Events

Temple Hill Burial Ground appeal

Since 1860, Dublin Quakers have been laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery that lies between Blackrock and Monkstown.  Under the shade of ancient trees, the burial places are marked by uniform simple headstones, giving brief details of the life of the deceased.  A great effort goes into maintenance of the grounds so that mourners at the funerals and casual visitors alike can share the sense of peace and tranquility.  From time to time funding is a problem and an appeal was launched in the spring of 2012.  Contributions can be sent to The Office, Quaker House, Stocking Lane, Dublin 16.

The property situated between the villages of Blackrock and Monkstown, was purchased by Dublin Monthly Meeting from the owner Robert Gray in 1859.  A Minute of Sixth Month 1859 reads:  Report is made on behalf of the trustees appointed in 12th month last that the purchase of ground prepared for the new Burial Ground has been effected, and the sum of £1,000 has been paid for same…..

The Burial Ground was opened on the 6th day of Third Month 1860.  The first person to be interred was Hannah Chapman of 3 William Terrace Booterstown who had died on 3rd March 1860.  Sixty-three years later, in January 1923, Monthly Meeting was informed that there had been 959 interments, the Register was full and a new one provided.

Burials of Dublin Quakers had taken place in Cork Street since 1698 but that was rather a long way from the new Meeting House in Monkstown and a proposal was made in 1834 to open a new burial ground on the Friends’ property there.  This scheme was abandoned the following year and no further steps were taken until 1849 when a committee of thirty Friends was set up to find a suitable piece of land.  Four years later they reached an agreement to purchase a plot near Donnybrook – but this fell through at a very late stage.  It took five more years to conclude the search, with the acquisition of the plot between Blackrock and Monkstown.

At the end of 1858 plans were drawn up for the layout of the enclosure of the cemetery and a decision was taken to build a cottage for a caretaker.  In June the following year the need for a small meeting house was noted.  In the same month Friends agreed on the naming of the place as ‘Temple Hill Burial Ground’ and set a fund-raising scheme in motion.  By the end of 1861 the caretaker was in residence and, early in the following year, the meeting house had been built by Gustavus Hudson at a cost of £174 – 15 shillings.  Friends subscribed a total of £1,597 and the greater part of the balance was transferred from ‘Apprenticing funds’.

After the initial problems in finding a suitable piece of land, the matter seems to have proceeded smoothly and the greater part of the Monthly Meeting Minutes comprise annual reports which give details of the numbers of burials, the state of the finances and the appointment of committee members.  From time to time increasing costs led to agreement on increases in the fees.  Troubles were few – an exception was recorded in First Month 1925:

Some trouble has been experienced when opening graves by the finding of large masses of rock near the surface.  These have to be removed before the grave can be dug to a proper depth.  Before the war this was done by blasting, but now it has to be done by boring and splitting which takes more time.  In one case a second grave was opened and in another the funeral had to be postponed for a day.

The state of the caretaker’s cottage deteriorated over the years and a decision to rebuild rather than repair was taken in the 1930s.  The meeting house was enlarged by the addition of the porch in the 1920s.  Records over generations have seen frequent references to the devoted work of the care-takers and individual committee members who have kept Temple Hill in its state of beauty and tranquility.  The 21st century has seen a renewal of effort and continued improvements.

Christopher Moriarty
Friends Historical Library
June 2012

 

Archive, Events

Lecture on Liam Glynn

Leslie Matson will present the annual lecture of the Irish Quaker Historical Committee. The lecture will be given at Quaker House Dublin on Thursday 14th June at 8.0 p.m. From 7.30 a display of relevant material from the Archives will be open. After the lecture light refreshments will be provided.

Liam Glynn will have been known to many Friends throughout Ireland, and in particular in Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Waterford, where he lived at various times during his career as a teacher. He was a scholar of the Irish language amongst many other achievements. Leslie Matson joined the staff at NewtownSchool while Liam Glynn was headmaster and knew him over many years. He has studied Liam Glynn’s life and has published an article on the subject in Decies.