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.
Category Archives: Archive
Archive material that does not fit elsewhere. All articles and archives to be tagged.
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
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.
Rathfarnham Meeting Get Eco-Congregation Award
Rathfarnham has become the first meeting to receive an Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) award in recognition of its environmental endeavours.
Since setting up an “eco” committee three years ago, the meeting has planted fruit trees and a herb garden. Part of the lawn has grown into a wild meadow that is now home to three beehives. Junior meeting sessions often incorporate environmental issues. Earthcare for Friends has been a valuable resource (published by Quaker Earthcare Witness 2004 ISBN 1-881083-10-1).
The meeting has signed up to Airtricity (to support renewable energy), uses energy-efficient light bulbs where possible and has clearly-labelled bins for recyclables. All cleaning products, soap, toilet rolls etc. are environmentally-friendly brands and containers have been put in the toilet cisterns to save water. Fairtrade tea and coffee is always used – crockery rather than disposable cups and plates.
Presenting the award on 4th December, ECI chairperson, Sr Catherine Brennan, said, “In all the “eco” work here, which covers many of the topics in the ECI resources, there is no sense of striving, or trying to achieve, or of it being hard work. I feel sure that your approach in all the work flows from your quiet meditation. Only constant and consistent meditation and prayer can help us live the simplicity of Jesus.”
Sr Catherine had read the Quaker testimonies of peace, integrity, simplicity and justice and could see how the meeting had linked each of these to God’s creation. She was impressed that the meeting had considered whether earthcare should be a fifth testimony. She said: “The one that touched me most deeply is simplicity. This testament is evident in all your “eco” work here – from the planting of the herb garden and fruit trees, the development of the natural meadow to the installation of the water butt, to name but a few.”
“The variety of work done by the Junior Meeting is truly impressive – planting, studying, creating, raising money for the poor … You are truly living out the Chinese proverb –
“Tell me, I forget
Show me, I remember
Involve me, I understand.”
Topics covered in junior meeting have included celebrating creation, recycling, living simply, insects, “eco” quiz, Fairtrade, water and globalisation. The children and teenagers have helped plant seeds, bulbs, herbs and fruit trees and they have made a bug hotel and an Easter Garden from natural materials. They have also organised a number of fundraising cake sales, with beneficiaries including VITA and Rainforest Concern.
One of the first steps Rathfarnham meeting “eco” committee took was to reflect on its eco initiatives to date, with the guidance of the Eco-Congregation Ireland checklist (see Resources Section 1). This helped them identify what the meeting had already achieved and to see what areas might be prioritised.
Last Spring the meeting invited the local community to join in a spring clean that was organised in conjunction with Rathfarnham parish “eco” group. Members of the meeting have also been encouraged to sign up to “The Litter Project” – a world-wide campaign that encourages people to commit to picking up a piece of litter every day. One member of the committee also set up a Facebook page called One Piece of Litter a Day – Ireland.
Members and attenders have taken part in national Stop Climate Chaos campaigns and the Global Action Day on 10/10/10.
The assessment of Rathfarnham meeting was carried out by two independent assessors – Salesian priest, poet and author, Fr Hugh O’Donnell and Dean Eaton, environmental awareness officer at Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
In his report, Fr Hugh said, “This group of Quakers is dedicated to the spiritual dimension of the environmental movement. It seems that, by nature, they find the God-space in Creation …. The Quaker ‘way’ works as a leaven – simply and effectively. They nicely stress the integration of faith and Creation. They hold an ‘oasis’ in trust for the local community, which has its own eco-resonance.”
Fr Hugh believed that the members of the meeting were living out a conviction “to live as a family with all creation.” “This aspiration comes from a spirituality that is essentially ecological,” he said.
Dorking meeting is the only meeting in Britain to have received an award from Eco-Congregation England and Wales (two awards, in fact!) although several other meetings in the UK have signed up to Eco-Congregation.
We would love to hear how other meetings in Ireland are incorporating earthcare into their worship and activities!
You can find out out more about Eco-Congregation Ireland from the website or contact Fiona Murdoch.
Meeting For Worship Broadcast Now Available Online
You can now listen to Meeting for Worship from Ballitore Meeting, County Kildare using the RTE Player.
The meeting for worship was broadcast on Sunday 30th October 2011 and includes a wide ranging discussion of Quaker faith and practice.
Talking to Quakers 2011
This video shows Quakers discussing their feelings about attending Ireland Yearly Meeting 2011, the annual four day gathering of Irish Quakers which was held this year in Kings Hospital School, Dublin.
Book Launch Quaker House Dublin – 20th October 2011
The Friends Historical Library, together with the publishers, the Ulster Historical Foundation, are very happy to invite you and your guests to the launch in Ireland of Them Wild Woods – The Greeves, O’Brien and Sinton Letters – The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family 1818-1877, edited by Bill Jackson.
The launch will be held at the Library, Quaker House, at 7.30 for 8 p.m. on Thursday 20th October.
Quaker Youth in Ireland Yearly Meeting, June 2011
This article appears in the September-October 2011 issue of The Friendly Word the Irish Quaker bi-monthly magazine.
CAROLYN MCMULLAN, Youth Coordinator, Ireland Yearly Meeting, reports on a years activities:
On 1st July 2010 Ireland Yearly Meeting had their first Youth Coordinator take up post. This meant starting from scratch with the Young People aged between 10-30 years of age. The database which has now been set up tells us that there are just over 500 members and attenders within this age group.
My overarching aim is to raise the profile of our Young Friends in Ireland, to empower, enabling them to feel valued and a real sense of identity with The Religious Society of Friends here on this island.
How was I going to achieve this considering there were very real anxieties from many parents and some Meetings who did not know this new Youth Coordinator and there was a sense of too little too late!
First Objective – Youth Clubs
My first objective was to work on setting up some Youth Clubs I spent a lot of time working with parents and older young people to recruit helpers to enable the clubs to run effectively.
Over the year there have been 3 monthly youth clubs started up in various parts of the country. There are also 2 youth groups which meet every 2-3months. The regularity of these events reflects the wishes of the young people involved in the groups and my availability to organise and run them.
There has also been a worship and bible study evening on the first Sunday in the month. This was at the request of Young Friends.
The numbers of young people who have attended these occasions vary from 5 to 27.
Second Objective – Visit Meetings
It is planned that each Meeting be visited by the Youth Coordinator twice in the 3 year term. To date 16 Meetings have been visited. This has been an opportunity for members and attenders to meet with the Coordinator and find out what is happening with young people and how the youth of that Meeting can become involved.
Two Monthly Meetings have asked the Youth Coordinator to speak to them abou how things are going and how they can get involved in supporting the work being done.
Third Objective – Residential Events
The goal was to be involved with any existing or new residential events for young people in IYM. There have been a number of overnight events throughout the past year. These include Senior Moyallon Camp, Churchtown weekend, Over 18’s, JYM(arrangements and actual event), Yearly Meeting Youth Programme, Junior Moyallon Camp and Leadership Training Weekend.
Fourth Objective – Work with Individuals
Part of the role has been to meet with individuals on a one to one basis just to touch base and bring encouragement both socially and spiritually. Involvement in planning and running group occasions has taken priority this year. None the less, if a young person asked to meet up the time was always made available.
Fifth Objective: Leadership Training Course
The Leadership Training was developed to help equip older young people to lead in a servant-hearted manner and yet be aware of health and safety and child protection issues. From the feedback it would appear to have been very helpful to all who attended. It is hoped that training of this nature will be an ongoing process throughout the 3 year term.
Sixth Objective: Programme for Young Friends at IYM
This proved to be a really successful time where we had loads of fun while addressing how we Quakers do business as well as playing many games and attending some of the main YM sessions. I know the more mature folk really enjoyed having up to 29 young people attending.
This has been a busy yet productive year, where a number of young people who were not actively involved in The Religious Society of Friends have been willing to attend get-togethers that have been organised.
The first year has been a time of learning, where the young people have openly expressed what it is they want from the Youth Coordinator. It has been my desire to implement their wishes to the best of my ability. I would hope that over the next 2 years there will be a strong network of Young Friends throughout Ireland who have a strong sense of Quaker identity and are committed to both the spiritual basis and social witness of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland.
Irish Quakers in glass-making – historical lecture
John M Hearne will present the Irish Quaker annual historical lecture at Quaker House Dublin on Thursday 16th June at 8.o pm. An exhibition of Quaker manuscripts will open at 7.30 before the lecture and light refreshments will be served after it. Open to all.
Details on this attachment 2011-HistoricalLecture-A4b
Munster Quarterly Quaker Meeting 19th June
- At Quarterly Meeting at Limerick Meeting House, the topic for discussion will be Working with traumatised children in Gaza.
- AGENDA
11:00 Meeting for Worship
12:00 Coffee
12:15 Working with traumatised children in Gaza.
Presentation by Richard Kimball & Joe Fenwick
13:15 Lunch
14:15 Business Session
Business may include:
MQM Education Committee
Patron Minute of Record
IYM Coordinators Group
MQM Nominations Committee
Lord, lead me where You would have me go. Grant me strength to follow.
And grace to follow gladly.
Lord, show me the work You would have me do.
Grant me the will to undertake it and the skill to accomplish it.
A prayer by Jo Philips
-
quakers-in-ireland.ie 
You must be logged in to post a comment.