In 1937, the well known American Quaker Rufus M Jones wrote  “…I have become a good deal disillusioned over ‘big’ conferences and large gatherings. I pin my hopes to quiet processes and small circles, in which vital and transformative events take place.”

It is in the spirit of these words that you are invited to set time aside on the third Saturday of each month, when the Limerick Meeting House will be open for an hour from 2.00-3.00pm for those who wish  to join others silently “sitting for peace”.

The next of these monthly silent vigils for peace will take place on Saturday 15^th Febuary from 2.00 – 3.00pm.

Please feel free to spread the word among  your friends, family and other networks.

This is not a protest, rather it is an opportunity to hold a hope for peace with others.

This short video about the environmental impacts of food waste was recorded during the Special Interest Group “Food for Thought” held online as part of Ireland Yearly Meeting 2023. The Special Interest Group was organised by EcoQuakers Ireland, and the video is narrated by Ann Lacey.

The video will remain available on the quakers.ie website under “Exploring Quaker Spirituality/Videos”.

The latest FWCC EMES newsletter is now available.

You can find information about how some British Friends are putting their faith into action in the January 2025 BYM Faith in Action Newsletter.

The Ireland Yearly Meeting Peace Committee has organised an Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Workshop on 7-9 March at Quaker House Dublin.

The workshop will be led by facilitators of the Alternatives to Violence Project Ireland. Participants will complete their basic level training. The workshop is free to attend and funding is available to assist with travel costs.

Here are the application form and a poster that can be used to advertise the event.

Please send completed application forms to aoiferr@gmail.com before 15 February.

For further information, please email aoiferr@gmail.com.

Peter W. Lamb will give a presentation on the Exhibition and Lecture Series on the Irish Quaker Tradition presented in the Lexicon Library during Autumn 2024 at a Churchtown Coffee Morning on Wednesday 5th February during 10.30-21.00.

You can find more information, including the Zoom link for joining online in this flyer.

The letter below from Tim Gee, the General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), provides details on how to register for the online Memorial Meeting in memory our Friend Simon. C. Lamb, organised by FWCC. The Memorial Meeting will take place on Saturday, 8^th February at 3pm GMT (3pm Irish Time).

FWCC have requested that those who wish to attend register in advance to receive the Zoom link. 

We thank FWCC for republishing the text of Simon’s keynote talk at the 2000 FWCC Triennial in New Hampshire USA – Friends: A People Called to Listen.

Dear Friends, Following on from my email sharing the sad news of the passing of our Friend Simon C Lamb, I am in touch to share details of an international online memorial meeting being planned.  It will take place on Saturday 8 February at 3pm GMT/UTC. You can find out the exact time where you are here.  Register for the event here to receive the Zoom meeting link.  Thank you for the many messages with memories you have been sending. We have shared some of them on the FWCC website. We are also gathering photos to share at the memorial. If you would like to add to this, please email my colleague Ruby on comms@fwcc.world.   Following requests by Friends, we have also republished the text of Simon’s talk given in 2000 to the FWCC Triennial in New Hampshire, titled:  “Friends: A People Called to Listen”.  Simon’s funeral in Northern Ireland was full of people and full of Spirit. I believe that “the Light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5).  We can keep supporting one-another through this online memorial.  In Friendship, Tim Gee General Secretary, Friends World Committee for Consultation Friends: A People called to Listen. Keynote address to FWCC Triennial 2000 in New Hampshire.

A pre-recorded interview with the Clerk of Ireland Yearly Meeting, Will Haire, was aired on Newtalk FM earlier today, 23^th of January 2025.

This interview is part of a series the station is doing on various faiths/religions in Ireland.

A link to the Podcast of the recorded interview is available here: https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-lunchtime-live/religion-in-ireland-quakerism

Ireland Yearly Meeting will be held on 25 – 27 April 2025 at Friends School Lisburn. Ireland Junior Yearly Meeting will be held just before, on 17 – 21 April 2025 at a venue to be determined.

Information about accommodation, submitting proposals and the Public Lecture is available by clicking on the IYM 2025 banner on the right-hand side of the quakers.ie website:

Additional information will be added as it becomes available. It is hoped that registration for IYM2025 and the Public Lecture will be open by the end of January.

Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) is a gathering of young Friends and any young people interested in Quakerism in Ireland aged 13-18. We come together to meet, discuss, debate, and learn together. There are many social activities, too, such as workshops, a decathlon, a fancy dress banquet, and a concert. 

JYM 2025 will be held 17-21 April 2025 at Newtown School, Waterford. The theme will be “Bursting the Bubble”. You can find some more information, including who to contact for additional info, on this poster. We’ll be keeping the JYM section on the IYM website up to date too, as more information and application forms become available.