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A wreath laying ceremony took place at St Mary’s yesterday (Saturday) to commemorate and honour those from the local area who lost their lives during the two world wars.
The names of our memorial were read out, followed by some prayers and the Last Post. A beautiful event. Thanks to all who attended.
Fingal County Council has released a schedule of blessings/prayers at graveyards around the county. Prayers will be said at Clonmethan on July 27 at 19:00.
More see this link – https://www.fingal.ie/news/schedule-masses-and-prayers-fingal-cemeteries-2025
As you may know, Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day) was last Monday, November 11th. As in previous years, the Friends of Clonmethan marked Remembrance Day, with a ceremony and laying of wreaths, which took place on November 9th from 11:00.
Prayers were said by Niall Minto, Diocesan Reader for the Donabate Parish, and the Last Post was played by James MacCafferty. A wreath was laid by Stephen Vincent on behalf of Swords Parish. Attendees included Christine Baker (Heritage) Fingal County Council, Councillor Cathal Boland and Tom Murphy representing the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. A photo from the day is below, and a short video can be found here.
Some lovely photos taken last night at St Mary’s by one of the Friends. It’s a wonderful place at any time, but the aurora add some extra magic.
The Friends of Clonmethan have organised tours of the graveyard for local schools and interested groups for the past few years. If you would like a tour as an individual or group, one of our Friends will facilitate you at suitable time and date. To organise a tour send an email to the first instance to trinagilchriest@hotmail.com with the subject “Clonmethan tour enquiry”.
It’s been 75 years or so since we have had a light inside the doorway of St. Mary’s Church. Thanks to recent work, a light shines therein this Christmas. Thanks to everyone who helped and participated in all the wonderful events this year. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2024.
Yesterday, November 11th, the Friends of Clonmethan had three wonderful events. A great turnout of dignitaries and locals, and thankfully the sun shone.
First in the running order was an unveiling of a plaque outside the main gate. Designed by Susan Flatley, it gives a short history of the site and links to this website with a QR code. The plaque was unveiled by Minster Daragh O’Brien and Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Second was the official opening of the repaired church tower. Thanks to grants received, the tower is at least safe and sound into the future. Minister O’Brien and Archbishop Jackson cut the ribbon together.
Finally, to mark Remembrance Day, the proceedings moved to a new monument to locals who died in the two world wars. Local poet Miriam Andrews read the poem Two Minutes Silence aloud, and wreaths were laid by Archbishop Jackson and Minister O’Brien. Local historian Paddy Finnegan did a roll call, which was followed by the last post played by James J McCaffery on bugle. Archbishop Jackson also gave a short oration.
In addition to those mentioned, the days events were also attended by Adrian Henchy, Mayor of Fingal, and councillors Cathal Boland, Brian Dennehy, Larry Urell, Kim Rice conservation archaeologist, and Christine Baker, Heritage Officer FCC.
More photos of the day below.
As mentioned in an earlier post, work began recently on preserving the tower of St Mary’s Church at Clonmethan. While the condition of the masonry was not bad while looking from the ground, it seems the work is happening at the right time to save its structure into the future. Here a a few photos from recent work. Our thanks to everyone involved in getting to this point.
This morning, Dermot Nolan, Kim Rice and Barry O’Hanlon came to start the work on the tower of St Mary’s Clonmethan – which is in need of some care. Thanks indeed to our local representative and Minister Darragh O’Brien for his incredible kindness towards our cause. Thanks also to Mr Gerry Fitzsimmons, our chair, and our vice chairman and representative on the Select Vestry Committee Mr Andrew Anderson. All this is only possible by virtue of their hard work over the years. The churchyard will be off limits for everyone for some time as it now becomes a building site. Please be mindful of this from a health and safety perspective.
Friends of Clonmethan