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St George’s hosts the Eucharist in Irish

Thursday March 10th 2011

The Eucharist will be celebrated in Irish in the Parish Church of St George, Belfast, on March 20 at 7pm.  Beidh an Canónach Gary Hastings i mbun Cheiliúradh na hEocairiste i Séipéal Naomh Seoirse, Béal Feirste ar an Domhnach 20 Márta ag 7i.n..

Canon Gary Hastings will preside.  Éamonn Ó Faogáin agus Úna Ni Mhonacháin will be the vocalists.

The rector of St George’s. the Rev Brian Stewart who has welcomed this proposal for a  service in Irish from his parishioners. 

"St George’s Church is an open door in the heart of the city – a place of prayer and peace,” said Mr Stewart.  “As a Church we have developed new traditions in music, liturgy and inclusiveness down through the years.  We see that a service in Irish could form part of a new tradition for our church. We are opening the door on March 20 and we will take it from there."

The Parish Church of St George is the oldest Church of Ireland church in Belfast. It has a ‘High Church’ ethos and it has a strong liturgical and musical tradition.

It was the first church to introduce, amongst other things, the Harvest Thanksgiving, musical recitals in church, early morning celebrations of the Holy Communion, drama in church and, since its first organist Edward J Bunting (1817 1821) – renowned for his work in collecting and recording Irish Music – it is well known for its musical traditions.

Originally St George’s territory stretched from the Falls Road to the Lagan and from Waring Street to Dunmurry and it was known as the Perpetual Curacy of Upper Falls. No less than 10 parishes have been formed out of this territory.  One of them, Saint John the Baptist, took on the title of the Upper Falls – leaving the church with its present title, The Parish Church of St George, Belfast.

St George’s Church has an eventful history. The original chapel was used by pilgrims waiting to cross the mud flats which were dangerous at high tide. During the Commonwealth, Cromwell’s troops were stationed in the building, and the lead from the roof was taken for making musket balls.  A century later, in 1798, the body of Henry Joy McCracken, the United Irishman executed in the Cornmarket, was buried in the churchyard. 

Welcoming the service on March 20, the Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, Dáithí Ó Maolchoille, said: “We offer our full support to St George’s Church.  We are delighted that St George’s are taking this step and we hope that it will continue.   We will help them in whatever way we can now, and in the future.  We are here to support and help any other group or church that may wish to develop an initiative to promote the use of the Irish language in the Church. 

A number of other services will be held in Church of Ireland churches for St Patrick’s day- see http://www.cumanngaelachnaheaglaise.blogspot.com/ for details.

Beidh an Canónach Gary Hastings i mbun Cheiliúradh na hEocairiste i Séipéal Naomh Seoirse, Béal Feirste ar an Domhnach 20 Márta ag 7i.n.. Beidh Éamonn Ó Faogáin agus Úna Ní Mhonacháin ag canadh le ceol tionlacain. 

D’fháiltigh an tUrr Brian Stewart, reachtaire an pharóiste, roimh an tseirbhís seo, a bhí molta ag daoine ón bparóiste, ag rá: “Cuirim fáilte roimh an tseirbhís álainn in Eaglais Naomh Seoirse, áit ina bhfuil doras oscailte ann i gcroílár na cathrach, agus áit suaimhnis ann do mhuintir Bhéal Feirste. Le blianta anuas, tá tús curtha againn le traidisiúin nua sa cheol agus sa liotúirge. Tá clú orainn maidir leis an bhfáilte a chuirtear roimh gach éinne sa séipéal seo.  D’fhéadfadh seirbhís  Ghaeilge bheith mar chuid de thraidisiún úr againn.  Beidh doras oscailte ann ar an 20 Márta agus fearadh na fáilte roimh chách”. 

Tá séipéal Naomh Seoirse mar an séipéal is sine de chuid Eaglais na hÉireann i mBéal Feirste agus tá sé suite sa traidisiún ‘Uaseaglasta’ , le ardchaighdeán liotúirge agus ceoil ann.

Bhí sé mar an séipéal is túisce a chuir seirbhís d’Fhéile an Fhómhair ar siúl, a chuir ceadail cheoil ar siúl, a chuir seirbhísí Eocairiste ar fáil go luath ar maidin, a thosaigh léiriúcháin drámaíochta sa séipéal agus tá clú ar thraidisiún an cheoil sa séipéal ó ré an orgánaí cháiliúil Edward J Bunting (1871-1821), a bhí ina bhailitheoir clúiteach ceoil Ghaeilge, i leith.

I dtosach, shín fearann Naomh Seoirse ó Bhóthar na bhFál síos go dtí An Lagan agus ó Shráid Waring go Dún Mhuirígh agus tugadh “Curáideacht Shíoraí Uachtar na bhFál” air.  Ina dhiaidh sin bhí an talamh roinnte i ndeich bparóiste, agus ghlac paróiste Naomh Eoin Baiste cúram Uachtar na bhFál chuige féin – fágadh séipéal Naomh Seoirse leis an teideal “Eaglais Pharóiste Naomh Seoirse, Béal Feirste” ó shin i leith. 

Tá stair shuimiúil ag Séipéal Naomh Seoirse.  Bhíodh oilithrigh ag fanacht sa séipéal nuair a bhí sé ró-chontúirteach dul trasna na réileáin láibe.  I rith an Chomhlathais, bhain airm Chromail úsáid as an luaidhe ar an díon chun liathróidí muscaeid a dhéanamh.  I 1798 cuireadh Henry Joy McCracken (Cumann na nÉireannach Aontaithe) a daoradh chun báis i Margadh an Arbhair (Cornmarket), i reilig an tséipéil. 

Dúirt Dáithí Ó Maolchoille, Cathaoirleach, Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise,

“Tugaimid gach cabhair agus tacaíocht don togra seo.  Tá an-áthas orainn go mbeidh an tseirbhís seo ann agus tá súil againn go leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh.  Táimid ann chun tacú leo anois agus amach anseo.  Má tá suim ag aon ghrúpa eile seirbhís a eagrú, nó comhairle a fháil, ná bíodh leisce oraibhse dul i dteagmháil linn”.  

Beidh seirbhísí eile á reáchtáil i nGaeilge in Eaglais na hÉireann do Lá Fhéile Pádraig: féach
http://www.cumanngaelachnaheaglaise.blogspot.com/ le tuilleadh eolais a fháil.

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