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​                                                           IRISH CHURCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION
                                                                                 Cumann Ceol Eaglasta na hÉireann

Welcoming the Word of God - Theme for Summer School 2020
​The Irish Church Music Association, with regret, announced that the Summer School 2020 scheduled for Tuesday, 30 June – Friday, 3 July was cancelled.  This was done in the interest of staying safe, and adhering to the guidelines of the HSE.  As we begin these four days let us reflect on the theme Welcoming the Word of God in prayer and song.
 
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                                                     The Lord is my light and my help;
                                                     whom shall I fear?
                                                     The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
                                                     before whom shall I shrink?
 
                                                     When evil-doers draw near
                                                     to devour my flesh,
                                                     It is they, my enemies and foes,
                                                     who stumble and fall.
 
                                                     Though an army encamp against me
                                                     my heart would not fear.
                                                     Though war break out against me
                                                     even then would I trust.
 
                                                     There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
                                                      for this I long,
                                                      to live in the house of the Lord,
                                                      all the days of my life,
                                                      to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
                                                      to behold his temple.
 
                                                      For there he keeps me safe in his tent
                                                      in the day of evil.
                                                      He hides me in the shelter of his tent
                                                      on a rock he sets me safe.
 
                                                     And now my head shall be raised
                                                     above my foes who surround me
                                                     And I shall offer within his tent†
                                                     a sacrifice of joy.
                                                     I will sing and make music for the Lord.


Reflection on Psalm 26 (27)

Psalm 26 (27) overflows with confidence in the Lord. The Lord is the psalmist’s light, his help, his stronghold; the one with whom he wants to live. The Lord is the one in whom he has confidence; in whom he hopes; the source of his courage. This is a long way from psalms like Psalm 21 (22) and its cry of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”
To pray this psalm by savouring its words is to be touched by its confidence in the Lord who is our light, our help, and our safe place; it is to permit us to be moved by the God whose real strength is not some mountain-moving power, but that which is discovered in the closeness of the One who embraces us, who holds us within.

To say the Psalmist’s words, over and over again, is to savour the sweetness of Lord. Gently to ruminate them is not only to “behold his temple”; it is to stand at its threshold. All we can do is stand at the threshold. Will the One who – through birth and death – brought Jesus to life in his house, not do the same for the sisters and brothers of Jesus? 
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(Taken from Resources for 'Sunday of the Word of God' Irish Bishops' Conference)



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7 June 2020

You Are Not Alone - Covid-19

Fr Liam Lawton, Priest of the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin and well known Irish Composer has composed You Are Not Alone in answer to the loneliness experienced by all families during the pandemic.  He writes:


As the world begins to emerge from Covid-19, so many families are still separated from their loved ones. Others are emerging from grieving the loss of a family member, someone they loved and miss dearly. The people who have left us may be a just a statistic to some, but to others they are someone who was loved and will never be forgotten.
 
Covid-19 may be suppressed or gone away, but another pain has come to the fore. The cry of civil unrest : as people search for justice, equality and honesty. 
People who call out, in their isolation and pain because of systemic racism, because of disparities, because of imbalances, feeling that no-one listens or no one cares about them. But I believe that God is listening and hears our cries and weeps for his children. 
 
I wrote this song in answer to the loneliness of many felt knowing that their loved ones were in hospital or somewhere else, but they were unable to reach them. So, many have died alone and yet, so many families have been left with an empty space to fill. Since writing this piece other pains too have come to the fore and the isolation felt by many is now noticed by the greater world. 
 
May we never take each person that crosses our path, for granted and may the world become a better place in time, because of us. 
 
A Choral version of this song will be available soon with an added verse especially suited to Liturgy.
 
Liam Lawton 
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VIDEO:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1250470708678093
 
AUDIO:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7fqnfi307707m8/YOU%20ARE%20NOT%20ALONE.mp3?dl=0

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8 June 2020
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Irish Composer, Bernard Sexton,
Pens New Song of Comfort for Victims of Covid -19 

 
The Dublin-based composer Bernard Sexton has written a song of comfort for the victims of Covid-19, their families and friends.  This has just been recorded by a virtual choir drawn from members of a number of Dublin choirs and includes several frontline staff. 

The song is dedicated to those affected by Covid-19 and it is hoped that it will be a useful resource for memorial services in the coming months. To this end an MP3 file of the song and sheet music will be available free to download.

 
The words of the new song, God Will Wipe Away All Tears, are based on sacred texts, but touch on universal themes :  the cycle of life and the inevitability of death, the comfort of memories of loved ones who have died,  and the fact that those who die live eternally in our hearts. 

Bernard's music will already be familiar to many Irish people since it featured at the International Eucharistic Congress in 2012 and also during the Papal visit in 2018. 
 
Link to virtual choir video performance of God Will Wipe Away All Tears  on Youtube.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itzjyk7tq0c

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David Connolly R.I.P.

David Connolly, Sallynoggin, Dublin and late of Kilnacrott, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, died suddenly on Tuesday 28th of April 2020. He is survived by his wife Linda, mother Mary, brother Peter, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, relatives and a large circle of friends and colleagues.

David worked with the Irish Church Music Association on many occasions as organist, organ tutor and director of the special choir.  The Association will greatly miss his generosity by sharing his musical gifts and talents with Church musicians in the Irish Church.
                                                           May he rest in peace.




COVID-19 AND SUMMER SCHOOL 2020

The Board of the Irish Church Music Association announce with regret, that they have decided to cancel the Summer School 2020 scheduled for Tuesday, 30 June – Friday, 3 July.  In the interest of staying safe, and adhering to the guidelines of the HSE, it is best not to go ahead with the planned programme of the 51st Summer School.
 
We wish you the very best and stay safe this Summer.  Let us pray for one another, our families and friends.



Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia!
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ICON: Mary Magdalene Announces the Resurrection to the Apostles (1993) written by Sr. Mary Charles McGough, OSB. © St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, Minnesota. Used with permission.
 
A new poem by English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest, and academic, Malcolm Guite
Ayodeji Malcolm Guite (pronounced [gait] is an English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest, and academic.

 
EASTER 2020                       Malcolm Guite

 
And where is Jesus, this strange Easter day?
Not lost in our locked churches, anymore
Than he was sealed in that dark sepulchre.
The locks are loosed; the stone is rolled away,
And he is up and risen, long before,
Alive, at large, and making his strong way
Into the world he gave his life to save,
No need to seek him in his empty grave.
 
He might have been a wafer in the hands
Of priests this day, or music from the lips
Of red-robed choristers, instead he slips
Away from church, shakes off our linen bands
To don his apron with a nurse: he grips
And lifts a stretcher, soothes with gentle hands
The frail flesh of the dying, gives them hope,
Breathes with the breathless, lends them strength to cope.
 
On Thursday we applauded, for he came
And served us in a thousand names and faces
Mopping our sickroom floors and catching traces
Of that virus which was death to him:
Good Friday happened in a thousand places
Where Jesus held the helpless, died with them
That they might share his Easter in their need,
Now they are risen with him, risen indeed.


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​Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

℣. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
℟. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus.
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui Domini nostri Iesu Christi, 
mundum laetificare dignatus es: 
praesta, quaesumus, ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, 
perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. 
Per Christum, Dominum nostrum. ℟
. Amen.

 
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia.
 
℣. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
℟. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who have been pleased to gladden the world 
by the Resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, 
grant, we pray, that through the intercession of his Mother, the Virgin Mary, 
we may receive the joys of everlasting life. 
Through Christ our Lord. ℟. Amen.


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In Time of Covid-19 Pandemic
The Irish Church Music Association remembers all its members, their families, friends, neighbours, and indeed the whole world during this difficult time of covid-19 pandemic.


In order of help and sustain us this Holy Week, there are resources available on www.liturgy-ireland.ie website of the National Centre for Liturgy; www.catholicbishops.ie website of the Irish Bishops' Conference, Diocesan Websites and 
https://www.ocp.org/en-us 

Pope Francis message for Holy Week can be downloaded from the following links: 


Video Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMJDCnmdhRg&feature=youtu.be
  


These resources help us to celebrate Holy Week, Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday in a very different, but enriching way.




Summer School 2020 - Tuesday, 30 June - Friday, 3 July
                                            Welcoming the Word of God

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​The Irish Church Music Association will hold its Summer School from Tuesday, 30 June to Friday 3 July 2020 in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. 

Following the very successful Conference to celebrate 50 years of the Association it has been decided to hold a day Conference on Tuesday, 30 June.  The concluding event of the Conference will be the opening event of the Summer School.


​Workshops and Tutorials will begin on Wednesday 1 July.  Fr Liam Lawton will conduct a workshop over the three day as will Fr Columba McCann OSB, Óral Barry, Karen O'Donovan, Sarah Waldron, Sr Moira Bergin.  


Board of the Irish Church Music Association
Chairperson: Mary Dee; Secretary/Treasurer: Sr Moira Bergin; Minute Secretary: Joy Bibby; Safeguarding Officer: Karen O'Donovan; PRO: Therése Gaughan; 
Members: Fr Martin Browne OSB; Fr Paul Kenny: Ian Callinan; Simon Orrock; Sheila Ryan; Rosemary Scally; Seán Tunney.



DOWNLOAD I.C.M.A. NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019
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Download: Newsletter April 2019


Conference to Celebrate 50 Years of the Irish Church Music Association

The Irish Church Music Association in partnership with the National Centre for Liturgy conduct a two day conference to mark 50 years of Church Music in Ireland.  The conference will take on Monday, 1 July and Tuesday 2 July in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.  The theme of the conference is Rejoice and Sing - Celebrating 50 Years of Irish Church Music - Remembering, Celebrating, Looking Forward.

Presenters will include Rev Michael Joncas,
Artist in Residence and Research Fellow in Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas; St. Paul, Minnesota Professor Lizette Larson-Miller, Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Huron University College, Ontario; Rev Thomas Whelan CSSp, Karen O'Donovan, Philip McKinley, Rev Martin Browne O.S.B.  The conference will include a celebration of Evening Prayer, Morning Prayer and conclude with Eucharist.  The celebration of Eucharist on Tuesday, 2 July to conclude the conference is also the opening event of the Summer School. 

Celebrating 50th Summer School of the Irish Church Music Association
                                                  1 July - 5 July 2019


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The Irish Church Music Association celebrates its 50th Summer School July 2019.  The celebration will begin on Monday, 1 July and conclude on Friday, 5 July in St Patrick's College, Maynooth.  Part one of the celebration will being with a two day conference, 1-2 July and continuing into the Summer School Tuesday evening, 2 July.  The two day- conference will be held in association with the National Centre for Liturgy.  The guest director is Fr. Michael Joncas, well known to all Irish Church Musicians.

The theme: Rejoice and Sing to celebrate 50 years of the Summer School will remember, celebrate and look forward to the future.

To mark the beginning of the 50 years celebration a special launch will take place on Thursday, 31 January in Holy Cross College, Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3 at 7.00 p.m. This event is held in conjunction with the launch of Canaimis - Ceol don Aifreann.





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Celebrating 50 Years of Irish Church Music Association 1969-2019

Summer School 2019 marks the 50th Summer School of the Irish Church Music Association.  The celebration of the 50 years will take place in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare from Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July 2019.  The guest director and speaker will be Fr Michael Joncas.  The launch of this great event will take place later in the Autumn.



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SUMMER SCHOOL 2017


The Irish Church Music Association held its 48th successful Summer School in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare 5 July - 8 July 2017.  Up to 200 participants from all over the country attended the Summer School and one participant from Preston, England, a past student of the National Centre for Liturgy.  Órla Barry, Ballinteer, Co. Dublin was the guest director.  She director the Summer School in 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2011 for the launch of Sing the Mass.



The Tutors and organists who presented very substantial and informative workshops to the participants of the Summer School of the Iriish Church Music Association were Fr Liam Lawton, Ephrem Feeley, Bernard Sexton, Sharon Lyons, Karen O'Donovan, Sarah Waldron, Fr Columba McCann OSB, Regina Deacy, James Murphy, Derek Mahady.

As the theme of the Summer School was Joy for the World, preparing for the World Meeting of Families 2018, special workshops were presented by Martin Kennedy, Petra Conroy and Fr Tim Bartlett, Secretary General.  Fr Bartlett presided over the Festive Eucharist on Friday, 8 July, celebrating the joy of the family.  The newly composed anthem for WMF 2018, Joy for all the Earth,composed by Ephrem Feeley, was used for this special occasion.



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Regional Gathering, Pastoral Centre, Cavan, 16 May 2017

The Irish Church Music Association held its second Regional Gathering of musicians, choir members and directors in the Pastoral Centre, Cavan on Tuesday evening. Music directors were Derek Mahady and Paul Flynn. Co-ordinators - Fr Turlough Baxter, Sr Moira Bergin and Seán Coll, director of the Pastoral Centre. Bishop Leo O'Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore welcomed all the participants to the Pastoral Centre, Cavan.  The participatns represented the Dioceses of Kilcome, Clogher and Ardagh & Clonmacnois.

A newly composed Psalm for The Ascension of the Lord by Paul Flynn was part of the repertoire presented to the participants.  The core music was a selection taken from the Summer School 2016.

The Irish Church Music Association continues on its journey in the Autumn - travelling to Clonmel and Cork.

The Irish Church Music Association sincerely thanks the Pastoral Centre, Cavan, for facilitating the workshop.



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Regional Gathering, Knock, 9 March 2017

The Irish Music Association held its first Regional Gathering of 2017 in Knock, Co. Mayo on Thursday, 9 March 2017.  Up to 80 people attented the workshop.  The music selected was taken from the Summer School 2017 repertoire so that the participants who cannot attend in the summer will have an experience of what happens in Maynooth each July.  The presenters of the evening were: Fr Turlough Baxter, Úna Nolan, CIaran Coll and Sr Moira Bergin.

The Irish Church Music Assocaition sincerely thanks Knock Shrine for facilitating the workshop.




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IRISH CHURCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION SUMMER SCHOOL 2017
      St. Patricks College Maynooth - 5th - 8th July 2017
                                Theme:   Joy for the World
Guest Director : Órla Barry



Órla Barry is a graduate of University College Dublin and the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. and founder of Cantando.

She has worked extensively as a singer, conductor and teacher both here in Ireland and in the United States.  She directed Dublin’s famous Palestrina Choir at the Pro-Cathedral for 6 years and has served as guest conductor for Chamber Choir Ireland (formally The National Chamber Choir) on several occasions.

Órla is very active in the field of liturgical music and has been Guest Director of the annual Church Music Summer School of the Irish Church Music Association many times.  She has adjudicated at national choral competitions and has taught conducting technique and practice in the Department of Music, Maynooth University.  She is Head of Music at St. Raphaela’s Secondary School, Kilmacud.



The Irish Church Music Association warmly welcomes back Órla Barry as guest director for Summer School 2017.


The Summer School will feature: Organ Tutorials; Irish Composers workshops; Cantor training; Resources for World Meeting of Families 2018; Back to Basics workshop - how,why,what,when,who? Special Choir;
Youth Track - NGY Choir.




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Music Workshop 18 February 2017


The Irish Church Music Association held a workshop on Saturday, 18 February 2017 in Renehan Hall, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.  Ephrem Feeley, Irish composer, conducted the workshop.  He presented a wide selection of his compositions to the group, suitable for various occasions: Psalm 99: We are his People; sections of two Mass ssettings - Lucan Mass and Mass of the Good Shepherd; Christ has no Body now but Yours; Fons Vivus, Ignis Caritas; A Blessing on the Young; In the Hand of God; O Christ the Same; The Beatitudes; In the Ending of the Year. 




More information about Ephrem Feeley's music can be obtained from www.cherrybrookmusic.com 




PictureCelebration of Eucharist in the College Chapel with Bishop Francis Duffy as presider
SUMMER SCHOOL 2016


The 47th Summer School of the Irish Church Music Association was held from the 6th of July to the 9th of July in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.  The Summer School celebrated the liturgical life of the Church in Word, song and prayer with Tony Alonso as guest on the team of directors.  200 people from all over the country attended.

The Music Director Team consisted of Tony Alonso (USA), Fr Paul Kenny, Ian Callanan, Ciaran Coll, Karen O'Donovan, Sarah Waldron and Sharon Lyons. Other Tutors were Regina Deacy, Dominic Finn and Eoin Tierney on the organ.  
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This year had 'God Full of Mercy' as its focus and introduced the participants to both music and rituals that will be of use over the remainder of the Year of Mercy.  The programme included a blend of contemporary and traditional choral pieces with emphasis on Psalms; Sacraments; Ritual and Music for the Liturgical Year in schools.  The workshops provided opportunities to develop the skills of cantors, organists and instrumentalists in addition to parish choirs and folk groups. Optional Tutorials such as Choral Singing, Instruments at Prayer and Organ Tuition. The New Generation Youth Choir met each day, providing them with a special time and space to learn and explore explore new music and to pray.

The Summer School was officially opened and the  liturgy to bless the Door of Mercy were presided over by Fr Turlough Baxter.  Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Word and Eucharist were celebrated over the course of the four days. Wednesday Evening's Liturgy of the Word to commemorate the 1916 Rising and the Battle of the Somme was presided over by Fr Danny Murphy, director fo the National Centre for Liturgy.  (See HOME page: www.liturgy-ireland.ie for Liturgy of the Word).  Bishop Francis, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois presided over Eucharist on Thursday, 7 July.  Fr Paul Kenny presided on Friday, when a special commemoration was made to mark the death of Fr Jerry Threadgold and Grace Lyons who died March and June 2016 respectively.  (For further details read NEWS)  

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the 200 participants who attended the Summer School this year and in particular to those who sponsored participants. Your presence and participation made it a truly uplifting and prayerful weekend.

A special word of thanks to the tutors, music directors, organisers and to our guest director, Tony Alonso, whose skill, enthusiasm and warmth enabled the singing participants to grow in confidence by opening up the guiding principles of Liturgy and Music.

We hope that the 200 participants at Summer School 2016 from parishes and schools were renewed with understanding, energy and enthusiasm in their music ministry. To all who attended for the first time this year, our wish is that you found the experience enjoyable and worthwhile.

A small insight into the workshops directed by Sharon Lyons and Fr Paul Kenny

Year of Mercy -Selection of Music
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Download:       Misericordes Sicut Pater by Paul Inwood​
                         Holy Year of Mercy Hymn by Paul Inwood
​                         Let Us Love by Moira Bergin RSM
​                         Hold Us In Your Mercy by Ian Callinan
                         Be Merciful by Ian Callinan
                         The Lord Is Compassion and Love (Ps 102) by Oliver Hynes


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