NEWS
24 October 2017
Gertie McCabe R.I.P.
The Irish Church Music Association announces the death of Gertie McCabe on Tuesday, 24 October.
Gertie McCabe was a life long member of the Irish Church Music Association and Council Member over the years. She dedicated many years to the task of membership secretary of the Association and was present at all Annual Summer Schools. She was a dedicated second level teacher in Omagh until her retirement. Gertie's warm, gentle and friendly presence to all participants at the Summer School will be greatly missed in the future. May she rest in peace.
Gertie McCabe R.I.P.
The Irish Church Music Association announces the death of Gertie McCabe on Tuesday, 24 October.
Gertie McCabe was a life long member of the Irish Church Music Association and Council Member over the years. She dedicated many years to the task of membership secretary of the Association and was present at all Annual Summer Schools. She was a dedicated second level teacher in Omagh until her retirement. Gertie's warm, gentle and friendly presence to all participants at the Summer School will be greatly missed in the future. May she rest in peace.
SUMMER SCHOOL 6-9 JULY 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Irish Church Music Association holds its 47th Summer School from Wednesday, July 6 to Saturday, July 9, 2016 in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The theme for Summer School 2016 is God Full of Mercy. One of the presenters at Summer School 2016 will be Tony Alonso. Tony Alonso is one of the most prominent voices in contemporary liturgical music. His music reflects an understanding of the multicultural needs of the contemporary church as well as a commitment to strong ritual music. In addition to several published collections of liturgical music, Tony’s music appears in compilations and hymnals throughout the world. Tony has shared his musical gifts as well as his love and knowledge of liturgy at conferences and events across North America and Europe. He is also the published author of several books and articles related to liturgy and liturgical music. Tony holds a Bachelor of Music degree in choral conducting from Northwestern University and a Master of Arts degree in theology from Loyola Marymount University. An emerging theologian, Tony is currently pursuing a PhD in the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is focusing on liturgical and ritual studies. The Irish Church Music Association welcomes Tony Alonso to Ireland to be part of its festival of music, song, prayer and celebration. |
This years programme includes a blend of contemporary and traditional choral pieces with emphasis on Psalms, Sacraments, Ritual and Music for the Liturgical Year in schools. The workshop repertoire will provide 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 will meet each day, providing them with a special time and space to learn and explore new music.
The Music Director Team consists of Tony Alonso (USA), Fr Paul Kenny, Ian Callanan, Ciaran Coll, Karen O'Donovan, Sarah Waldron and Sharon Lyons. |
Father Jerry Threadgold R.I.P.
Fr Jerry Threadgold died on 7 March 2016 after a long illness. Born in 1937 in Dalkey, Co Dublin Jerry studied at Clonliffe College and was ordained priest in 1962. He did post-graduate studies in music at the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music in Rome, 1962-65 and returned to Clonliffe College as professor of music. He was also lecturer in sacred music at the newly established Mater Dei Institute of Education. He held these until his appointment in 1988 as parish priest of Bayside, a parish that had been established from Baldoyle nine years earlier. He became parish priest of Corpus Christi parish, Drumcondra in 1988, retiring in 1995, due to ill health.
In Clonliffe College and the Mater Dei Institute and in the parishes he served, Jerry was a gentle and inspirational promoter of music in the liturgy. He introduced students to chant and polyphony as well as to contemporary music written for the liturgy by Irish and international composers. He directed music for many diocesan occasions in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral and on the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, with the Dublin Lourdes Choir he founded in 1972. He was a founder member in 1969 of the Irish Church Music Association and was a long-serving member of the Advisory Committee on Church Music.
Jerry was director of music for the Mass with Pope John Paul II at the Phoenix Park in 1979. With the late Fr Brian Magee, he did tireless work in helping religious communities and groups of lay people to understand and pray the Liturgy of the Hours as the Church’s prayer. He edited the Veritas Hymnal, first published in 1973, a task which demanded of Jerry ‘energy and initiative, knowledge and experience,’ to use the words of its introduction by Professor Anthony Hughes. He was instrumental in commissioning the four new Mass settings from the Irish composers in 1976 –Seóirse Bodley (Mass of Peace), T. C. Kelly (Mass for Peace), Fintan O’Carroll (Mass of the Immaculate Conception) and Gerard Victory (Mass of the Resurrection) and the two settings of the Advent O Antiphons by Seóirse Bodley and Gerard Victory. May he rest in peace.
Fr Jerry Threadgold died on 7 March 2016 after a long illness. Born in 1937 in Dalkey, Co Dublin Jerry studied at Clonliffe College and was ordained priest in 1962. He did post-graduate studies in music at the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music in Rome, 1962-65 and returned to Clonliffe College as professor of music. He was also lecturer in sacred music at the newly established Mater Dei Institute of Education. He held these until his appointment in 1988 as parish priest of Bayside, a parish that had been established from Baldoyle nine years earlier. He became parish priest of Corpus Christi parish, Drumcondra in 1988, retiring in 1995, due to ill health.
In Clonliffe College and the Mater Dei Institute and in the parishes he served, Jerry was a gentle and inspirational promoter of music in the liturgy. He introduced students to chant and polyphony as well as to contemporary music written for the liturgy by Irish and international composers. He directed music for many diocesan occasions in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral and on the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, with the Dublin Lourdes Choir he founded in 1972. He was a founder member in 1969 of the Irish Church Music Association and was a long-serving member of the Advisory Committee on Church Music.
Jerry was director of music for the Mass with Pope John Paul II at the Phoenix Park in 1979. With the late Fr Brian Magee, he did tireless work in helping religious communities and groups of lay people to understand and pray the Liturgy of the Hours as the Church’s prayer. He edited the Veritas Hymnal, first published in 1973, a task which demanded of Jerry ‘energy and initiative, knowledge and experience,’ to use the words of its introduction by Professor Anthony Hughes. He was instrumental in commissioning the four new Mass settings from the Irish composers in 1976 –Seóirse Bodley (Mass of Peace), T. C. Kelly (Mass for Peace), Fintan O’Carroll (Mass of the Immaculate Conception) and Gerard Victory (Mass of the Resurrection) and the two settings of the Advent O Antiphons by Seóirse Bodley and Gerard Victory. May he rest in peace.
Grace Lyons R.I.P.
Grace Lyons died on 14 June 2016 after a short illness. Grace started singing in church choirs while still at the Presentation Sisters’ school in Warrenmount, Dublin -in the parish choirs of Francis Street, Rialto and Dolphin’s Barn and, after school years, in Donore Avenue. Grace married and took up residence in Rialto and later became director of the parish choir, giving over 25 years of dedicated service. During this time she was a member of the Dublin Diocesan Music Commission and acted as a cantor at the Pro-Cathedral.
For over forty years, Grace was a member of Our Lady’s Choral Society, singing with them on many memorable occasions like the Mass with Pope John Paul II in the Phoenix Park, their visit to Rome in 1975 and again in 1992 at the beatification of the Irish Martyrs. She was a founding member of the Dublin Lourdes Choir, established by Fr Jerry Threadgold in 1972 and she travelled to Lourdes each September since as a cantor and choir member. Grace was a member of the Irish Church Music Association serving as a council member, secretary and chairperson at different times over the past 35 years.
In more recent years she directed the music in Ballybrack parish, and for the past fifteen years, had been director of music in Booterstown parish.
Grace was awarded the Bene Merenti Medal for over fifty years service to Church Music by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. May she rest in peace.
Grace Lyons died on 14 June 2016 after a short illness. Grace started singing in church choirs while still at the Presentation Sisters’ school in Warrenmount, Dublin -in the parish choirs of Francis Street, Rialto and Dolphin’s Barn and, after school years, in Donore Avenue. Grace married and took up residence in Rialto and later became director of the parish choir, giving over 25 years of dedicated service. During this time she was a member of the Dublin Diocesan Music Commission and acted as a cantor at the Pro-Cathedral.
For over forty years, Grace was a member of Our Lady’s Choral Society, singing with them on many memorable occasions like the Mass with Pope John Paul II in the Phoenix Park, their visit to Rome in 1975 and again in 1992 at the beatification of the Irish Martyrs. She was a founding member of the Dublin Lourdes Choir, established by Fr Jerry Threadgold in 1972 and she travelled to Lourdes each September since as a cantor and choir member. Grace was a member of the Irish Church Music Association serving as a council member, secretary and chairperson at different times over the past 35 years.
In more recent years she directed the music in Ballybrack parish, and for the past fifteen years, had been director of music in Booterstown parish.
Grace was awarded the Bene Merenti Medal for over fifty years service to Church Music by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. May she rest in peace.
IRISH CHURCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 28 NOVEMBER 2015
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Church Music Association was held on Saturday, 28 November 2015 in St Patrick's College, Maynooth. The motion to change the status of the Association to a limited company by guarantee was unanimously passed by the members.
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Church Music Association was held on Saturday, 28 November 2015 in St Patrick's College, Maynooth. The motion to change the status of the Association to a limited company by guarantee was unanimously passed by the members.
