Tag Archives: Ennis Cathedral

EXCITEMENT is mounting amongst Cantare Choir members as rehearsals are in full swing for the Cantare Choir with Orchestra Vivaldi’s Gloria Summer Concert taking place in Ennis Cathedral on Saturday, May 11 at 8pm. While the programme features the uplifting 12 movements of Vivaldi’s Gloria (RV 589) with full orchestral accompaniment, it also showcases some wonderful favourites, such as Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and Summer from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, to name but two of the many pieces selected for performance. The choir and orchestra will be joined by celebrated vocal soloists Regina Nathan, Helen Houlihan and Ruth Kelly, while Kerry violinist, Hannah O’Shea, and organist Eoin Shanahan from Quilty also perform solo pieces in what is being described as “an unforgettable evening of musical excellence”. Musical Director is the renowned Michael Hennessy, and Master of Ceremonies will be the esteemed Nigel Bridge. The proceeds of this enchanting evening will be in support of two worthy charities, Sláinte an …

THE unmarked graves of at least four people have been discovered inside the Ennis Cathedral. The graves, which are located beneath the floor of the main cathedral, are understood to be more than 100 years old, and may have been the resting places of local priests and bishops. The burial sites were uncovered during ongoing works to remove a vinyl floor covering from the cathedral. This covering was installed in 1973 and it is unclear if the graves were known about before the covering was installed. Each of the four graves were identified by a distinctive cross pattern in the original tile floor, located beneath the vinyl covering. Land for the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was donated to the diocese in 1828 and the building itself was constructed in various stages between 1828 and 1894. Mass was first celebrated in the church in 1842, and it is not clear exactly when during this period the original tile flooring …

ENNIS Cathedral Choir Director Fiona Walsh is hopeful a new musical programme launched this month will strike the right note when it comes to reinvigorating cathedral choral singing. The new Ennis Cathedral programme offers singing opportunities for youngsters, teenagers and adults with Fiona telling us, “We are really trying to elevate the music in the Cathedral and to attract people who really enjoy singing and give them an opportunity to get involved.” She adds, “A huge amount of choirs couldn’t really operate during Covid, we had music at the Cathedral but this is a way for us to get people back singing together.” Part of the new programme will be monthly performances at a special Sunday mass of music by the great church composers Mozart, Mozart, Gounod, Hadyn and Jenkins. Singers interested in joining the choir in delivering this programme are being encouraged to get involved. The adult choir is also actively recruiting 20 male and female teenage voices from …

LAST Sunday, September 4 marked an historic day in the life of the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul in Ennis. It was on September 4, 1842 that the then Parish Priest Dean Terence O’Shaughnessy celebrated the first Mass in the O’Connell Street Church. Although the church was far from complete, it was a great day for the 82-year-old parish priest as the financial burden of the project had been enormous at a time when many parishioners were living in extreme poverty. The decision to build a new church was taken at a parish meeting in 1821. Seven years later, Francis Gore, a Protestant, donated a site on the edge of the town for a nominal rent. Dean O’Shaughnessy sensed that the Church to be built would one day become the Cathedral Church of the Diocese as it was very probable that Ennis would become the future residence of the Bishop of Killaloe. In the summer of 1828 there was …

ANGELA Lyne, a name synonymous with the success of some of Ennis’ most well known businesses, has been remembered as “inspirational and a woman ahead of her time” as she was laid to rest this week. Mrs Lyne (nee Canny) played a key role in The Queens Hotel, Cruises Bar, Restaurant and nightclub and the Auburn Lodge on the Gort Road alongside her husband Robert, known to most as Bob. Mourners gathered at Ennis Cathedral to say their final goodbyes to the mother of five on Tuesday. Paying tribute her son Riobard remarked it was appropriate the funeral was taking pace on the longest day of the year. “Mam, for decades, would be up before dawn and finish late in the night. It would seem for her that there was not enough hours in the day.” He recalled his mother’s early years in Tullabrack near Kilrush, and her move to Listowel to work as a telephone operator. She was then …

THE ordination of Croatian native Antun Pasalic into the priesthood at the weekend was described as a “unique joy” by Bishop Fintan Monahan. Antun’s parents, Marko and Anđa, and his family, travelled from Croatia to be present at his ordination on Sunday in Ennis’ Cathedral of St Peter and Paul. Following his ordination, Fr Antun celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving in the Cathedral on Monday evening. In his homily at the ordination Bishop Monahan recalled how in 2016 he did the pilgrim climb of Croagh Patrick in County Mayo and Antun was on the climb with him that day. “Little did I think then that we would share the Pilgrim Path as colleagues in the Diocese of Killaloe. It is a unique joy for me to ordain him today and it is an immense joy too for the priests, religious and people of the diocese. May we continue together on the pilgrim path of Antun’s divine call to priesthood …

ON Sunday, December 5 at 7pm there will be an evening of candlelit song at Ennis Cathedral. The event will include a selection of Advent hymns, poetry and music performed by familiar faces and voices. The candlelight evening will see Ennis Cathedral Musicians and singers tell the story of Advent through music and song. Entry is free but donations if desired to the Cathedral Renovation appeal.

THE first interment of ashes has taken place at the new columbarium at the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul. Ennis Cathedral is the first Cathedral in the country to offer a columbarium for the interment of ashes. The development of the columbarium was approved by the Pastoral and Finance Committees of Ennis Parish last year while planning permission was granted by Clare County Council. Local builders Michael Clancy and Michael McInerney recently installed the facility which was consecrated as a place of rest by Bishop Fintan last month. On Saturday the ashes of Michael Fitzgerald were the first to be interred in the Columbarium in a ceremony led by Fr Tom Ryan. Mr Fitzgerald, who passed away in August made the decision with his wife Ann and his family that he would be cremated and interred in the Cathedral. Mary Quinn, who was married to Ann Fitzgerald’s brother Jim and who died in London in May 2019, was also …