On 24th January 2024, I attended the Memorial Ceremony in the Unitarian Church on St. Stephen’s Green which followed the Council meeting earlier that morning.
The Memorial Ceremony has been running for many years. During Covid, it was virtual, and a legacy of that time is that the Ceremony was also streamed for those who could not attend in person. The Ceremony was led with great dignity by Reverend Bridget Spain. There were brief introductions by our CEO and myself; a reading by Brendan Kennelly, read by our Secretary, Gráinne Ní Ghairbhí; a lighting of candles by our Past President, Paul Armstrong, another poignant reading by Derek Mahon, which I read; and then central to the Ceremony, was the reading of the names of deceased members by Board member, Christina Warren.
This year we remembered:
I include an extract from my reading:
How should I not be glad to contemplate the clouds clearing beyond the dormer window and a high tide reflected on the ceiling?
There will be dying, there will be dying, but there is no need to go into that.
The poems flow from the hand unbidden and the hidden source is the watchful heart.
The sun rises in spite of everything and the far cities are beautiful and bright.
I lie here in a riot of sunlight watching the daybreak and the clouds flying.
Everything is going to be all right.
I found myself quite emotional reading the last line; I have a strong urge to show compassion to the bereaved, knowing many of those who have gone before, as I do.
Throughout, the ceremony there was euphonious music and singing provided by Ms Róisín Ní Bhriain and Fionola Roche sang a beautiful piece by Richard Gillard to end our Ceremony.
Thanks must go to Carmen Egli and Yvonne Costello for the organising of the 2024 Memorial Ceremony.