Irish Research Council Supporting Irish Dominican History

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The Irish Research Council has awarded a New Foundations grant to Dr Eleanor Giraud (University of Limerick) and the Irish Province of Dominican Friars, to fund a new project entitled ‘Mapping the manuscript and cultural heritage of the Dominican Order in Ireland’. The New Foundations scheme aims to promote collaboration between civic society organisations and academic researchers. Dr Giraud is a scholar of international standing in the field of medieval chant, with special expertise in the Dominican musical tradition.

Dr Eleanor Giraud (UL), expert in Dominican chant (photo: Fran May)

The grant coincides with preparations for the celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the arrival of Dominican friars in Ireland in 1224, a milestone in Irish history, and the history of Christianity in Ireland. Since their arrival, Dominican friars have been active across Ireland, in towns and in the countryside, across boundaries of class, and ethnicity, and language, shaping the moral and spiritual imaginations of Irish people through their preaching, liturgy, and pastoral work.

With the help of this grant, Dr Giraud and her Dominican collaborators will create a network of scholars interested in the medieval heritage of Irish Dominican friars, and will oversee the digitisation of extant manuscripts which once belonged (or probably belonged) to Irish Dominican communities, and are now found in various British libraries. These manuscripts include two 13th- or 14th-century Bibles, with fascinating paratextual material; a book from Limerick containing French-language material and an abundance of marginal doodles; and a book containing early Hiberno-English and some wonderful caricatures of Dominican friars. Once they’re digitised, these manuscripts will be freely accessible to the scholarly community, and to the public.

To stay up to date with the project, keep an eye on our website (dominicans.ie) and on our social media accounts (‘Irish Dominicans’ on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).

New YouTube Series Launched

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Treasure Ireland – that’s the name of a new series on the YouTube channel of the Irish Dominicans. It’s premise is that this island of ours is a rich repository of Christian heritage, and that it just takes a little digging to find some precious gems.

As part of this series, presenter Conor McDonough OP, and cameraman and editor, Patrick Grant, will be travelling to all 32 counties, telling stories about people and places to inspire, entertain, and challenge the Church of today.

You can expect saints and sinners, knights and writers, ancient relics and round towers, hidden valleys and homeless shelters, disembodied heads, demon-fighting monks, pioneering scientists, and much, much more. Click on the video below to find out more, and subscribe to our channel to stay up to date.

Br Ruaidhri Grieve OP Ordained to the Diaconate

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On Saturday 24 November our brother, Ruaidhri Grieve OP, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.

As a deacon, Br Ruaidhri’s task will include ‘assisting the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, distributing Holy Communion, assisting at and blessing marriages, proclaiming the Gospel and preaching, presiding over funerals, and dedicating himself to various ministries of charity’ (CCC 1570).

During the ordination, Bishop Eamonn laid hands on Br Ruaidhri and asked God to bless him with “[an abundance of] every Gospel virtue: unfeigned love, concern for the sick and poor, unassuming authority, the purity of innocence, and the observance of spiritual discipline”.

Fr John Harris OP, the Prior Provincial, has assigned Br Ruaidhri to our priory in Tralee, where he will exercise his diaconal ministry before his ordination as a priest.

(Photos by Br Sean Blackwell OP).

Three Dominican Novices Make Simple Profession

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On Thursday 15 September, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, in St Mary’s Church, Pope’s Quay, Cork, three Dominican novices – Br Charles (Sean) Hurley OP, Br Michael Donohue OP, and Br Joseph McGinty OP – made their first profession in the hands of the Prior Provincial of Ireland, Fr John Harris OP. These vows, which brought their novitiate to an end, are temporary, and will become permanent when they make solemn profession. These brothers have moved from Cork to Dublin, and will begin their studies in St Saviour’s Priory, Dublin. Pray for them as they make this transition!

Three Men Enter the Dominican Novitiate

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On Wednesday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, three young men were clothed in the Dominican habit in St Mary’s Church, Pope’s Quay, Cork. The three men – David O’Donnell (Cork), Aidan O’Connor (Tipperary), and John Melvin (Donegal) – received the habit from the Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris OP, thus beginning their novitiate. This year-long period of probation, under the guidance of the Novice Master, Fr Philip Mulryne OP, is focussed on prayer, community life, and becoming familiar with the customs, traditions, and saints of the Dominican Order.

As these brothers were being clothed in the habit, the ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ was sung, calling down the Spirit on them as they begin this year of walking in the footsteps of St Dominic. Please continue to call on the aid of the Holy Spirit for these novices, as they grow in the life of grace.

Solemn Professions in Dublin

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Four Dominican friars took vows of obedience for life in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin, last Sunday. Brs Benedict McGlinchey OP, Ruaidhri Grieve OP, Błażej Białek OP, and Chris Gault OP, surrounded by family and friends, made solemn profession in the hands of John Harris OP, Prior Provincial of the Irish Province.

The vows themselves included, as is traditional, a promise of obedience to God, to the Blessed Virgin, to St Dominic, and to the Master of the Order and his successors. In a particularly powerful moment, after the Gospel, the brothers making profession prostrated themselves on the floor and were asked by the Provincial: “What do you seek?” Together they answered: “God’s mercy and yours”.

Drawing on the Gospel of the Day, the parable of the Prodigal Son, Fr Harris called on these four friars to live their Dominican lives imitating the mercy of the father in that parable, the mercy that they themselves had sought in joining the Order of Preachers.

All four brothers are also preparing for priestly ordination. Please keep their continued formation in your prayers, and pray for more Dominican vocations!

Two Irish Dominican Friars Ordained to the Priesthood

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Sunday last, September 4, saw the ordination to the priesthood of Dominican friars, Anthony Kavanagh and Kellan Scott. A very large number gathered in St Saviour’s, Dublin, for the joyful occasion, with the crowd spilling out into the street. Dominican friars from across Ireland – and beyond – concelebrated the Mass of Ordination, along with priests from the dioceses of Dublin and Meath.

Bishop Tom Deenihan of Meath the ordaining prelate, preached a homily on the importance of generosity, determination, and sacrifice in the life of a priest today. Drawing on the Gospel of the day (Luke 14:25-33), Bishop Deenihan reminded the ordinands that they were called by Christ to take up their crosses, and to willingly and lovingly make sacrifices each day of their priestly lives.

The newly-ordained priests have received their first assignations from the Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris. Fr Kellan will be going to San Clemente, Rome, to complete his studies, and Fr Anthony will begin work as chaplain at Newbridge College.

We ask your prayers for these brothers of ours as they begin their priestly ministry.

Album of Dominican Music Available Now on Spotify

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O Spem Miram, an album of hymns and chant from the Dominican tradition, recorded and launched last year, is now available free of charge here.

Featuring the voices of Dominican friars from around Ireland, and recorded under the baton of Dr John O’Keefe, the album includes traditional chants in honour of St Dominic, such as the ‘O Spem Miram’ and the ‘In Caelesti Hierarchia’, as well as some newer compositions, such as a setting of the Creed by John O’Keefe, and Fr Peter O’Kane’s ‘Ubi Caritas’. The album was recorded in honour of the 800th anniversary of the death of St Dominic, who often encouraged the friars of his time to sing God’s praises ‘fortiter’ (‘loudly’).

Dominican Event in Lisbon

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On Thursday 7 July in the Colégio de Bom Sucesso, Lisbon, a long and distinguished chapter of Dominican life was brought to a dignified close in a seminar hosted by the Irish Embassy in Portugal, and addressed by leading Irish historians.

Marking the departure of Irish Dominican friars from Lisbon in 2021, and that of Irish Dominican sisters in 2016, this event examined two Dominicans in particular – Fr Daniel O’Daly OP (1595–1662) and Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP (1929–2020) – as well as the long history of Irish Dominicans in Portugal more generally.

Prof. Declan Downey (UCD) addressed the gathering on the career and significance of Fr O’Daly, the founder of both communities of Irish Dominicans in Lisbon, Bom Sucesso (nuns) and Corpo Santo (friars). Prof Downey provided a fascinating perspective on the religious and political activity of Fr O’Daly as a well connected and highly effective Irish exile in Counter-Reformation Europe. Dr Bronagh McShane (NUIG), author of the recently published ‘Irish Women in Religious Orders, 1530-1700’, told the story of the sisters of Bom Sucesso, while a panel of speakers, chaired by Dr Christopher Kissane, considered the overall story of Irish Dominicans in Portugal, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Following this seminar, the Portuguese translation of Sr Margaret MacCurtain’s pioneering study of Daniel O’Daly was launched.

Fr John Harris, Prior Provincial of the Irish Dominicans, attended this event and spoke warmly of its significance: ‘Lisbon and the Portuguese gave us a safe place where we could live our religious lives. It was marvellous to hear how we Dominicans gave so much back to the Church and people of Lisbon and Portugal. From 1615 to 2021 the friars gave themselves in service to God in Portugal. We received many blessings and brought many blessings. God be praised’.

Dr Christopher Kissane addressing the seminar.
Ambassador Ralph Victory addressing the seminar.
A gathering in the chapel of the Convento do Bom Sucesso.

Two Dominican Friars Ordained as Deacons in St Saviour’s, Dublin

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On Saturday 5 March in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin, Archbishop Dermot Farrell ordained two Dominican friars, Br Anthony Kavanagh OP and Br Kellan Scott OP, to the order of diaconate.

A large congregation was present to participate in this celebration, along with Dominican friars, sisters, and laity from throughout Ireland. In a sermon rich in references to Dominican authors, the Archbishop outlined the ministry of deacons: they are ‘heralds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ’, their preaching ought to draw on profound prayer, and in carrying out their ministry of service they should ‘live life in response to the needs of others’.

Quoting Pope Francis, Archbishop Farrell called on Brs Anthony and Kellan to be ‘contemplatives, whose closeness to people enables them to proclaim before the wounds of our world the power of the Resurrection at work even now’.

As these brothers advance towards priestly ordination, we invite you to pray for them, that they might live out their diaconal ministry in imitation of ‘the Son of Man, [who] came not to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:8).

We invite you too to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Dominican Order. Our vocations director, Fr Colm Mannion OP, can be contacted at colm.mannion@dominicans.ie and 086-0864420.

(Photos courtesy of Br Sean Blackwell OP).