Carmelite Friary - Kinsale

THE close affinity between the Order and the community it has served for673 years was further reinforced on Ascension Sunday with the official re-opening DSCN0411and blessing of the renovated and redeveloped Carmelite Friary, Kinsale by Most Rev. John Buckley, D.D., Bishop of Cork and Fr. Fintan Burke, O.Carm, Irish Provincial. It was an occasion for the bishop, on behalf of all the diocese to say thank you to the Carmelites whose presence, he said, was never so important in a consumer age when more and more people were now seeking spiritual satisfaction. He expressed the hope that the new look friary, with its beautiful oratory and centre of prayer and spirituality would inspire more young and not so young people to consider a vocation in the priesthood and religious life. He also spoke of the many luminaries who stayed there, including Blessed Titus Brandsma in 1935, who later died in a Nazi concentration camp in Dachau.

A memorable day in Kinsale’s ecclesiastical history began with a Service of Evening Prayer in the Friary Church at which the choir conducted by Honor O’Brien sang The Lord goes up with shouts of joy, Psalm 108, Sing a new song to the Lord by John Bell, the Magnificat and O bright flower of Carmel, while organist Fr. Simon Nolan O.Carm. played Victimae Paschali Laudes by John McCann. Mayor of Kinsale, Fred Treacy delivered the reading and prayers of intercession were read by Rev. Geraldine Gracie, Methodist; Fr., Myles McSweeney, CC; architect Tom O’Sullivan; Mercy Sr. Mary McAuliffe and Canon David Williams, Church of Ireland. Prayers were also said by Fr. Burke, Provincial and the bishop gave the final blessing.

Over four years ago, when the Provincial Council considered the future of its house in Kinsale, there was a clear wish that it should remain in the town but also an acceptance of the need to improve the building which was a valuable part of both the Orders and Kinsale’s heritage. Recognising the fact that the friary was a focal point in the community, a new feature of the redeveloped house was a centre for prayer and spirituality. Fr. Burke also thanked everyone associated with the project, especially Fr. Keating and joined with the prior in thanking the people of Kinsale for their good wishes, support and encouragement.

Mayor of Kinsale, Fred Treacy, accompanied by his wife Irene, said he always regarded the Carmelites as a community which looked out to the people saying your’e welcome in a true act of faith, hope, love and charity. On behalf of the people of Kinsale, he thanked the Order for its wonderful ministry for the past 673 years, which had endeared its members to the local people and welcomed its commitment to continue this through the redevelopment of the friary.

The blessing ceremony featured a short historical narrative by Fr. Keating, music by The Corrigans and the unfurling by Laura O’Donovan, Ciara Finn, Lucy and Emily Fitzgerald of two banners designed by Pamela Hardesty, assisted by Georgina Hutton. The first banner displayed in Latin and English, the Carmelite motto “I am filled with zeal for the Lord God of Hosts” and the second was adorned with flowers attached by local people symbolising the Flowers of Mary of Mount Carmel and the new friary White balloons were also released into the sky.

Everyone was invited to tour the friary and enjoy excellent refreshments provided by office and house volunteers, those known affectionately as Fr. Patsy’s scrubbers and other helpers and there was more traditional music with Declan Corrigan and his children Ferdia, Eanna, Fiachra and Oisin attended

The attendance included town councillors Mary Evans, Dermot Collins and Billy Lynch; Carmelite Fathers Stan Hession, Lar Lynch and Frank McAleese, Kinsale; Fr. Gerry Galvin from Zimbabwe and Carmelites from its houses in Dublin, Kildare, Tipperary and Westmeath including Frs. Bene O’Callaghan (former Kinsale prior), Paddy Staunton, Des Kelly, Peter Keogh, Martin Kilmurray, Joe Mothersill, Michael Troy, Richard Byrne and Eoin Moore and Bro. David Tuohy. Other guests included Henrick Walter Storff of Tom O’Sullivan Architects; Gerard O’Leary and John Thuillier, Parish Assembly, Tim O’Donovan, Roma Peare, Billy Magahran, Dermot Ryan, and Michael Cronin.

Features of the new look three-storey friary retaining much of the character of the original house built in 1880 include an oratory looking out to a rectangular pool of water and garden to the rear, a new lecture hall, office, library, atrium, residents self catering accommodation, bathroom, kitchen/cafeteria lift and utility rooms. Tasteful use of glass affords magnificent views of the harbour town and friary gardens with its landmark bell near the church. Architect of the much admired building is Tom O’Sullivan, Kinsale.