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Heritage Week in Ireland
Heritage Week in Ireland - a deeply moving journey of welcome, remembrance, and quiet historical healing.
Shirley
8/31/20261 min read
Heritage Week in Ireland
Annette and I are pleased to share that Heritage Week in Ireland was an amazing success, and far exceeding anything we could have imagined, thanks to Liam our Irish team member and your prayers.
Naas Library & Cultural Centre - A Warm Beginning
Our first event here set the tone for the entire week. Warm and welcoming. Some even expressed afterwards how deeply the message resonated with them and the importance of bringing truth, compassion, and historical restoration together.
Johnston Castle, Wexford - A Powerful Symbol of Restoration
Second event was at Johnston Castle, a beautiful building where Cromwell stayed before his invasion of Wexford. I often speak of doing things in the opposite spirit to Cromwell. For instance, waiting outside of the town to be invited in, the opposite to invasion. This time without them knowing the significance they invited us through the main gate and escorted us up to the castle. They represented the spirit we seek to express. It felt symbolic, almost prophetic. It was a privilege to speak there. Many shared how moved they were, even though the message was not what they expected. Comments from Fr Finn, Georgina, and Stephen Forbes, all of whom travelled to Barbados with us in 2008, made the day even more meaningful.
St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare - A Gathering That Became a Moment of Healing
Our final gathering was in an almost packed Cathedral in Kildare and gave me a moment I will carry with me for a very long time. As I spoke, I watched people quietly wiping tears, others visibly moved by the weight of the story. As I read the letter of apology, it became clear that this was far more than a talk — it was a moment of healing, a reclaiming of a story that had been silent for centuries. Afterwards many came to express their gratitude and a few to say they accepted the apology.
What happened in this week felt like history finally being heard, and hearts finally being opened to those who were once forgotten.
Shirley
