The Diocesan Library in Cashel, Co Tipperary, named after its founder Archbishop Theophilus Bolton, is one of the great treasures of the Church of Ireland. Bolton, who was appointed Archbishop of Cashel in 1730 after short spells as Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Elphin, had purchased about 6,000 volumes from the collection of the late Archbishop of Dublin, William King, and these, together with his own books, formed the core of the library which he bequeated for the use of the archbishop of Cashel and the clergy of the diocese for ever.
Today there are some 12,000 books housed in a 19th-century library building beside Cashel Cathedral. The collection is rich in theology, law, medicine and science and includes important examples of the work of the great continental printers of the 16th and 17th centuries.
There is also a small collection of manuscripts.
In the mid 1980s, prompted by the late Dean of Cashel, the Very Rev David Woodworth, the library building was completely refurbished, a conservation programme was initiated and a new catalogue was begun. Dean Woodworth was also investigating the possibility of establishing a link with the University of Limerick but his sudden death in 1994 intervened.
However, under the guidance of the present Dean of Cashel, the Very Rev Dr Philip Knowles, a link with Limerick has been formalised and a committee of management appointed.
The committee, which will report annually to the diocesan trustees, has an initial five-year remit to manage the administration of the library, including financial affairs, and to oversee the use of the collections both in Cashel and Limerick.
The University of Limerick has agreed that the library will always remain in Cashel and will provide technological, cataloguing and academic support for the collections while the Cashel Heritage and Development Trust will support tourism and visitor matters and assist in the day-to-day running of the library.
The patrons of the new scheme are the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Rt Rev John Neill, and the president of the University of Limerick, Dr Edward Walsh, and the committee is composed of representatives of the trustees, the University and Cashel Heritage and Development Trust. The trustees have appointed the Dean of Cashel; the Dean of Waterford, the Very Rev Peter Barrett; Dr Martin Mansergh; Dr Raymond Refausse, librarian and archivist of the Church of Ireland; and Mrs Marion Thompson.
The University will be represented by Mr George Cunningham, chairman of the governing body library development committee, who will be chairman of the committee of management, and Ms Lindsaay Mitchell, acting librarian, Cashel Heritage has appointed Ms Mary Mulvey, Cashel project manager and Dr Patricia Donlon, former director of the National Library of Ireland.
On Easter Day the bishops, by tradition, will preach and celebrate the Eucharist in their diocesan cathedrals. RTE will broad cast an Easter Morning Service from Down Cathedral and will televise a service with the congregation of St Multose's church, Kinsale where the rector is Canon David Williams.
There will be a united Celebration by the Christian Church on Killiney Hill, Co Dublin at 6.33 am while in St Patrick's church, Greystones, the Naugatuck High School Chamber Singers from Connecticut will sing at the Easter Eucharist.
At Evensong in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin the choir will sing the Easter music from Handel's Messiah.
On Monday, the members of the choir of St Bartholomew's Church, Dublin leave for France where they will give concerts in Chartres Cathedral and St George's Anglican church, Paris, as well as singing the services in the Paris churches of La Madeleine and St Sulpice.