Theophilus Bolton was one of the more remarkable Church of Ireland clerics in the early 18th century. An opponent of Dean Swift and an object of suspicion by the English administration, he later became Archbishop of Cashel, where he built a new palace and provided a water supply for the city. He is best known however, for his library which, he bequeathed to the clergy and diocese of Cashel. The collection of over 12,000 volumes is varied in content but is particularly rich in law and theology.
Unfortunately, Bolton did not provide for the maintenance of the library and its upkeep has been a constant challenge. As part of the ongoing support of the collection, the Cashel Millennium Book Fair will begin on the evening of Friday, September 8th, and will continue on Saturday, September 9th.
An illustrated lecture, Treasures of the Bolton Library, is the opening event and will be delivered by Mr George Cunningham, chairman of the board of management of the library. On Saturday, in the Deanery School, Cashel, there will be valuations by Mr Fonsie Mealy, the well-known fine art auctioneer from Castlecomer. Readings for younger and older children will be given by award-winning children's writer, Mary Arrigan, and by Michael Coady a poet and short-story writer, who is a member of Aosdana.
The fair which will close on Saturday night with an organ recital and concert by the Dean of Cashel, Dr Phillip Knowles, and soloists.
Tomorrow, the Right Rev Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, will visit Mividdy, while in Co Wicklow, the Rector of Clondalkin, the Rev Paul Houstan will preach at the Harvest Festival in St Bartholomew's Church, Conary. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will preach twice in Dublin. At evensong in St Patrick's Cathedral he will give the eighth address in the series, "Hopes for the New Millennium" and later in Christ Church Cathedral he will preach at the Eucharist to mark the 10th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Church of Ireland.
On Monday and Tuesday in the Church of Ireland Theological College, there will be a training conference for all ordained women and for women who are in training for the ordained ministry. The principal speaker will be the theologian Mrs Anne Thurston. On Tuesday and Wednesday the bishops will meet in Dublin.
On Thursday, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, there will be a lunchtime recital of choral music by Bergens Handelssamfunds Sangforening from Norway. Following evensong, there will be a short recital by Prof Gerard Gillen, after which he will launch Organ Music from St Patrick's Cathedral, a CD recorded by the cathedral's assistant organist, David Leigh.
The Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Dr Robert MacCarthy, has announced that the Rev Charles Mullen, Rector of Gorey, is to be the new Dean's Vicar. Mr Mullen will succeed the Rev Peter Campion who has returned to Canada. He will begin work in St Patrick's in early October.