Church events in January to highlight 1916 centenaries

Two of the main churches in Ireland have organised seminars on the centenary events of 2016 to take place later this month in Dublin, Belfast, and Cork.

The Presbyterian Church has organised a conference for Thursday, January 21st, at Church House, Belfast, from 9.30am.

Exploring the events of 1916 there will be Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys, former moderator of the church Rev Dr Trevor Morrow, Dr Fearghal McGarry and Prof Keith Jeffrey of Queen's University, and commentators Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards and Eamonn Mallie.

In Cork, a public lecture will be given on Friday, January 22nd, by UCD's Prof Diarmaid Ferriter on the topic of 1916: New Perspectives, Old Rows.

Series of events

It is the first of a series of events planned by the Church of Ireland in the dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross to mark the centenary events.

The event, which begins at 7.30pm in UCC's Aula Maxima, will be chaired by Bishop Paul Colton, with other speakers including Dr John Borgonovo of UCC and retired Prof John A Murphy.

On Saturday, January 23rd, in Dublin’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, a one-day symposium will take place to explore how Christians can best honour the past.

The event launches the cathedral's 2016 programme, and starts at 10am in the Lady Chapel.

Ethics of commemoration

Rev Prof Nigel Biggar of Oxford University will explore the ethics of commemoration, while Prof Mary Daly, president of the Royal Irish Academy, will discuss differences between history of the past and the memory of it.

Dr Brad Anderson of Dublin's Mater Dei Institute will offer insights from scripture on commemoration, while UCD's Dr Wolfgang Marx will reflect on how music can stimulate debate about the past.

A spokeswoman for the Catholic bishops said events to mark the 2016 centenaries were being prepared and details would be announced shortly.