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Early Irish Hand-Bells Revisited Video
The videos of the keynote lecture Early Irish Hand-Bells Revisited from the 2023 Columbanus Festival are now on-line to view at the link below.
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Columbanus Festival 2023
Bells Ring Out for Columbanus Festival The theme of ‘Bells’ will resonate throughout the Columbanus Festival, an annual event that commemorates the life and legacy of Columbanus, from 24 -26 November in Bangor. The programme includes bell ringing, bell print workshops, a monastic bell lecture, and a bell walk. Deborah Girvan, chairwoman of Friends of…
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Bangor to Bobbio (2023)
On Thursday 21st September 2023 I embarked on my own pilgrimage journey from Bangor to Bobbio. I was invited to participate in the European Heritage Weekend organised by Manuela Bertoncini, along with Derry Healy, Dr Alexander O’Hara, Beatriz Devicenteferri, Lettizia Roverere and Catriona McEhlynney Grimes. The purpose of my visit was twofold: as a member…
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Visit to the St Patrick’s Centre and County Down Museum in Downpatrick
On the 15th September 2023 a group from Bangor Friends of Columbanus travelled to Downpatrick to visit the County Down Museum and the newly updated visitor galleries in the St Patrick’s Centre. FoCB member and former Director of the Down Museum, Mike King, led a fascinating tour of the Museum including giving a detailed explanation…
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Brittany Comes to Bangor
Friends of Columbanus Bangor welcomed 43 members of Les Amis Breton de Columban to Bangor on Sunday 10 September. After mass at St Comgall’s Church, Father Gunn gave a talk on the icons of the Bangor Saints before inviting them for tea and biscuits in the Paish Hall where they were entertained by Ards CCE…
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Columban Way gains more support from local politicians
Friends of Columbanus Bangor are continuing their campaign to lobby politicians from Northern Ireland political parties to gain support for the development of the Columban Way. Deborah Girvan, Chairwoman of Friends of Columbanus Bangor said, “In the last few weeks we have met Harry Harvey, DUP MLA for Strangford, and members of Sinn Fein including…
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Politicians Support the Columban Way
Deborah Girvan, Chairwoman of Friends of Columbanus Bangor has welcomed support from local politicians for the development of the Columban Way in Northern Ireland. Naomi Long MLA, leader of the Alliance Party, and Ards and North Down UUP Councillor Philip Smith, recently pledged their support by signing the Columban Charter for Partnership. In addition, they…
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Handover of Columban Charter of Partnership Signatures in St Gallen, Switzerland
661 signatures of support for the Columban Charter of Partnership from Northern Ireland were handed over at the official European launch in St Gallen, Switzerland, on 7 July 2023. The prestigious event was attended by over 90 people representing Friends of Columbanus groups from across Europe. The portfolio of signatures was given by Deborah Girvan…
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Italian Mayor Visits Bangor
Mayor of Ards and North Down Council, Councillor Jennifer Gilmore, welcomed a group of Italians who were visiting Bangor to attend the Columbanus Community Folk Festival. Included in the group was Mayor Chiara Barbieri from Briga Novarese, a small town near Milan; Manuela Bertoncini, a regular visitor to Bangor who has organised many cultural, musical,…
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Columban Way Mapping Project Launched
The Columban Way Mapping Project was successfully launched at the Hinch Distillery on Friday 2 June. At the event, delegates were presented with a publication which contains maps of the route that have been broken down into one day walks illustrating starting and finishing points and places of interest along the way from Armagh to Bangor.…