Valentia in tune at annual carols

THE 24th Annual Ecumenical Carol Service took place on Tuesday, December 5, in the pretty neo-gothic Church of St John the Baptist, Knightstown. The Church had been seasonally decorated with a natural Christmas tree, Advent wreaths on all of the windows, and over 100 candles which created a wonderful atmosphere.

The congregation, who look forward to this event year on year, were taking their seats up to an hour prior to the start of the service and the Church very soon became full with many having to stand.

This year the service was led by the Venerable Simon Lumby (Archdeacon of Limerick, Aghadoe and Ardfert, and Rector of St Mary’s Church, Killarney). The Archdeacon is restoring a cottage in Market Street as a holiday home, so Knightstown will see much more of him and his wife Nolleen. Clergy in attendance were Dr Kenneth Kearon (Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe), Fr Larry Kelly (P.P. Caherciveen), and Diocesan Lay Readers Snoo Sinclair and Barbara Buckley.

The Gospel readers were the Bishop, the Archdeacon, Fr Kelly, the Diocesan Lay Readers, Denyse Biggs (Church Warden of St Michael and all Angels Church, Water ville ), Richard Williams (Church Warden of St John the Baptist Church), and Dan O’Connor ( Valentia). The Valentia Choir was accompanied on the organ by Mary Gallagher and the South Kerry Youth Orchestra conducted by Adolf Packheiser.

The collection this year amounted to €705 and has been sent to Oxfam Ireland, who are on the ground in Bangladesh, providing shelter, food and medical supplies to the Rohingya refugees fleeing ethnic cleansing in Myanmar.