Every July Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare, hosts the Willie Clancy Summer School (Irish Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy). This is Ireland’s largest traditional music summer school held annually since 1973 in memory of the uilleann piper Willie Clancy. For a number of years, the FCJ Sisters in Ireland have offered an Open House at the nearby FCJ Spirituality House An Teach Spioradálta at Spanish Point for the duration of the music school.
On July 4 FCJ Sisters Bernie, Gloria, Marion, Joan, Mary, Cornelia and FCJ Companion in Mission Sue arrived to serve as a welcoming group for all those who come up to An Teach Spioradálta for reflective time amid all the music workshops, sessions and set dancing.
The guest presenter was Deirdre Ni Chinneide, gifted composer, singer, spiritual director and workshop facilitator. Deirdre offered two presentations daily on such themes as Listening as a Spiritual Practice, Life as a Sacred Journey, Lament, Healing and Hope and The Blessing in Ordinary Things. At 9pm she led a prayerful reflection on the theme of the day, which ended with a moment outside on the field, offering prayer with gesture as the evening sky took on a golden glow.
Many came to the Centre each day for these sessions and prayers, which always ended with a cup of tea and some biscuits and much joyful chatter. Cakes were brought to share as well by generous and grateful visitors. Some brought their instruments along and one evening we were treated to beautiful music on the harp by Geraldine, one of the regular visitors.
On Monday evening around 60 people arrived for a presentation by Fr. Alan Hilliard on the theme of hope. It was interspersed with traditional Irish music played on the concertina by a gentleman called Joe Searson. Joe had grown up in London, and went to school in Bethnal Green, at Philip Howard School and was taught by Sr. Christine Frost fcJ. On Wednesday morning around 70 people came along for a beautiful Mass celebrated in our chapel by Fr. Donagh, the local Parish Priest.
For one week in the year, the town of Milltown Malbay, the first town to erect street names in Irish in 1899, becomes a magnet for all who love music – either to play or to listen – of all ages and nationalities. As several visitors told us, “Music unites everyone. No one needs to ask ‘Who are you?’ or ‘Where are you from?’” Whoever turns up with an instrument is welcome to sit, join and play and the rest of us are welcome to gather and listen. Willie Clancy was a renowned Uillean piper from Milltown Malbay.
This Open House event has now been running for six years and the numbers who attend are going up with each year. It is not only a wonderful opportunity for musicians from all over the world to gather, but it is also an enriching and enjoyable opportunity for FCJs and Companions in Mission from across the Areas of Britain, Ireland and Mainland Europe to engage in collaborative ministry, in a setting of great beauty and peace.
Text credits: Gloria fcJ. Photo credits: Marion fcJ
The FCJ Spirituality House, Teach Spiorodálta, is a home and spiritual haven of the FCJ Sisters, who have come to Spanish Point for generations for spiritual nourishment and refreshment. Now we would like to share our home with the wider community through spiritual moments, enjoyment of the natural beauty of creation, and the lifting of spirits with music, art and poetry.
Please see the events page for current listings. You can contact the House at info @ fcjspiritualityhouse.ie or by phone at +353 87 447 9115 with any questions.
