ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR THE GIFT OF SPORT

This year’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service for the Gift of Sport will take place on Sunday March 9 2008 at 7pm in Christ Church Taney Road Dundrum.

The Address this year will be given by Bryan O’Neill of Lansdowne RFC, a former International Tennis Umpire, Senior Rugby Referee and a prominent member of the Organising Committee of Golden Oldies Rugby. Bryan has been a regular attendee of this Service throughout the years and a Reader at St Patrick’s Cathedral and more recently in Christ Church Taney

Each year a collection on behalf of a nominated Charity is taken up at the Service. It has become customary for the person giving the Address to nominate the Charity which benefits from the traditional generosity of those attending.

The concept of such a Service was conceived by Irish Rugby International the late Bob Graves, a larger than life Kerryman, during a Lions Rugby Tour to South Africa.

Throughout the Service’s history many distinguished sports associated men and women have given the Annual Address including Willie John McBride, Maeve Kyle, Sir Anthony O’Reilly, Lord Killanin, Cliff Morgan, Sean O’Siochain, Jack Lynch, Ronnie Delaney, Ita Butler, Gary O’Toole, Sir Ronnie Flanagan OBE, George Hamilton, Colm Smith, John O’Shea, and since moving to Christ Church Taney, Alan Lewis, John Treacy, George Hook, Michael O’Muircheartaigh, Ian Corr and Mary Davis.

The singing at the service will be led by two School Choirs, Alexander College and Sandford Park Schools.

- ENDS –