06.06.2008
Ordination of Three Deacons in Christ Church Cathedral
On Sunday 8 June 2008 at 3:30pm the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill will preside at the ordination of three people to the Diaconate. The three are Anne-Marie O'Farrell, a harpist who will serve in the parish of Sandford and Milltown, Robert Lawson, Chief Technical Officer and former inter-county Gaelic Footballer for Sligo, who will serve in Celbridge, Straffan and Newcastle-Lyons and Stephen Farrell, a law graduate who will be Curate in Taney parish, Dundrum. The address at the service will be given by the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne.
Anne-Marie O'Farrell
Anne-Marie O'Farrell grew up in Mount Merrion in Dublin and presently lives in Rathfarnham Parish. She was educated in Loreto College, Stephen's Green and was from 1989-1990 a candidate for the Loreto Order. She studied Music and German in UCD, graduating in 1989 with a BA and a BMus. In 1999 she graduated with a Post Graduate composition from NUI Maynooth. An accomplished harpist, she has played at International Festivals and concerts throughout Ireland and has recently released her sixth album, Just So Bach. She also teaches the Harp in Kylemore College CDVEC and teaches composition at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. One of her compositions, Ruach will be premiered by Deirdre O'Leary on Clarinet during the ordination.
Speaking about taking up ministry in Sandford and Milltown she said she was "thrilled and delighted. A non-stipendary ministry is as different as people are different in terms of the gifts that people have to offer. So far I am picking up a strong appreciation of what I can give." Of her time in the Church of Ireland Theological College she said "I really enjoyed it and got to know different shades of Irish Anglicanism. I found the teaching very stimulating."
Anne-Marie is married to Ray Comiskey and they have two children, Carmel (11) and Robert (8).
Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson (48) grew up in Collooney, Co Sligo. He attended Colaiste Mhuire Secondary School and went on to study in Sligo Institute of Technology (where he graduated with a Diploma in Environmental Science) and DIT Kevin Street (where he graduated with a Biology Degree). From 1978-1982 he played Gaelic Football at underage and Senior level for Sligo. Presently, he works in the School of Biotechnology in Dublin City University. For the last 14 years he has served as Diocesan Lay Reader in the parish of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla, five of them with the current Bishop of Cork, the Rt Revd Paul Colton, who will be present for the ordination.
He went forward for training in the Church of Ireland Theological College in 2005 which he describes as "a wonderful experience, a highly supportive environment, an excellent standard of teaching and a very comtemporary course." Commenting on taking up ministry in Celbridge, Straffan and Newcastle-Lyons he said "I am looking forward to it hugely as it's a mixture of rural and urban. I live in a city and I come from the country so all my skills should be suitably deployed in that area."
Robert is married to Ada (nee Murphy) and they have two boys, Theo (who played Cricket for Ireland at the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia) (19) and Paul (15). Ada works as a personal Assistant to Stan Mason, Chairman of Mason Technology Ltd.
Stephen Farrell
Stephen Farrell (24) is from Dromore Parish, Co Tyrone in the Diocese of Clogher. He was educated in Omagh Academy and went on to study Law in Jesus College, Oxford where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Jurisprudence in 2005. Later the same year he began his studies in the Church of Ireland Theological College.
Reflecting on his time in the Church of Ireland Theological College he said it was "wonderful. It was three years where the staff in the college and everybody worked with us and helped us to grow in the image and likeness of Christ." On his new ministry in Taney parish, Dundrum he said "I very much look forward to being part of a team and working with friends who can keep me very much on the straight and narrow and show me the ropes! I think it's very very good to have that breath of experience."
Stephen is married to Laura (nee Davenport) from Wigan in England, who also studied Law in Jesus College, Oxford. She works as a Barrister.