I am grateful to your parish priest Father Michael Coady, and to all of you for inviting me to be part of the parish of Saint Patrick in Ringsend.

One hundred years ago this parish was formally separated from the parish of Sandymount. But that was just, you might say, a legal act which recognised a community which draws its roots from way back in the history of Dublin, way beyond these one hundred years.

I remember as a child coming back to Dublin after our family holidays in England on the ‘Munster’ or ‘Leinister’ boats of the B and I. It was a long night’s sailing, hard for a boy of ten. My memory is being wakened up from half sleep and going up on deck with my father as we entered Dublin Port and being welcomed as it were by the spire of Saint Patrick’s Church.

Ringsend was a place of welcome. Any Dubliner, when they saw the Church in Ringsend, knew they were home once again.

Years later, I often thought to myself if only stones could speak! If only the walls of this beautiful Church could repeat what they had seen over the past almost one hundred years? I think of the many in harder times for whom the sight of this Church was the last sight of Dublin before they headed off on the hard path of emigration. I think of the life of this extraordinary Dublin community, in many ways a village.

I say village in the best sense of the word: a village built up by the hard work of men and women; a village built up by the decency and the love of parents who worked hard so that their children could do well, grow up in a better world, where life would be a little easier and hope a little brighter.

Out of that hard work and love a great community was built. If the stones could talk, they would talk of Ringsend which out of harsh poverty was built up to be a community where generations were and are proud to be from Ringsend, to belong to this genuine Dublin community.

I think of the work done over the years by the teachers in the primary schools and the technical institute or community college. I think of the work done by the priests of the parish. I am happy to greet the current priests, Father Michael Coady, Father Tony Power and Father Fergal McDonagh, as well as some of the former priests who are here with us.

The Parish has so many organizations and groups active in its renewal programme and I greet all those who have contributed over the years– and do so today– as sacristans, as stewards and collectors, in the folk and parish choirs, in the renewal programme, in the parish pastoral council.
I think also of the many prayers that have been raised up here in this Church in times of need; I think of the many weddings here from which great families arose.

Ringsend is certainly one of the oldest communities in Dublin. It has been inhabited since the early middle ages, with a continuity of community which is really unique. It has seen so many changes and indeed is going though a period and a pace of change that it has never before witnessed.
It is hard to imagine today what this Parish will look like in just ten years time as various development projects are completed and new parishioners arrive.

I say to those who have lived here for generations, to be proud of what you have achieved for yourself and for your children in building up a parish so rich in community. I say to those who have come here in recent years take the time to learn the rich traditions of this parish. I say to the young people of the parish: remember what you have received from generations past. Remember that success and happiness in life comes from those same values that you have received.

My hope is that Ringsend in the years to come will remain a flourishing and happy community, where there will be work and opportunity for all, those who have the roots here for centuries, those who come from other parts of the world, and those who come here with new wealth. May this Church be a centre for spreading the light of Jesus and his message of love and respect for all.

An extract from the Homily given by the Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbisop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland on the Feast of the Ascension 8th May 2005

On left, from left: Carmel Malone, Kay Flood, Father Coady, Mary Egan, Catherine Kelly and Marlene Byrne.

Bottom: Father Coady with Ann Marie.