Aughaval Group of Parishes

  Return to Inishbiggle  A happy day was enjoyed on Saturday 23rd August when a group of ten people, which included some from Castlebar, Westport, Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin - made the short crossing by currach from Doran’s Point to ‘Biggle’.  As always the passengers were well cared for by ferrymen Michael and Tim, and we were delighted and privileged to have, amongst others, Valerie Raitt, Diocesan Co-ordinator of Spiritual Tourism and Pilgrimages, join us for the trip. Church wardens Chris and Jeremy, outside the old national school, with the wardens' recently acquired wand.  Just disembarked: the 'crew', minus two Tom Smith, a member of the Holy Trinity Westport congregation   Photo by Susie Fry, Castlebar Michael, ferryman Tim, ferryman Valerie Having been welcomed at the pier by islanders and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle church wardens, Christine Gibbs and Jeremy Holt, we took the short stroll to the church. A service of Prayer and Praise (a 'Servic...

  What's on on Wednesday? Midweek Holy Communion, 10.30 am in Westport (St Mary's Church, S. Mall), followed by tea/coffee in the Clew Bay Hotel (James Street) Online Prayer and Bible Study, 8pm.  Link on request - email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org.  Please note that these Wednesday services will stop for August and resume in September.   Christ the True Vine, icon Athens, 16th century https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_the_True_Vine_icon_(Athens,_16th_century).jpg Today's gospel      John 15:1-8 ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those...

Illumination, A Sacred Opus Heartfelt thanks on behalf of the congregation of Holy Trinity Church, Westport (Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes) and the Aughaval Group of COI Parishes, to everyone who came along on Friday evening, 30 May, to this stunning concert, held in support of HTW repairs. The congregation of Holy Trinity have been out of their usual place of worship since 27 January for reasons of safety following damage internally, to the ceiling, as a result of Storm Éowyn. In the meantime St Mary's Church Westport and Fr John Kenny have welcomed the Holy Trinity congregation warmly and with remarkable hospitality, and we continue to be deeply grateful to them for providing a safe and friendly sacred space, including for this fundraiser concert. Enormous thanks are due, then, to Kathy Fahey for getting in touch way before the storm and offering to bring 'Illumination', inspired by the Northern Lights/ Aurora Borealis , to Westport for the purpose of raising funds a...

Community Radio Castlebar (CRCfm) interview  On Monday 12 May Anne Marie Gibbons of CRCfm interviewed Revd Suzanne Cousins and esteemed musician and composer Kathy Fahey, about an upcoming musical event, ‘Illumination’. Poceeds of this much-anticipated concert will go towards Holy Trinity Church (Westport) restoration and repairs, with the present state of closure of the church in mind and efforts to bring about its reopening.  ‘Illumination’, t he stunning 'Sacred Opus', was composed by Kathy Fahey and is sponsored by Port West. T he performance (approximately 90 minutes) will take place on Friday 30 May in St Mary’s Church, Westport, on the Mall.  You can listen to an extract of the interview or the full interview, about the event and about the church, its history and status and current predicament, at the links below.  Our sincere thanks to Kathy and her guests Anne Marie herself and Andrew Gavin, to Vocalessence Choir and Mayo Concert Orchestra, to Port West...

On Sunday 11 May, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, 'Good Shepherd Sunday', it was a pleasure to welcome to St Thomas's Dugort visitors from Finland (pictured) - from the Evangelical Lutheran Church - as well as from St Alban's and Huddersfield, England, and a party from 'Solid Rock' fellowship church in Drogheda. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, like the Church of Ireland, is a member of the Porvoo Communion. 'Porvoo' is a fellowship of 15 Anglican and Lutheran churches throughout Europe. Among this year's speeches at this year’s Church of Ireland General Synod, reference was made to the importance of our Porvoo Communion relationships, and in light of this it was particularly good to make new Finnish friends and learn about their experience of church and faith in their own context. At St Thomas's Dugort, Achill Porvoo You can learn more about the Porvoo Communion here: https://porvoocommunion.org/ "The Porvoo Communion is a communio...

Inishbiggle on Easter Monday: A Service of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion  It is always a joy to return to Inishbiggle. Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, was no different except that weighing on our hearts and minds was the fresh news of the death of Pope Francis and the great loss for Catholic people across the world and in our own communities. We give thanks for his life and rich spiritual influence and legacy.  May the Holy Father rest in peace and rise in glory. Here are a few photos of the island and some of the people who were present for the service, A Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion , in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle. Thanks to the islanders for the wonderful welcome, preparations and tea and hospitality. A new wand for the Church Wardens, Jeremy and Christine Photo thanks to Kevin Toolis The progress in the work to restore the church to its former beauty was evident.   Church door, ready for its 'overcoat' https://aughaval.tlk.i...