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'Tugaimis adhradh don Tiarna' are the familiar words 'Let us worship the Lord' only spoken in Irish and these words will be among the opening scripture sentences at a Presbyterian service being held this Sunday, 26-10-97 at 3.00pm in Fitzroy Avenue Church, University Street, Belfast. The entire service will be conducted in Irish and is believed to be the first Presbyterian act of worship to be conducted totally in Irish this century. It is being held to mark the centenary celebrations of the Oireachtas - an annual gathering of Gaelic speaking musicians and poets.
Conducting the service will be Rev Patricia McBride, Presbyterian chaplain of the Royal and Prior School in Raphoe while Dr Bill Boyd, a retired Presbyterian minister and Rev Terence McCaughey, a lecturer at Trinity College will share the preaching. Also taking part will be Rev Malcolm Scott and Belfast school teacher Marcas Mac Phaidin. Traditional Irish music on harp and flute will also feature in the service.
'My interest in Gaelic began after I retired,' explained Dr Boyd. 'I was interested at first in the origins of place names and through this began to see that Irish was a beautiful and interesting language worth learning. I'm still a beginner but through my study I've met other Presbyterians who know the language better and we have been meeting together about once a month for worship.'
Gaelic is nothing new to Irish Presbyterians who trace their roots in Ireland back to 1642 when the Scottish Regiments stationed at Carrickfergus brought their Presbyterianism to these shores. They spoke both Gaelic and Lowland Scots which later became Ulster Scots. Until the early 19th century there would have been Presbyterian communities who spoke and worshipped in Gaelic in places including Bushmills, the Glens of Antrim, Ballybay and Dundalk. Until around 1850 it was a condition that students for the Presbyterian ministry undertook classes in Irish.
'History shows that Presbyterians did speak both Gaelic and Ulster Scots and I feel that Presbyterian worship should be available to people interested in these particular languages,' said Dr Boyd. 'Any common interest draws people together and a shared interest in language would help to mend community divisions in Ireland.'
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