 It
all began when members of the Young Dominican Laity (YDL) at
St. Mary’s, Popes Quay, Cork, undertook a summer project
to help young people involved in the Music Ministry to learn
good church music and to better understand what the Liturgy
was all about. Knockadoon, a summer camp in East Cork, under
the care of the Irish Dominicans since 1924 was chosen as the
venue. Fr. Robert Talty OP the Camp director agreed to make
the facilities of Knockadoon available for a four-day course
on Liturgy from Saturday August 28th to Tuesday August 31st
1982. Months of planning, preparation and hard work by a dedicated
committee ensured a registration of one hundred and twenty three
people for the first Folk Liturgy Course. Twenty-one years later
we can look back with immense pride and deep gratitude for the
vision and dedication of all those who sowed the seeds and laid
the foundations for this unique annual festival of liturgy and
music, celebration and Christian community at Knockadoon.
We salute those who formed the organising committee for that
first course. From the outset it was decided that the input,
teaching, tutorials and celebration would be of a very high
standard. All participants were encouraged and expected to commit
themselves fully to the course. Fr. Dermot Brennan OP, Prior
of St. Mary’s, opened the weekend. Input was given by
a number of Dominican friars and sisters. Tutors volunteered
their time and talents. Joe Dineen OP was the sacristan. Vincent
Mercer OP was the Liturgical Director and Fiontán Ó’Múrchú
was the Course Director – a task that he undertook for
the first fourteen courses.
 The
music by the St. Louis Jesuits, Tomas O’Canainn, The Mass
of St. Dominic by Fiontán Ó’Múrchú
and some Taize chants filled the air during those memorable
days. Gathering for Morning and Evening Prayer, for the Celebration
of the Eucharist and for a late night Vigil of Light created
an atmosphere of prayer and Christian Community that has been
the hallmark of the Folk Liturgy Course ever since. It was unanimously
agreed that this YDL project was a resounding success and should
continue and be lengthened to a full week. And so it was.
One of the most striking aspects of the Folk Liturgy Course
from the beginning is the generosity, commitment and professionalism
of the tutors and speakers who have given of their time, talent
and expertise voluntarily. The cost of the course was kept as
low as possible so that no one would be excluded from participating.
Dominican Provincials and communities have always been generous
in their financial support of this annual event. In a particular
way the giftedness and musicality of members of St. Mary’s
Folk Group and Choir provided a bank of tutors for guitar, flute,
harp, keyboard, violin, percussion, sight-reading, voice, art,
liturgical movement and planning. The outstanding teaching skills
of the director guaranteed the highest standards of musicianship
that evoked an enthusiastic response and wholehearted involvement
from the course participants.
Encouraging participants to compose their own liturgical music
has been a special feature of Knockadoon. Feargal King, John
Casey, Hilda Leader, Geraldine Flanagan, Ian Callanan, Gavin
Byrne are some of the composers who have given us wonderful
songs that continue to enrich the repertoire of good liturgical
music. Perhaps the most famous of these is ‘The Dominican
Magnificat’ composed by Feargal King and commissioned
by Vincent Mercer OP to commemorate the 150th anniversary of
the opening of St. Mary’s, Popes Quay, Cork in 1839. Who
can ever forget the atmosphere at the 12.15 p.m. Mass in St.
Mary’s on Sunday, July 8th 1990, when 130 singers and
musicians who had just completed the 9th Annual Folk Liturgy
Course electrified the celebration with the first public performance
of ‘The Dominican Magnificat’. Fr. Damian Byrne
OP, Master of the Dominican Order was the principal celebrant.
 As
well as music and song the importance and power of the visual
in the liturgy has been explored and researched at Knockadoon.
The creativity and skill of so many participants over the years
has enriched souls, moved hearts, and opened minds to the richness
of the Liturgy and to the Presence of God in many different
ways. At the forefront of these wonderful workshops, demonstrations,
inputs and hands on experience was Sr. Evangelist (Bina) Hogan
R.S.M., who was on the staff of the Dominican Pastoral Centre
in Cork. The visual and environmental preparation of the chapel
for daily liturgies helped course participants to pray and celebrate
with ease and openness. Wednesday night’s ‘Prayer
Around the Cross’ with the music of Taize attracted many
people from the area and from further afield to drink from the
wells of the Knockadoon Folk Liturgy Course and to experience
the presence of Jesus among His people. Priests who made themselves
available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation often speak of
the profound effect the celebration had on them.
The welcome, interest and support of the people in Knockadoon
and Ballymacoda is very special. Over the years a bond of friendship
has been created between the ‘locals’ and the ‘campers’
that has been enriching and sustaining. This bond was especially
deepened on Friday, July 10th 1987, when newly ordained Bishop
of Cloyne, John Magee D.D. visited Knockadoon. The excitement
and anticipation of the local people was palpable for weeks
beforehand. Houses were painted, gardens were tended, lawns
were cut, hedges were trimmed and new clothes were bought. Families
who had emigrated, children and grandchildren who had moved
away from the area, campers of former years, friends and supporters
of Knockadoon turned up in huge numbers. One of the oldest residents
remarked that in living memory the Diocesan Bishop had not come
beyond Ballymacoda.
The sun shone, the sky was blue and the background of Youghal
Bay was resplendent for the open air Mass. Several Dominicans
together with the parish priest and curate concelebrated with
Bishop Magee. What energy, enthusiasm and joy the course participants
gave to such pieces as Behold the Lamb Of God, All Shall Be
Well, How Glorious Your Name, I Found The Treasure, Sing All
The Earth, and With Drums And Dancing. After the Mass everyone
processed down to the pier for the Blessing of the Boats by
Bishop Magee. This particular part of the celebration touched
the local people deeply. Tears of joy and appreciation were
shed. The banquet in the dining hall afterwards was wonderful,
thanks to Mary Cahill and the superb kitchen staff. The Bishop
spent most of the day on camp, where he addressed the course
participants and returned to Cobh in the evening with a plentiful
supply of fresh salmon!!
 Over
the years groups from Cork, Newbridge, Sligo, Tallaght, Derry,
Kilkenny, Galway, Tralee, Naas, Limerick, Ballincollig, Fermoy,
Tuam, Athy, Waterford and many other locations have contributed
enormously to the success of the Annual Folk Liturgy Week. The
talent contests, the Friday night concerts, the walks to Ballymacoda,
the trips to the Castle, the cliff walks, the excursions to
Youghal, the games and fun on the top field, the ghost stories,
the many impromptu sing songs and music sessions, the good humour,
the companionship, all contributed to the unique experience
of Knockadoon and The Folk Liturgy Week. The enormous contribution
of so many Dominican brothers over the years has given a particular
edge and flavour to bringing the Church alive for so many.
During the past twenty-one years hundreds of young people have
immersed themselves in the legacy of St. Dominic on the shores
of Knockadoon. They have discovered how To Praise, To Bless,
To Preach through the Ministry of Music in the Liturgy. The
Spirit of the Living God has been ever present nurturing the
gifts and harvesting the fruits of dedication, commitment, generosity,
faith and conviction of those whose time and talent has made
music, liturgy and celebration accessible to so many. Recognition
of the immeasurable contribution of the kitchen and maintenance
staffs must also be recorded. We remember with fondness Jimmy
Hogan from St. Aengus’ parish in Tallaght (guitar tutor),
Fr. Bob Harrison from The Cork and Ross diocese (flute tutor),
and Karen Delaney from Cork City (cook), who died so young and
so untimely. I liontaibh De go gcastar sinn.
So many unnamed people have given so much to Knockadoon. Without
them these special weeks could never have happened.
Our 21st anniversary is an occasion for celebration and rejoicing,
a time for looking back with pride and gratitude and an opportunity
to look to the future with confidence and trust. Carpe Diem!
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