18.04.2014
President to Attend Battle of Clontarf Commeoration Service on Wednesday 23 April 2014
President Michael D Higgins, will attend the Ecumenical Service to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf in the Church of St John the Baptist, Seafield Road West, Clontarf, on Wednesday April 23 at 12.00 noon.
The date coincides with the actual anniversary of the infamous battle fought on Good Friday 1014 between the forces of Brian Boru and the forces of the King of Leinster, Mael Morda mac Murchada, supplemented by Viking mercenaries. It ended in a rout of Mael Morda’s forces and the death of around 10,000 warriors including Brian.
The theme of the commemorative service will be Peace and Reconciliation. It will be attended by representatives of the six Christian churches in Clontarf, as well as the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson. The address will be given by the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, the Most Reverend Eamonn Walsh, representing Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
Representatives of local business, sporting, educational, leisure and political interests will be present along with the Danish Ambassador to Ireland, Niels Pultz, and the Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, Ronald Names as well as representatives of the Irish Defences forces. A yew tree will be planted in the church grounds on the day to commemorate this major event for Clontarf and its environs.