Treasure Ireland: that’s the title of a new video series launched recently by the Irish Dominicans (www.youtube.com/irishdominicans). It’s an ambitious project that will take the friars to every county in Ireland, filming roughly ten videos in each county, highlighting the many and varied stories that make up the history of Irish Christianity.
The series is currently focussed on the counties which overlap with the territory of the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin: Laois, Kildare, Carlow, and (soon!) Kilkenny. A trailer for the series is available to view now.
Some of the sites visited include Timahoe, the Rock of Dunamase, and the Brownshill Dolmen. The story of Jesuit photographer, Fr Frank Browne, is told in a video recorded in Emo Court, and that of pioneering scientist, Fr Nicholas Callan, in a video from Maynooth.
The picturesque village of Castledermot was the location for two videos: one on the biblical symbolism of the High Cross there, and another on a Viking-style tomb in the graveyard, the only one of its kind in Ireland.
The stories of the great saints of these counties feature prominently: there are videos on St Brigid, St Mochua, St Moling, St Fergal of Aghaboe, and the Dominican martyr, Blessed Peter O’Higgins. There’ll soon be added to that list the stories of two great bishops of Kildare and Leighlin: Daniel Delany (d. 1814) and James Doyle (d. 1834), also known as J.K.L. (‘James of Kildare and Leighlin’).
All of these stories are told in a way designed to interest believers and non-believers alike, showing, bit by bit, that the Gospel is woven inseparably into the fabric of Irish history.
First up is County Laois!
We move eastwards towards County Kildare
Then we move a little south to County Carlow
And we are currently out and about videoing in County Kilkenny – stay tuned and if you see us in your travels be sure to stop and say hello!