Friday, June 18, 2010

Bishop of Down & Conor performs rare confirmation on Rathlin Island

It was certainly a very special occasion for a sixth class pupil on Rathlin Island this week as he made he was confirmed in a ceremony all by himself.

Bishop of Down & Conor Dr Noel Treanor travelled to the County Antrim island especially for twelve-year-old youngster Eoin McCurdy's confirmation at Saint Mary's Church.

It is the first time in 14 years that the sacrament has been celebrated on the island, which has a population of just over 100 people and is seven miles off the County Antrim coast.

Indeed the confirmation is one of Dr Noel Treanor's first official engagements on the island since he became Bishop of Down & Conor in June 2008.

Normally children from Rathlin Island are confirmed in Ballycastle in County Antrim, which is in the same parish, but not this time as the island had a rare visit from a bishop.

The island, which is just four miles wide from east to west, has both Catholic and Anglican churches.

SIC: CIN