Good Friday city centre walk in Dublin, led by Archbishops, to return

Walk and concert in at St Patrick’s Cathedral to express solidarity with Ukrainians

The 2015 Way of the Cross ceremony in the Phoenix Park, led by the then archbishop of Dublin Rev Diarmuid Martin. This year’s event starts at midday on Good Friday. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times
The 2015 Way of the Cross ceremony in the Phoenix Park, led by the then archbishop of Dublin Rev Diarmuid Martin. This year’s event starts at midday on Good Friday. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times

For the first time in three years the two Archbishops in Dublin will lead a ‘Walk of Witness’ through Dublin city centre on Good Friday it has been confirmed. The event has been described as a way to express solidarity with Ukrainian refugees and all those who have been “dispossessed and marginalised”.

Since 2019 it has not been possible for the 'Walk' to take place with Catholic Archbishop Dermot Farrell and Church of Ireland Archbishop Michael Jackson both attending an empty St Mary's Pro–Cathedral on Good Friday last year.

The Walk of Witness begins in Christ Church Cathedral at 7pm next Friday with a short time of prayer and reflection. Then the Archbishops, carrying a cross, will lead participants down Dame Street to College Green and through Westmoreland St and O'Connell Street before turning down Talbot Street towards St Mary's Pro–Cathedral where there will be a short service.

Encouraging all to join them Archbishop Jackson said that “with the help of the Gardaí all are safe literally to walk the road of witness, faith and compassion. With so many Ukrainian people terrorised and displaced, participating in this year’s walk is a way of showing our solidarity with everyone who is dispossessed and marginalised.”

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At 7.30pm on Friday Ukranian soprano Olga Chubareva will lead the Dona Nobis Pacem fund-raising concert at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, in response to the Irish Red Cross' Ukraine Appeal.

The Cathedral Choir will perform one of the best loved choral works of all time 'Requiem' by Gabriel Fauré, alongside works by two other Parisian composers Maurice Duruflé and Louis Vierne.

Ms Chubareva will be performing a Prayer for Ukraine, Myroslav Skoryk's 'Melody' and Andrew Lloyd Webber's requiem 'Pie Jesu.' Details at https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/event/ukraine/

At midday on Good Friday the 17th annual 'Way of The Cross' takes place in the Phoenix Park, beginning at the Wellington Monument and finishing at the Papal Cross. Led byArchbishop Dermot Farrell it too has not taken place since 2019. It is open to all.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times