Retired clergy group visit Parliament Buildings
A number of members of the Retired Clergy Association (RCA) (NI) resumed their travels after the summer break with a visit to Parliament Buildings at the end of September.
This outing followed a day trip to the Maiden City in June and Crumlin Road Gaol in August.
Organised by the RCA (NI)’s Honorary Secretary, Canon Jim Campbell, the visit began with a guided tour of Parliament Buildings led by one of the guides, Georgia Fisher, which included the Great Hall, the Senate and the Assembly Chamber.
Starting in the iconic Great Hall, Ms Fisher gave members a brief history of the planning, construction and development of the site from the laying of the foundation stone in May 1928 to its official opening by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), on November 16, 1932.
Members heard that the Senate Chamber was originally the Upper House of the Parliament modelled on the House of Lords at Westminster, with its seating in two parallel blocks of ‘adversarial’-type benches. It is no longer used as a parliamentary chamber, but now serves as a committee room.
The Chamber was used as an operations room by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
The tour ended in the Assembly Chamber, where MLAs meet to carry out present-day business and where Ms Fisher referenced the fire which destroyed the Chamber in 1995.
After the fire, using the same decoration and materials as were originally used, a new, modern, horseshoe-shaped and less confrontational-type chamber was designed on a European U-shaped format.
Following the tour, members adjourned to one of the committee rooms, where they were welcomed by William Irwin MLA and his wife who kindly provided light refreshments.
Mr Irwin, who has served as an MLA for Newry and Armagh since 2007 and is the DUP’s spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, described his farming background in Co Armagh; how he became involved in politics; and his work as an MLA.
There then followed an informal question and answer session when Mr Irwin and members discussed a range of current social, economic and political issues, including the National Health Service, education, legacy and victims support, and the plight of rural communities.
On behalf of members, the RCA (NI)’s chairperson, Bishop Patrick Rooke, expressed thanks to Mr and Mrs Irwin for their welcome hospitality; to Mr Irwin for giving of his time to host the visit; to Ms Fisher for leading a very interesting and informative tour; and to Canon Campbell for his meticulous organising and planning of what proved to be a most enlightening and enjoyable visit.
With thanks to Revd Clifford Skillen
Pictured above: Members of the Retired Clergy Association (NI) are pictured in the Great Hall during their visit to Parliament Buildings. Also included is William Irwin MLA (front, centre) who hosted the visit.