‘Lights Will Guide You Home’ A commemoration service in honour of Margaret Keane
Birmingham Irish • Aug 11, 2020
“Meitheal”, the Irish word for community, encapsulates exactly how Irish groups have rallied around the family of Margaret Keane in support following a refusal of a church court in Coventry to allow an Irish only inscription on her grave of “In our hearts forever”
Recently, our good friends at Coventry Irish held an online concert in her honour, packed full of Irish dance, music, songs and poetry and headlined by none other than Dubliners legend Seán Cannon. This incredible project raised widespread awareness and attracted over 12,000 views online.
To mark the second anniversary of the Margaret's passing on 29th July, we and our good friends at the Coventry Irish Association, held 'Lights Will Guide You Home', a cross-community commemoration last week. The service was streamed live on Facebook from St Giles Church in Exhall, with green lights and messages of support shining onto the building throughout, many being in the Irish language.
This was followed by the reading of a stunning poem written by Alex Johnson explaining the sheer beauty and love for the Irish language. The piece was translated into Irish by our very own trustee and fluent Irish speaker, Terri Lynk, and read by Birmingham born Dr Angela Moran (presenter of BBC's Birmingham Irish I Am documentary), with an English translation to follow. A link showing full footage of the commemoration is below.
As an organisation, we are so incredibly passionate about supporting the Keane family and their legal battle, therefore we want to ensure that we do everything in our power to help them.
This is why our very own trustee and solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Caroline Brogan, is currently representing the family in their legal case to overturn the church court’s decision. The legal team, which includes high profile human rights barristers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC and Mary-Rachel McCabe of Doughty St Chambers, are all acting on a free of charge basis.
Caroline explained: “The family completed a straightforward form to have a standard gravestone for their mother, with a GAA cross and “In ár gcroíthe go deo”. The Reverend has confirmed that no-one at parish council level had an issue with the Irish language, but the matter was referred up to a church court as they thought that there was a potential health and safety issue relating to the GAA cross (which was initially going to protrude slightly). The application came before the Chancellor of the Diocese of Coventry, HHJ Stephen Eyre QC.
A compromise was reached about the cross (the cross can be included but it is not to protrude). However, the Chancellor refused the Irish only inscription. The refusal and the reasons given for that refusal have caused the family deep hurt, particularly as other gravestones in the same churchyard have Welsh inscriptions, without translation. A legal application has been made to the Arches of Canterbury to seek permission to appeal the decision”.
Supporting Links:
Full footage of 'Lights Will Guide You Home' - Click here >
Coventry Telegraph coverage of commemoration - Click here >
Public Statement from St Giles Church - Click here >
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