Submitted by Val Hiscock on
Last weekend eleven members of the Commandery of Wales and our guests travelled to Dublin for the Grand Priory of Ireland National Investiture. We were the largest national group present at the investiture, a fact that was commented upon by our host, HE the Chevalier the Honourable Mr Justice Bernard Barton GCLJ.
On Friday evening, we gathered for the Investiture Vigil and Evensong at St Patrick’s Cathedral. This was followed by a splendid dinner at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The following evening, we assembled again at St Patrick’s Cathedral for the Investiture service. This was presided over by the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Revd William Morton ChLJ, and Canon Jeremy Haselock QHC, GCLJ, in the presence of HE the Chevalier Dr Ronald Hendricks GCLJ, the Grand Commander of the Order. The investiture marked the retirement of Bernard Barton as Grand Prior of Ireland, after fifteen years of loyal service to the Order. The Grand Commander installed Chevalier Conor Keoghan KLJ as the new Grand Prior.
By express command of the Interim Grand Master, HE Don Francisco de Borbon, Graf von Hardenberg GCLJ, the Grand Commander awarded Bernard Barton the Gold Cross of Merit and appointed him Grand Prior Emeritus of Ireland. The investiture was followed by a gala dinner in the Great Hall of Trinity College Dublin. Photographs of the weekend’s celebration were taken by Sgt Glenrory Low OLJ. We are all most grateful to the Grand Priory of Ireland, and to Bernard and Anne-Marie Barton in particular, for their generous hospitality during the investiture weekend.