Day Twenty-Five: County Kilkenny
Monday 25 May
The annual VOX magazine Finding Faith Tour looks very different this year. Instead of a 7-day road trip around the island, this year VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams brings you highlights from all 32 counties (one per day plus one for each of the 31 days in May). Contact Ruth if you have a story to share.
Day 25: The Greatest Peace
It’s day 25 of this year’s virtual tour and it is hard to believe that we are now in the final week of our “journey” through every county on this island! Today, we meet Kieran Ryan who arrived home to Kilkenny last autumn after spending two years in Jerusalem as Deputy Director of The Garden Tomb Association.
Before his retirement from the Irish Army, Kieran had spent two years on deployment in the Middle East. “Whenever I was in Jerusalem, I loved to visit the Garden Tomb. I began volunteering in 2011 and eventually became deputy director for two years,” Kieran said.
For 125 years, the Garden Tomb has provided an alternative site to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as a place where people can come to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Located just outside the city walls and close to a rocky escarpment that some believe to be Golgotha (the place of the Skull), this beautiful and peaceful place is run by a UK-based Christian charity.
"In 2017 due to the volume of visitor numbers to the Garden, I committed to two years as deputy. The numbers increased from 230,000 to 410,000 in those two years and continue to increase." Kieran said.
As tour groups arrive, volunteer tour guides show people around the garden and explain the Gospel narrative. Many take the opportunity to spend time in reflection, worship or communion.
“It is such a privilege to tell the wonderful story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.” Kieran said.
“One student left a letter for Kieran saying, ‘Thank you for the words and for the gospel you shared today. It was like water in a desert!’”
Now back in Ireland, Kieran and his wife Laura still hope to be able to take tour groups out to Jerusalem several times a year once the pandemic is passed. But for now, Kieran is content, “I have the greatest peace because I know He is in control. The safest place to be is at the centre of God’s will. I love Him more now than when I first began* and I hope that people will have an opportunity to hear about the wonderful love of Jesus during this pandemic!”
*We’re keeping that wonderful story for the summer edition of VOX magazine - don’t miss it!
