Each year there is a new Mayor in Londonderry as the various parties take turns to cooperate and give each the chance to have one of their own as first citizen of the city. Each year the Spiritual Assembly seeks an interview with the new mayor so that a small delegation can get to know him or her (often not necessary as many have previously had contact with Bahá'ís) explain something about what the Faith teaches and what we are doing (usually necessary) and present some literature. On Tuesday 24 July Elizabeth Palin and Michael Barr met with the new mayor, Councillor Drew Thompson in the Derry City Council offices. It was a very cordial meeting lasting about forty minutes. Councillor Thompson who said he knew very little about the faith before our meeting but told us to contact him if there was anything he could do for the Bahá'ís. He emphasised that he wanted to set party aside for the year and act as first citizen for all the people of Derry. He was presented with the book “Visions of a New World Order”.
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The Mayor Derry (left) receives his Bahá’í book from LSA representative Michael Barr
The spirit of unity, laughter, and learning, was even better than ever this year at the Waterford Summer School. Almost 600 registered by the end of the week, hailing from 28 countries. The very many youth, junior youth and children present were well catered for by dedicated teachers. Highlight of the week was the conference on Monday 30th July on the Law of Huqúqu'lláh addressed by Mr Ian Semple. There was also an Association of Bahá'í Studies Conference held over two days.
Northern Ireland speakers played their part in the school with, Sarah Munro taking a main session on Poetry in the Faith as well as presenting a moving monologue about a woman’s suffragist who met 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Edwin Graham present and most intriguing paper at the ABS Conference on Joan Waring, who appears to have been the first native Bahá'í in Ireland and whose life he has been studying. Keith Munro delivered a paper entitled Chasing the Rainbow on how to acquire virtues. Other friends from the North took part in many aspects of the running of the school.
During the school more than 12000 euros were raised for projects including the refurbishment of the European Temple.
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