St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
A Featured Cathedral Family
Member
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Myrtle Irvine
Tell us about your early days.
I am originally from County Tyrone, from a little village called Drumquin. There is a
song which goes" Drumquin you're not a City but you're All the World to me" Having
left the country, when George and I got married 40 years ago, I have no desire to go
back. I love Fermanagh and think it is one of the most beautiful places to live. I am not
surprised that they have chosen it as a venue for the G8. My childhood days were very happy. I came from a large family of eight. We were, and still are, a very close family. My brothers, sisters and myself were always encouraged to attend church. We wentto Langfield Church of Ireland and that is where I was baptised, confirmed and married. I remember walking a round trip of two miles to attend Sunday School and my mum never took any excuses! At that time we had to do an oral exam at the end of each Sunday School year. A neighbouring rector was appointed to do this. I attended Langfield Primary School and Castlederg High School before going to Omagh Technical College to do a City and Guilds course in Catering. My first job was at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast. However when I met George, who was originally from Kesh, Belfast seemed a long way off and I was persuaded to get a job closer to home. I took up a job in Coneywarren Children's Home in Omagh and then when I got married I got a transfer to Coleshill Children's Home in Enniskillen. I now work two days a week in Asda. Before that I worked as a Rep for Dale Farm, ordering in their products for the local supermarkets.
What about your family?
I married George on 29th July 1972. We purchased a house on the Dublin Road in Enniskillen and this has been our happy homestead since. George works as an Engineer with Northern Ireland Water Service and is due to retire this year. Most of the church congregation will know George as he has been a Rector's Glebewarden for 25 years now. He also is well known amongst the youth, especially boys, as he has been a Cub Scout Leader for 37 years. God blessed us with a lovely family of four sons and one daughter. They have all gone through University and three of them are married. Rodney, Richard and Alan are all working in England whilst our youngest son, Alistair is working in Singapore. Amanda our daughter, many will know, fell in love and married a past curate of St Macartin's Cathedral, Ian Linton. Ian originally came from Carrickfergus. He is now Archdeacon and is based in the parish of Drumcliff in Sligo. Amanda is teaching. They have blessed us with two lovely grandchildren. Lucy, now four and Eli , almost one. We also have three beautiful grandchildren in England. William, Isaac and Edie.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I enjoy doing charity work and I am very much involved as Development Associate for The Smiles Foundation. The Smiles Foundation is a Christain Charity which was set up in Romania 15 years ago. The Charity has a Mission Centre, close to the city of Oradea and I try to go out once a year. They support over 200 poor families by providing them with monthly food parcels, used clothing, medication when needed and social and spiritual counselling. Walking, swimming, gardening and surfing my laptop are a few more of the things I like to do.
Favourites in life - food/theatre/books?
My favourite food has to be a well cooked sirloin steak with all the trimmings, followed up with pavlova and fresh strawberries. I enjoy going to musicals at the theatre and have seen quite a number of them. My favourites are Billy Elliot and Mamma Mia. I usually find myself reading bedtime stories to my grandchildren rather than taking the time
to read a book myself. However, I enjoy reading my Bible. I also never like to miss out on reading a daily newspaper and the local weekly papers.
Do you travel?
I love to travel and since the family have all flown our nest, we love to visit their own in England and have even visited Alistair's in Singapore. We have been to Vancouver and whilst there we went on the Rocky Mountaineer train journey which was amazing. Other places of which we have beautiful memories are The Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Niagara Falls in Canada.
For what are you thankful in life?
I thank God every day for my wonderful husband, George, Manchester United crazy as he is!
For my very special family and grandchildren.
For my mum and mother-in-law who are in their late eighties and for all my family circle.
For my church and church family who mean so much to me.
I fully agree that ‘Health is your Wealth’ and I am continually thankful for the good health of myself and my family.
Have you any favourite Bible Verses /Hymn?
James 2: 14 - 17: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, " Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,'' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Hymn: Be Still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here. This hymn reminds me to forget the "busyness" of life and focus on the goodness of God.
I am originally from County Tyrone, from a little village called Drumquin. There is a
song which goes" Drumquin you're not a City but you're All the World to me" Having
left the country, when George and I got married 40 years ago, I have no desire to go
back. I love Fermanagh and think it is one of the most beautiful places to live. I am not
surprised that they have chosen it as a venue for the G8. My childhood days were very happy. I came from a large family of eight. We were, and still are, a very close family. My brothers, sisters and myself were always encouraged to attend church. We wentto Langfield Church of Ireland and that is where I was baptised, confirmed and married. I remember walking a round trip of two miles to attend Sunday School and my mum never took any excuses! At that time we had to do an oral exam at the end of each Sunday School year. A neighbouring rector was appointed to do this. I attended Langfield Primary School and Castlederg High School before going to Omagh Technical College to do a City and Guilds course in Catering. My first job was at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast. However when I met George, who was originally from Kesh, Belfast seemed a long way off and I was persuaded to get a job closer to home. I took up a job in Coneywarren Children's Home in Omagh and then when I got married I got a transfer to Coleshill Children's Home in Enniskillen. I now work two days a week in Asda. Before that I worked as a Rep for Dale Farm, ordering in their products for the local supermarkets.
What about your family?
I married George on 29th July 1972. We purchased a house on the Dublin Road in Enniskillen and this has been our happy homestead since. George works as an Engineer with Northern Ireland Water Service and is due to retire this year. Most of the church congregation will know George as he has been a Rector's Glebewarden for 25 years now. He also is well known amongst the youth, especially boys, as he has been a Cub Scout Leader for 37 years. God blessed us with a lovely family of four sons and one daughter. They have all gone through University and three of them are married. Rodney, Richard and Alan are all working in England whilst our youngest son, Alistair is working in Singapore. Amanda our daughter, many will know, fell in love and married a past curate of St Macartin's Cathedral, Ian Linton. Ian originally came from Carrickfergus. He is now Archdeacon and is based in the parish of Drumcliff in Sligo. Amanda is teaching. They have blessed us with two lovely grandchildren. Lucy, now four and Eli , almost one. We also have three beautiful grandchildren in England. William, Isaac and Edie.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I enjoy doing charity work and I am very much involved as Development Associate for The Smiles Foundation. The Smiles Foundation is a Christain Charity which was set up in Romania 15 years ago. The Charity has a Mission Centre, close to the city of Oradea and I try to go out once a year. They support over 200 poor families by providing them with monthly food parcels, used clothing, medication when needed and social and spiritual counselling. Walking, swimming, gardening and surfing my laptop are a few more of the things I like to do.
Favourites in life - food/theatre/books?
My favourite food has to be a well cooked sirloin steak with all the trimmings, followed up with pavlova and fresh strawberries. I enjoy going to musicals at the theatre and have seen quite a number of them. My favourites are Billy Elliot and Mamma Mia. I usually find myself reading bedtime stories to my grandchildren rather than taking the time
to read a book myself. However, I enjoy reading my Bible. I also never like to miss out on reading a daily newspaper and the local weekly papers.
Do you travel?
I love to travel and since the family have all flown our nest, we love to visit their own in England and have even visited Alistair's in Singapore. We have been to Vancouver and whilst there we went on the Rocky Mountaineer train journey which was amazing. Other places of which we have beautiful memories are The Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Niagara Falls in Canada.
For what are you thankful in life?
I thank God every day for my wonderful husband, George, Manchester United crazy as he is!
For my very special family and grandchildren.
For my mum and mother-in-law who are in their late eighties and for all my family circle.
For my church and church family who mean so much to me.
I fully agree that ‘Health is your Wealth’ and I am continually thankful for the good health of myself and my family.
Have you any favourite Bible Verses /Hymn?
James 2: 14 - 17: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, " Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,'' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Hymn: Be Still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here. This hymn reminds me to forget the "busyness" of life and focus on the goodness of God.
Myrtle is married to George (Rector's Glebewarden). Both are very actively involved in Parish Life; indeed they are two of the stalwart members who can be depended on to take in hand tasks as the needs arise and to do them well!