Meet the Clergy
Canon Desmond Sinnamon
Born in Strabane, Co Tyrone, Canon Desmond Sinnamon was educated in Prior School, Lifford Co Donegal, Strabane Grammar School, Trinity College, Dublin, Westcott House Theological College, Cambridge, and the Irish School of Ecumenics.
He served curacies in Seapatrick Parish, Banbridge and St. Mark’s Parish, Armagh. For six years, from 1975 he was Rector of Tamlaght, Ballinderry and Ardboe in the Diocese of Armagh. In 1980 he was appointed to Dublin Diocese as Vicar of St Patrick's Cathedral Group with responsibility for the parishes of St Catherine & St James with St Audoen and St Kevin. In 1983 he was appointed Rector of Taney Parish, Dundrum, Dublin with its two churches, Christ Church and St Nahi. He is also Chancellor of St Patrick's National Cathedral Dublin and a member of the Cathedral Board.
Canon Sinnamon is a member of Dublin Diocesan Synod, the Church of Ireland General Synod and is on the National Panel of the Bishops’ Selection Conference for Ministry. He serves on many Diocesan Committees including the Diocesan Councils, Board of Patronage and the Episcopal Electoral College. He was formerly Chairman of the Church of Ireland Board for Social Responsibility (Republic of Ireland), and the Dublin Diocesan Social Action Committee. He is a member of the Boards of PA and POS.
He is a founder member and currently moderator and Hon. Sec. of the Three Faiths Forum of Ireland and he represented the Irish Council of Churches on the Churches Commission for Inter-faith relations, part of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. For many years he has been involved in the promotion and encouragement of inter-faith dialogue, particularly between members of the Abrahamic faiths, Muslims, Jews and Christians. With his special interest in this field, he has studied in Tantur, the Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem/Bethlehem and has travelled widely in the Middle East where he has taken a particular interest in the Palestinian Refugees. He has contributed to conferences in interfaith relations inter alia in Mafraq University, Jordan, in Kyoto, Japan, in UK and in Ireland. He is currently involved in initiating a Forum for all faiths in Dublin which it is hoped will develop nationally. He is also a member of the Churches’ Network for Refugees and Asylum seekers.
Desmond is married to Jennifer who is a lecturer in ethnomusicology and in piano in the Conservatory of Music, Dublin Institute of Technology. Some years ago, Jennifer was conferred with a Ph D (Queens University, Belfast) for her research and thesis on the role of music for Palestinians in coping with violent death in the conflict. Their daughter Sarah and her husband, Kevin, have a daughter, Lola. Sarah is a musician and psychologist lecturing in Trinity College, Dublin, Griffith College and University College, Dublin from which she was awarded a Doctorate of Psychology in the field of music performance.
For many years Desmond has taken a deep interest in the situation of refugees and asylum-seekers. With Jennifer he has made many visits to the Palestinian Refugee camps in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and in Damascus and Amman, experiencing something of the lifestyle and conditions of the people who live there.
Rev Niall Sloane
Niall Sloane took up his duties as Curate of Taney on 1st December 2007. Following his degree from Trinity College in Biblical and Theological Studies, Niall trained for ministry in Church of Ireland Theological College after which he was ordained for the Curacy of Agherton Parish, Portstewart where he has served for two and a half years.
From Co Cavan, Niall’s move to Dublin brings him back ‘home’ where he has a wide variety of friends in academia and the workplace. In between times, he has worked part- time in restaurants, post office, factories and the R.C.B. whilst completing an M. Phil. in Trinity College and a Diploma in Pastoral Studies in Milltown Institute of Theology.
His hobbies and pastimes include travelling, reading, socialising, walking, genealogy, local history, food with its accompaniments.
Rev Stephen Farrell
Stephen Farrell came to Taney as curate following his ordination to the diaconate on 8th June 2008. Originally from Dromore, Co. Tyrone, Stephen holds a Bachelors degree in Theology from the Church of Ireland Theological College and is a Scholar of Trinity College. Prior to commencing training for ministry Stephen read law at Jesus College, University of Oxford. At Oxford Stephen met his wife, Laura, who is now practising as a barrister in Dublin and has recently completed a Masters in Law at Trinity College. Both enjoy reading, travel and socialising, along with tending to their huge dog, Nellie, an English Mastiff. On June 28th 2009 Stephen was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocesan Cathedral by the Archbishop, The Most Rev’d. John Neill.
Contact Taney Parish
Tel: 01 2985491
Fax: 01 2985491
Email Webmaster: parishoftaney@eircom.net