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FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, on an unexpectedly glorious and sunny day in April
Olivia Robertson's 90th Birthday Celebration
April 13th - 14th, 2007, Clonegal Castle
Dedicated to the Goddess Brigid
Olivia has sent the following caption for this photo: "From left to right, on front row, ArchDrs, Minette Quick, Rt. Rev. John Merron, Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise, Prs. Julie Felix is seated next to Olivia, opposite is ArchDrs. Eileen Lawrence, Prs. Lydia Lyte, Prs. Jane Maxwell and Prs. Celia Thomas from Glastonbury."
The weather was glorious, more typical of what one would expect in high summer. Over 40 Durdin-Robertson family members, old and young, came from all over the world to attend a private party held for Lady Olivia Robertson at their ancestral home of Clonegal Castle in Ireland. The party was given by Lady Olivia’s nephew and his wife, David and Moira Durdin-Robertson, Baron and Baroness Strathloch. Several family friends and FOI members of long acquaintance were also invited to attend which brought the number of attendees to around 75. They came from nearby Clonegal and surrounding villages, from London and Glastonbury. Among the FOI members who attended were John Merron, Caroline Wise, Eileen Lawrence, Minette Quick, Michael Howe, Lydia Lyte, Julie Felix, Padraig, Jane Maxwell, and Celia Thomas.
Olivia, fourth back in red, the procession is headed by Lydia Lyte and Julie Felix who led the attendees in an outdoor procession which included chanting led by Julie, accompanied by sacred drumming by Lydia. The procession wound through the castle grounds and Yew Walk. The four pictured leading the procession in the photo (right) are: Lydia Lyte, Julie Felix, David de Roeck and Olivia Robertson.Olivia, Lydia Lyte, Julie Felix and David de RoeckAfterwards a play was presented in the Huntington Castle Theatre, the same venue that hosts productions by the Isis Theatre Company under the direction of Gwendoline Rouiller. Festivities in the theatre included three 'playlets' by Olivia‘s nieces and nephews, and Olivia. Olivia writes: "One of these was a Mummer’s Play, including the Goddesses Demeter and Persephone, directed by my nieces Cressida Pryor and Caroline Pryor-Watson. Another, written by me, titled "The Abduction Syndrome" included Indigo Children of the Stars!" The production directed by Olivia's nieces was acted out by members of Olivia’s family, and included a song they had written specially for her. This play lasted for over an hour and proved great fun for all in attendance - especially when a dog volunteered his dramatic skills on the stage. Olivia spoke to those assembled afterwards, expressing her delight with it all. She acknowledged all of the attendees and thanked everyone personally for coming. Refreshments served afterwards, including a large birthday cake in honor of Lady Olivia.
It is reported that Lady Olivia looked wonderful in red and gold, her looks and physical vitality, as usual did not correspond to one’s general ideal of what a ninety year old should be. She truly is an enchantress! After more festivities and presents, the group went to Osbourne’s Pub in the village of Clonegal. Later, members of the celebratory party went to Michael Howe’s to sit around a fire, share stories, drum and sing songs.
Second day of Festivities
Heading to the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle for the ordinationThe next day the ordination of a priestess of Quan Yin named Antoinette, was held at the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle. There were so many attendees they could not all fit into the Temple! These included FOI members who had participated in Olivia’s birthday celebration the previous day and evening and members of the Durdin-Robertson family. There were several small children present who were enchanted by the beauty of the ceremony. Caroline Wise was asked by Lady Olivia to act as the Oracle of the Goddess Brigid at the well in the castle shrines. Lydia Lyte performed sacred drumming during the ritual, which culminated before the High Altar.
It was a memorable two days!
April 28th, 2007, Clonegal Castle
A second celebration was held later in the month, attended by two FOI Priestesses from the United States, Rt. Rev. Cathryn Anne Rogers and Rev. Pat Cummings. A lovely Beltaine rite was celebrated at the Temple during their visit.
Although this report is published after the fact, Happy Birthday Lady Olivia! We wish you many more happy years and many blessings.
A garden path at Clonegal Castle
My 90th Birthday Celebration
by Olivia Robertson, posted here by permission
April 13, 2007
This was intended to be a private occasion, but it turned out to be the reverse! About seventy people took part in the events, which covered two days, the 13th and 14th April, 2007. I decided I did not wish to be the only focus of attention, so I dedicated all we did to the Goddess Brigid of the Arts.
I shared the occasion with my twenty-three year old great-niece, Trissala, who was also born on Friday the 13th April. Her father, Swadesh Poorun, was the bridegroom with Lawrence’s daughter Melian, in the televised Isis Wedding Rite, appearing on Irish Television on Easter Sunday 1976. It was shown between the Pope’s Easter Message and the Easter Blessing from the Protestant Primate of All Ireland. It was the first time “Isis” hit the headlines in the British and world press in an article. A photo showed the smiling pair in full robes, being married by my brother, former Anglican Rector, in Egyptian headdress and robes, under the dramatic heading “Goddess of Love Shocks a Rural ‘Eden’.” Date, 1st February 1976.
Now, 30 years on, we began our celebrations with an Isian procession round the grounds, down the long yew walk, headed by two Priestesses, Rev. Julie Felix, the folk singer and star, and Rev. Lydia Lyte, Drummer. What was splendid was that the procession consisted of thirty family members from England, ranging through 4 generations; FOI members of local Irish centres, and Clonegal Citizens – still, we hope, enjoying “a rural Eden.”
3 playlets were offered in the Castle Theatre, two by English cousins, Cressida and Caroline, and a play by myself “The Abduction Syndrome,” a light-hearted Space Children drama.
Next day we held an Ordination ceremony for Antoinette as Priestess of Quan Yin. It was lovely to see a bevy of great-great grandchildren sharing an Easter Egg on the Temple Floor! Our New Age is dawning.
We wish to thank the FOI Members who contributed information for this page, including Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, FOI co-founder, and Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise, Hierophant of Isis of the Thames, London. It is deeply appreciated.
Photos of Clonegal Castle and garden path courtesy of Lady Olivia Robertson. All other photos by Patrick Robertson, Lady Olivia's nephew, used by permission. (Olivia writes that her nephew Patrick currently films for TV and has created a film of her birthday celebration for broadcast.) Captions for photos by Lady Olivia Robertson. Photo of Birthday Procession courtesy of Caroline Wise.
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