Archbishop who merited a tomb in the Abbey

THE 200th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Charles Agar will be marked on July 14, 2009.

He was of Anglo-Irish stock and served as Archbishop of Cashel between 1779 until 1801 when he succeeded to the Archbishopric of Dublin where he served until his death in 1809. He is buried in Westminster Abbey where a depiction of the Cathedral of Cashel adorns his tomb.

Agar was keenly involved in Cashel affairs and organised the first performance of Handel’s Messiah outside Dublin on an organ built by Samuel Green, organ builder to King George III. A number of interested people are planning a commemorative festival to mark the 200th anniversary in 2009.