A quiet hour by the Shannon – “By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide (Common Metre)

2026-03-07

A quiet hour by the Shannon – “By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide (Common Metre)

A stained-glass style image depicting the interior of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, inspired by its Romanesque stone arches and nave. In the foreground stands a twisted stone baptismal font and a tall candle, echoing the real cathedral furnishings. Beyond the arches, the River Shannon flows through a bright landscape with the cathedral visible beside the water. A white dove representing the Holy Spirit shines in the sky above. On either side, panels show haloed saints associated with the cathedral—Mary, George, James, Anne, Nicholas, Catherine, and Mark—holding books or symbols of faith. The colours are vivid blues, golds, and greens, arranged in traditional leaded stained-glass panels.

By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide

By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide,
This house of prayer stands strong;
Where ancient voices rise again
And join our living song.

Through Mary’s ancient doorway worn,
A threshold carved by grace;
We step from earth to heaven’s light
Within this sacred place.

Here George is named for steadfast faith,
And James for journeys wide;
Their stories shape the chapel walls
Where countless hearts abide.

Here Anne is honoured for her care,
And Nicholas for his cheer;
Their witness, held in quiet stone,
Still speaks of love drawn near.

Here Catherine’s wisdom finds a home,
And Mark proclaims the Word;
Their lives remind this gathered flock
Of truth we still have heard.

The Spirit breathes within these stones,
Renewing all we do;
And Mary’s name, long cherished here,
Points us to Christ anew.

So may our prayers, like river tides,
Flow on from age to age;
A people shaped by hope and love,
In Limerick’s heritage.

Hymn information

First line: By Shannon’s holy, flowing tide
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: Common Metre
Theme: St Mary’s Cathedral Limerick

Reflection

I found myself a small corner of peace this lunchtime in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. The light was just beginning to grown dim with the cloud cover, slipping off the Shannon and stealing softly through those massive old stone walls. There’s a particular kind of hush in there—the sort of silence that isn’t empty, but full of everything that’s gone before.

As I sat there with the river humming just outside, the words started to come to me. I was thinking of it as a hymn, really—a bit of a prayer for this place where memory and faith live side-by-side.

I looked around at the chapels, and the names seemed to stir in the quiet: Mary and George, James and Anne, Nicholas, Catherine, and Mark. You realize then that we’re just the latest crowd to walk these aisles. Every generation has its own turn to add a verse to that long, steady song of worship that’s been rising here for centuries.

In the stillness of the lunchtime, the prayer took its shape: a hope that the faith carried in this place might keep on moving, flowing out from us and into the years ahead—just like the Shannon itself, constant and moving, from age to age.

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026.
Permission granted for local church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.

Michael McFarland Campbell is a neurodivergent liturgical writer, organist, and storyteller living with chronic illness and fierce compassion. Rooted in Benedictine spirituality, his work transforms everyday routines—dialysis, knitting, walking, pain management—into sacred reflections. Through humour, advocacy, and creative care, he uplifts the dignity of the misunderstood and inspires inclusive acts of hope, connection, and healing.

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