| Scene of the Birthday Celebration |
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| FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, on an unexpectedly glorious and sunny day in April |
Lady Olivia Robertson's 90th Birthday Celebration April
13th - 14th, 2007, Clonegal Castle
Dedicated to the Goddess Brigid
Olivia has sent the following caption for the photo directly above: "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.
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| The procession at Lady Olivia's 90th birthday. The line of guests spiral around the castle. |
Lady Olivia, Lydia Lyte and Julie Felix 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.
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| Lady Olivia, Lydia Lyte, Julie Felix and David de Roeck |
Afterwards 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.
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| Heading to the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle for the ordination |
The 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.
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.
Back to FOI Archives
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| A garden path at Clonegal Castle |
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May Isis richly bless all who visit this site. This
central Fellowship of Isis website is officially authorized and chartered by Fellowship of Isis co-founder Rt. Rev.
Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland Copyright © 2004-2009
The Circle of Isis Notice of Copyright and Disclaimer of the Circle of Isis Website
Contents: The Circle of Isis - Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website is an officially
sanctioned central global website of the Fellowship of Isis, authorized by Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, co-founder
of the Fellowship of Isis, Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland. The contents of the Circle of Isis Website
are not public domain. All contents published under the name the "Circle of Isis - Fellowship
of Isis Central Global Website" on this website are copyrighted. Our original URL (www.thecircleofisis.com) is copyrighted
as well as our new updated URL (www.fellowshipofisiscentral.org). The name of this website "Fellowship of Isis Central
Global Website - Circle of Isis" is copyrighted. Direct links to these webpages are permitted.
Copying the appearance, content or format of these pages is not permitted. All rights reserved.
Notice of Copyright of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy: Fellowship
of Isis Liturgy copyright is legally shared by the author, Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, with
members of the Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Those members are Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne, Rt. Rev. deTraci Regula, ArchDrs.
Linda Iles and Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise. The content and format of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy presented on the Circle of
Isis website are not public domain. The content and format are protected by a separate copyright. Rt. Rev. Olivia
Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, personally upholds our copyright. Private or public distribution, private or
public reproduction, private or public publication in any form, by any means, of the FOI Liturgy as presented on
the Circle of Isis website, is not permitted. Direct links to the FOI Liturgy pages on the Circle of Isis website are
allowed, printing a copy for private ritual use is allowed. All other rights reserved. "Circle
of Isis" line drawing by Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson. Used by permission of the artist. All rights
reserved.
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