St Dymphna's Day, 2020

St Dymphna's Day, 2017

25th Anniversary Celebration
Odist: Oonagh S
Video production: Tizz Cozz

St Dymphna's Day, 2014

St Dymphna's Day, 2013

Another year, another St Dymphna's Day. Pilgrims travelled from afar to the sorority to celebrate with us. This year's theme was Dymphna in Wonderland.

The recitation of the Ode continues to play a central part in our celebration, and this year was beamed from Aberdeen by the good offices of the Stollery clan.
We present it here for those of you unable to join with us in person.

Odist: Professor Peter Stollery E.G.P.
Video production: Jack Stollery G.S.

St Dymphna's Day, 2012

St Dymphna's Day, 2011

St Dymphna's Day, ??

St Dymphna's Bar, New York

Ode for St Dymphna's Day

The Folly of Madness

The folly of madness is that it makes no sense
Like a bee without flowers or art without indolence.
But it still drones on, its bright irrelevance
Its darkest consequence.

If you believe in grief say yes.
If you believe in love say yes.
If you believe today is now say yes.
Raise your eyebrows if you believe in madness.
I see there are few who doubt its truthfulness.

If you don't want shame say no.
If you don't want to be burnt by the mind's flame say no.
If you don't want misunderstanding calling your name say no.
Look at your feet if you can claim
That if you don't want madness it will just go.
Very few of you. I thought so.

The wisdom of faith is that it makes no sense.
Like life without death or youth with experience.
But it still clings on, its strongest relevance
Its lack of evidence.

They say St. Dymphna being mad, the mad can cure,
Scrub the cortex clean, the cerebellum pure.
Do nothing if you think such a mad myth,
Being mad, could not endure.
Any of you? I'm not sure.

So, let us raise our glasses to St Dymphna,
And the mad idea of her.

(Philip Monks, May 1995)

Traditional libation

Negroni: