IRELAND: The program for dedicating new branch facilities in Ireland was held on May 4, 1996. For over 100 years, there have been preachers of the good news in Ireland. But the past decade has seen especially rapid growth. There are now some 4,400 publishers in 114 congregations in Ireland. To care for these, new branch facilities have been built in a beautiful rural setting about 20 miles [30 km] south of Dublin, on the edge of the village of Newcastle, County Wicklow. The complex comprises three linked buildings—a 20-room residence, modern offices along with kitchen and laundry facilities, and space for vehicle maintenance and for shipping literature.

Willing volunteers provided all the building skills needed to do the work. Workers from abroad were joined by many local brothers and sisters who willingly exerted themselves in what for them was a new facet of Kingdom service. Every congregation in Ireland had a share in the work. Witnesses coming from distant congregations left their homes early in the morning so as to be on-site ready to work at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, and then they worked a full eight-hour day in construction. No one complained about weather conditions or work assignments. They just willingly got on with the work.—Ps. 110:3.

Gerrit Lösch, of the Governing Body, gave the dedication talk, discussing prophecies from Isaiah foretelling restoration of God’s people and expansion among them. Jehovah’s people in Ireland have shared in the fulfillment of those prophecies in many ways, and they continue to do so.

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1. Ireland branch