Tag Archives: Ennis Cathedral

TEN years ago Damian Casey set out on a journey of faith, which has led him to being ordained as a priest of the Franscican Order this weekend. His ordination will take place this Saturday at 4pm, and on Friday, April 30, the newly ordained Fr Damian will celebrate the 7.30pm mass in Ennis Cathedral. Brother Damian is currently the Deacon of the Franciscan Order and his ordination, along with his first mass on Sunday at 12 noon, is being broadcast on the internet. Damian was born in Waterford, a past pupil of Mount Sion CBS. After school his life took him on a career in teaching, ending up as Principal of Mother of Fair Love School, Kilkenny. In 2011 Damian began exploring his vocational calling and this led him to the Franciscan family. Two years late Damian came to Ennis as a novice and in September 2014 in the Friary here in Ennis he made his first profession. His …

THE Killaloe Diocese has defended moving ahead with a Columbarium Chapel at Ennis Cathedral, which it says will help with an increase in cremations, while it will not put any financial burden on the parish or diocese. A columbarium is a structure to accommodate the cremated ashes of former parishioners and planning permission for one  has already been granted for the former Mortuary Chapel of Ss Peter & Paul Cathedral; it will be able to accommodate the ashes of 240 deceased people. Parishioners had contacted the Clare Champion with a range of concerns about the plans, including about consultation and cost. In a statement subsequently given to the Champion, the diocese pointed to the need to adjust to the change in funeral practices. “There is an increasing shortage of burial places at the present time and this is particularly true in the larger urban centres of population such as Ennis,” stated the diocese. “While the primary responsibility for the provision …

ENNIS parish priest Fr Tom Ryan has often had to mop up urine and worse in Ss Peter and Paul’s Cathedral after the mess left by people who frequented the building to smoke and drink alcohol. Fr Ryan, who became parish priest in his home town last July, has now adopted a “zero tolerance” to anybody “hanging around the cathedral or its grounds”. “When I was appointed parish priest, I soon became aware of a small number of homeless people with addiction problems who frequented both the grounds of the cathedral and the cathedral itself. Their presence was a cause of concern for many parishioners, especially the elderly who come both to the adoration chapel and the cathedral to pray each day. “I also witnessed people in the cathedral, smoking, drinking alcohol and urinating in public. I often had to clean up and mop up after them….you can imagine. This type of behaviour is not acceptable in a consecrated building,” …

On this Sunday, mass will be celebrated in Ennis Cathedral by Bishop Fintan Monahan to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Carmody Hotel tragedy. Music for the mass, which will remember the eight who died on January 15, 1958 and others affected by the tragedy, will be sung by the Enniscorthy Choral Society, under the musical direction of the Ennis-born Donagh Wylde. The choir is an amateur mixed-voice group of 30 singers from the Enniscorthy area and the county of Wexford. The choir has travelled extensively in Ireland and abroad for competitions and performances, including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Belgium. Highlights include performances in Rome, Belgium and Prague. The music to be sung is The Mass of Blessed Oliver Plunkett, written by Ernest De Regge for an outside broadcast by Radio Éireann in 1947 by Ennis Cathedral Choir. De Regge was the organist and choirmaster in Ennis Cathedral from 1923 until his untimely death in …

THE annual Lights Of Love Remembrance service takes place on this Sunday in Ennis Cathedral at 4pm. The service is dedicated to families that have experienced the loss of a child and offers families and friends the opportunity to come together to remember their loved ones. “In years past, many parents and families may not have had the opportunity to acknowledge the loss of a baby and we especially encourage you to join us in remembering your loved one with us,” said a spokesperson for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (Nilmdts) Along with the service, a toy box appeal in aid of Barnardos will be held. During the service all new and unwrapped gifts will be brought to the altar and placed under the Christmas tree. This gives a great sense of comfort to know that a toy donated in memory of your child is going to such a worthy cause. Fr Fergal O’Neill will lead the service, and with …

THE Ambassador of Poland to Ireland has expressed his “sincere gratitude” to the people of Ennis for the “support, compassion and generosity” shown to Marek Skiba, the 51-year-old man who was found dead on Christmas Day and was buried this week. The funeral of Polish native Mr Skiba, who had experienced homelessness, took place in Ennis Cathedral on Monday, just days after local campaigner for the homeless Josie O’Brien made an appeal for help with the funeral expenses. Ennis undertaker Cyril Cusack stepped in to offer his services for free, with comedian Brendan O’Carroll later promising to cover the costs. As well as Mr Skiba’s friends, many local people who did not know him but were touched by his story attended the funeral. Musicians and singers offered to perform for free and flowers were donated for the service. Clare County Council provided a burial plot for the deceased. Ryszard Sarkowicz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to …

ENNIS will stage a prestigious event this month when the town hosts the Association of Irish Floral Artists National Flower Festival (AOIFA). It is expected that 4,000 people will come to Ennis during the festival. The epicentre of the weekend festival will be at Ennis Catherdral and St Columba’s Church of Ireland. All funds raised from the event will be donated to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. AOIFA comprises 90 clubs nationwide and has approximately 6,000 members. Every two years, members nominate a charity to lend their valuable support to. The organisation has been running for 40 years and this is the first time that the national executive has been based in Ennis. The formal festival opening ceremony will be held on Friday, June 19 at Ennis Cathedral at 8pm, with RTÉ GAA commentator and Mullagh man Marty Morrissey hosting the opening night. More than 100 floral exhibits will be on view the following day from 11.30am to 6pm …

ENNIS-based priest Fr Ger Fitzgerald is attempting to break the world record for the longest journey on a land rowing machine, in aid of Clare Haven and Bushy Park Ennis. In order to get into the Guinness Book of World Records, the cleric must complete at least 5,280km on the rowing machine. The current record holder is Rob Bryant, an American man who covered a distance measuring 5,278.5km on a land rowing machine. “Last year, I attempted to cycle 30 miles every day for 30 days in aid of Barnardo’s Children’s Charity. With much support from my friends in Ennis, I was able to succeed and raised over €6,000 for the charity. This year, I wanted to do something different for a local charity and the idea I got was to attempt to break a world record. Given that I wouldn’t be very fit at the best of times and also given the fact that I have no patience for …