The Burke family members: Ned, Mary, Maudie, Gemma and Laura waiting for the Corpus Christi procession at Killarney Road on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Holy Communion children spread flower petals at Monsignor Dan O’Riordan brings the monstrance to the altar during the Corpus Christi Procession ceremony at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Members of the Castleisland Parish Choir preparing as the Corpus Christi Procession arrived at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Killarney Road looking its best as the Corpus Christi Procession makes its way to Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Monsignor Dan O’Riordan thanking the Lord for keeping the rain at bay during the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Monsignor Dan O’Riordan blessing the newly erected grotto during the visit of the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Richard Harnett was the cross bearer flanked by Siobhán O’Donoghue (left) and Paris McCarthy as the Corpus Christi Procession arrived at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The arrival of the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening led by cross bearer, Richard Harnett with Siobhán O’Donoghue and Paris McCarthy. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Timmy Murphy gets in on the photographic action during the Corpus Christi Procession to Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Cecily O’Connor (left) pictured with Courtney Roche and her mom, Colette Harnett during the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Residents and guests waiting for the arrival of the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening were from left: Daniel Jarza, Tim my Murphy, Brendan O’Shea, John Nolan, John Feehan, Donal Daly and Damien Feehan. ©Photograph: John Reidy
New Killarney Road, Castleisland residents checking out the habits of the natives as the Corpus Christi Procession makes its way to Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Local women pictured after the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. Included are from left: Margaret McSweeney, Kathleen Myers, Liz O’Connor, Maureen Walsh, Maria Lucey, Eileen Cronin, Anette O’Connell and Margaret Nolan. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Breda Brooks (left) and Áine Behan pictured during the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Resident, John Coffey pictured with Sr. Mary Buckley and Sr. Maureen Kane during the Corpus Christi Procession at Cahereens West on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy
With a gesture as sincere and solemn as any other he had issued all evening, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan raised his face and hands heaven-ward and thanked the Lord for a wonderful, if threatening evening’s weather.
He knew he spoke for his flock at Cahereens West too as they fretted and threw nervous glances at an ominous south-westerly sky. They wondered aloud and looked for assurance that the rain wouldn’t arrive on that stiff breeze at any moment. It didn’t. The residents knew they had more that a fair shake of faith and luck on their side as they welcomed the 2015 Corpus Christi Procession to their estate.
Appreciative Ears
The work had been done and words of praise for the appearance of the estate had been falling on their appreciative ears all evening. It would have been all in vain if it had rained but it’s better the evening got as the all-important ceremony got underway at the base of the T in the estate.
Then Monsignor O’Riordan led his flock up to where the newly constructed grotto awaited his blessing. This, apart from his heavenward gesture, was the final act of the beautiful evening.
It was a complete triumph for the community leaders in Cahereens and it’s surely a blueprint for how estates can be managed from within when the will is there.
Spokesperson, Mary Horan said the residents are delighted to have played hosts to the crowd which turned up for one of the town’s great and oldest traditions.
Back to Work
“We’d like to thank the Presentation sisters and ‘Fr. Dan’ for the use of the Cross and cloths for the altar. We were delighted to see such a crowd and the Holy Communion kids were brilliant and we had treats for them after the ceremony. A lot of work went into the preparations for last evening and we’re all happy that everything went off so well.
It’s back to work for us now every Tuesday evening at 7pm – weather permitting – and we’d like to make an impression on the Tidy Towns adjudicators now,” said Mary.
The committee can indeed take great credit for the appearance and welcome they provided last evening. They were taking compliments from all quarters and they were well deserved.
See below a selection of windows along the route of Saturday evening’s procession. From the annual and seasoned windows of Church Street to the once-in-a-while appearances over the rest of the route.
