The annual mass at the Clonmel Holy Year cross went ahead on Bank
Holiday Monday despite a random act of vandalism at the weekend.
Clonmel Holy Year Cross Committee member Sean Prendergast explained
that when he arrived at the cross on Monday morning he discovered that
burnt oil had been thrown over the altar and the holy statues and a
number of wooden stakes that had been erected at the site were either
stolen or burned.
He said that he, “was absolutely disgusted at such a random act of
vandalism, as a huge amount of work and gone into preparing the site for
the annual Holy Year mass.”
He added that while, “it wasn't possible to get the altar cleaned up
on time, organisers managed to get a gazebo in place so that the mass
could go ahead.”
The Clonmel Holy Year cross and shrine has a history that dates back more than 60 years.
In 1950, the people of Clonmel erected a wooden cross on the
Commeragh Mountains to look down over the town, and the annual climb has
taken place every year since on the August Bank Holiday Monday, which
culminates in a special mass at the summit.
In 1953 an oratory and Stations of the Cross were added and both the
cross and the shrine have been maintained by a committee of people from
the Old Bridge, Scouthea and other areas of Clonmel.
Last year RTÉ
aired a special documentary to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the
site and a special photographic exhibition of the climb by RTÉ cameraman
Donal Wylde and photographer John D Kelly was held in the Main Guard in
the town.
This year's mass, which was attended by some 1,200 people, was celebrated by Canon Brendan Crowley.