THIEVES are now targeting churches and grottos.
In the past three weeks, 17 churches reported the theft of such items as gold and brass-plated candle sticks, collection boxes, bowls, vases, holy pictures and linen altar cloths.
The targeted churches included Newmarket, Meelin, Rockchapel, Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Cullen, Lismire, Castlemagnier, Knocknagree, Lisgriffen, Liscarroll and Ballyhea, which are all in Cork.
Churches at Fearnagh and Templeglantine in Co Limerick, Clogheen in Co Tipperary, and Rathmore in Co Kerry were also targeted.
Gardaí recovered a haul of valuable items stolen from churches and grottos in four counties after searching two houses in Buttevant, Co Cork.
Two men in their 50s have been questioned about these thefts and are expected to appear before the courts within the next two months.
A Garda spokesman said some of the items stolen had sentimental value.
"Some of them were given to the churches by parishioners in memory of a loved one who had died. We have been able to reunite about half the items with their rightful owners and are continuing to ensure that the remainder are also given back."
Last month two priceless relics were stolen from Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford made a personal appeal to the thieves to return one of the relics, which is said to contain a piece of the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. Neither of the relics have been recovered.
However, gardaí say there is no connection between that robbery and the seizure of the items stolen from the 17 churches.
The targeted churches included Newmarket, Meelin, Rockchapel, Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Cullen, Lismire, Castlemagnier, Knocknagree, Lisgriffen, Liscarroll and Ballyhea, which are all in Cork.
Churches at Fearnagh and Templeglantine in Co Limerick, Clogheen in Co Tipperary, and Rathmore in Co Kerry were also targeted.
Gardaí recovered a haul of valuable items stolen from churches and grottos in four counties after searching two houses in Buttevant, Co Cork.
Two men in their 50s have been questioned about these thefts and are expected to appear before the courts within the next two months.
A Garda spokesman said some of the items stolen had sentimental value.
"Some of them were given to the churches by parishioners in memory of a loved one who had died. We have been able to reunite about half the items with their rightful owners and are continuing to ensure that the remainder are also given back."
Last month two priceless relics were stolen from Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford made a personal appeal to the thieves to return one of the relics, which is said to contain a piece of the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. Neither of the relics have been recovered.
However, gardaí say there is no connection between that robbery and the seizure of the items stolen from the 17 churches.