Culmination of events marking 400th anniversary of St Oliver Plunkett's birth
The 400th anniversary of the birth of St Oliver Plunkett is being marked in both Drogheda and the Oldcastle area of Co Meath this year.
The iconic saint was born in Loughcrew in Co Meath, on 1 November 1625 and was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1654, having studied at the Irish College in the city.
He later became the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and maintained his duties in the face of the Penal Laws when the Catholic Church was being suppressed.
St Oliver Plunkett was eventually arrested and tried for treason in London. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681.
A group of his friends managed to rescue his head, which eventually made its way to St Peter's Church in Drogheda. The relic remains there to this day in a specially made shrine.
One of the saint's thigh bones is also on display in the side altar of St Brigid's Church in Oldcastle.
A series of events is under way to mark 400 years since St Oliver Plunkett's birth, and also the 50 years since his canonisation in 1975, when he became the first newly-made Irish saint for almost 700 years.
Tomorrow will see an event titled the 'Plunkett Clan Gathering' take place at Loughcrew House and Gardens, the ancestral seat of the Plunkett family.
An ecumenical service in the 17th-century church will be followed by historical talks, live music and refreshments, which organisers have said will be a "heartfelt tribute in a place of deep personal resonance for the saint's descendants".
There will be an evening of music and reflection on Saturday with the St Oliver Concert taking place at St Peter's Church on West Street in Drogheda. Musical director Edward Holly will lead St Peter's Male Voice Choir, joined by soloists Seán Tester and Celine Byrne.
However, the culmination of the anniversary year arrives on Sunday with the St Oliver Procession, a pageant of faith and remembrance that will see the community walk together in honour of the local saint.
Starting from Holy Family Church in Ballsgrove, Drogheda at 3pm, the procession will make its way to St Peter's Church, the home of the shrine to St Oliver Plunkett, where a celebratory mass will be held at 4pm.
The mass for the holy relics will be celebrated by Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin, the 23rd successor of St Oliver Plunkett.
This weekend's closing events coincide with the end of an
The Saint Oliver 400 Commemorative Exhibition runs at 'The Exhibition Space' at Drogheda Civic Offices until Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Funeral details announced for talented footballer (27) who drowned in Killarney
Padraig 'Paudie' O'Rahilly, from the Barraduff area of Killarney in Co Kerry died in an incident at the River Flesk in Killarney on Tuesday afternoon The funeral details of a 'terrific young man' and a talented footballer who drowned in an accident in County Kerry on August 12th have been released. Padraig 'Paudie' O'Rahilly (27) from the Barraduff area of Killarney in County Kerry died in an incident at the River Flesk in Killarney on Tuesday afternoon. Mr O'Rahilly was well-known in Killarney as he worked for Mr Price in the town and played Gaelic football for Glenflesk Gaa club. Locals said he was a 'terrific young man who was extremely friendly". Padraig 'Paudie' O'Rahilly News in 90 Seconds - August 15th Another said 'A lovely polite pleasant young man always smiling.' Emergency services attended the scene and the man was removed from the water. Investigations are continuing into the exact circumstances of the shocking accident. In a statement gardaí said they were alerted to an incident where a male (aged in his 20s) encountered difficulty in the water at Killarney on Tuesday, August 12, at approximately 3.30pm. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. A file will be prepared for the coroner although Gardai are treating the incident as a tragic accident. He is survived by his parents Margaret and Liam, his sisters Valerie and Maureen and his brother Nathan A Rosary for Mr O'Rahilly Saturday evening at 8pm in Murphy's funeral home Barraduff. His remains will repose at Murphy's Funeral home Barraduff on Sunday evening from 5pm to 7.30pm, with removal at 7.30pm to the Sacred Heart Church, Barraduff. Requiem mass on Monday at 11am will be followed by burial afterwards in Kilquane cemetery. His Requiem Mass will be live streamed on Glenflesk Parish Facebook Page In Ireland, drownings have increased by 31% so far in 2025 compared to the same period last year. A total of 42 people have died in Irish waters up until June 2025. Water Safety Ireland says that drowning is a significant cause of accidental death, with 1,124 people drowning in Ireland in the past ten years.
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Cork road to close for Michael Collins Commemoration on Sunday
The L2011 at Béal na Bláth will be closed from 10:30am to 5pm on Sunday, August 24 to facilitate the Michael Collins Commemoration. The road closure is pursuant to Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993, and Article 12 of the Roads Regulations 1994. The alternative route for southbound traffic is to follow the R-585 west to junction with the L-2008 at Boxers Cross. Road users should follow the L-2008 south across the L-2006 and onto the L-6013 into Newcetown village. Take the L-2009 northeast to the L-2011 at Mossgrove. The diversion is applicable in reverse when travelling in the opposite direction. Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the road closure. The Michael Collins Commemoration takes place on the Sunday closest to August 22 each year, as General Michael Collins, commander-in-chief of the Irish army, was killed in an ambush during the Civil War on that date.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Family of glam Irish designer found dead on US yacht ‘stunned' over new brain cancer claims as they hire top lawyer
US DETECTIVES investigating the death of an Irish designer found dead on a yacht in New York are probing claims that she had been battling brain cancer. Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, 33, was found dead on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club in the Hamptons on Long Island last Tuesday after a business meeting with insurance tycoon Christopher Durnan at the Club. 4 Martha Nolan-O'Slattara, 33, was found dead on a boat last week Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA 4 Martha moved to New York from Carlow ten years ago Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA Durnan, 60, reportedly ran screaming down the dock for help at the ritzy club, where he was well-known, after a 911 call reported Nolan was unconscious on board. A preliminary investigation and exam of the scene last week was inconclusive and detectives said a post-mortem exam didn't show evidence of any violence. Carlow woman Martha's cause of death has still not been determined and her family has been told a final post-mortem report will take at least three months to complete. Now, it has been claimed that the up-and-coming fashion designer could have been battling brain cancer before her death. According to The Irish Independent, Martha's mum Elma - who is currently in the US to repatriate her daughter - was asked by detectives about claims that her daughter had brain cancer. The grief-stricken mum was left "stunned" by the claims and told cops that her daughter was "perfectly healthy". Martha's family have engaged with a top lawyer in the US and are seeking a "second-opinion autopsy" before the body is embalmed and prepared for repatriation to Ireland. Criminal defence attorney Arthur Aidala said he is touch with the district attorney's office and confirmed the family has had a sit-down with Suffolk County homicide detectives. Aidala said cops are doing a "deep investigation" into the cause of death of the successful young swimsuit designer and confirmed "people are still being questioned" over the case. Secret legal battles of designer, 33, mysteriously found dead on luxury yacht as new timeline of last hours emerges He said: "There is still a very intense investigation focused on why a young woman is dead. "The autopsy report did show that there was no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds on her hands, no obvious signs of trauma. "The medical examiner is really focusing now on her blood and the other fluids that are being sent to toxicology to see what's going on. "There were rumours that she possibly had some form of brain cancer and that is being investigated as well." DRUG PROBE Suffolk County's East End Drug Task Force has joined the investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The task force is now analysing whether drugs might have played a role in the death. Police are still waiting for toxicology results from the medical examiner, which could take several months to complete. The tests will determine whether there was any substance in her system that contributed to her death. Nolan, who moved to New York when she was 26, had been staying with her boyfriend in the Montauk area at the time of her death. It is understood that the pair had visited Ireland at Christmas. She reportedly called him in the hours before her death and told him she was going to book an Uber and get home around 1am. The tragic young woman was found dead at around 12am local time. 4 A task force is now analysing whether drugs might have played a role in Martha's death Credit: Social Media
