Published: Wednesday, 19th May, 2010 5:00pm

Traveller row upsets Cavan Communion ceremony

Families as they gather for the communion ceremony in Cavan. At the left foreground, you can see the pink hummer, rumoured to be at the root of the row.

An ugly cat-fight between two traveller women marred what should have been a memorable occasion for young boys and girls who were making their Holy Communion in Cavan town last Saturday.

The row erupted before the ceremony and Gardaí had to come to break up the fight and then supervise the religious service.

Gardaí were called to the Cathedral of SS Patrick and Felim to quell the disturbance that lasted for almost 25 minutes as both ladies didn't hold back. Shocked children and parents looked on in dismay as fists flew.

The row began between two different families on the steps of the Cathedral before the communion ceremony and overflowed into the body of the church.

Fr. Ultan McGoohan who was presiding at the ceremony confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that an incident did occur and he described it as "unfortunate".

He added: "Gardaí were called and remained for the duration of the ceremony."

There had been talk that the row was over the size of two Hummer vehicles, one pink and the other white, being used by the families but this has been dispelled by Fr. McGoohan.

Fr. McGoohan added that there were no further incidents. "The whole incident was terribly upsetting experience for the children and parents as they arrived at the church."

Fifty children from Saint Clare's NS, Gaelscoil Bhreifne and one Polish pupil from the Cavan No. 1 School were receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion. "The whole incident put a dampener on the early proceedings." Despite the set-back Fr. McGoohan was able to complete the service without delay. "There has been no apology as yet from the warring factions," he added.

According to one on looker: "Everyone in the church was stunned. The women were beating each other, pulling hair and calling each others whores."

A garda spokesman also confirmed that an incident involving two females did occur at the cathedral at about midday on Saturday but no arrest were made.

However, one female was arrested later that night in connection with the earlier incident.