St oliver plunkett relic drawing hundreds in cavan town

Huge crowds are attending to pray at the relic of St Oliver Plunkett, which is in Cavan Town today (Tuesday).

Ireland’s only saint to be canonised in almost 700 years, the relic is in the Chapel of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The relic is, in fact, the saint's hip-bone.

Oliver Plunkett was sentenced to death in June 1861 for promoting the Catholic faith or “High Treason” for which he was hung, drawn and quartered.

There are relics of St Oliver Plunkett all around the world in counties such as England, Germany, Australia and the US.

This is the second year that Cavan has had the privilege of hosting the relic and the expected turnout of worshippers for the mass and veneration is expected to be around a thousand people.

Those who go to visit the relic can write prayers and petitions to be left beside it. The 5.45pm mass will be celebrated by Fr Tom McManus, PP Corlough and Drumreilly Lower. A new musical setting will be premiered during the mass in honour of St Columban 1400th aniversary, as composed by local cavan man Paul Flynn as today, June 9, also marks the feast-day of St Columba (Colmcille), one of the secondary patrons of Ireland.

The 8pm mass will be led by Archbishop-emeritus of Armagh, Cardinal Sean Brady and the music for that mass will be provided by the Ballyconnell Folk Group.