Pictures: Fine weather sees big crowd attend Mass at Lee Road shrine

Organisers of an annual Mass at the Holy Rosary Shrine on Lee Road welcomed one of the biggest crowds in years and said they were blessed with the weather and flower donations from the community.

The 73rd Annual Mass and Devotions on the Lee Road took place at 7.30pm on August 15, marking The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross diocese, was the chief celebrant for the Mass, which was also attended by several priests from Cork parishes and representatives from Cork City Council.

Co-ordinator Colette Fitzpatrick said: “We had the biggest crowd we’ve had for many years, and we were exceptionally lucky with the weather.

“Thursday morning up to mid-afternoon, it was very dull and dark, but thankfully our prayers must have been heard because from about 4.30pm to 8.30pm, the sun shone beautifully.”

Ms Fitzpatrick thanked Bishop Gavin and the many priests from Cork diocese in attendance, as well as the Clogheen Church Choir and the Cork Butter Exchange Brass & Reed Band who played at the event.

“Donations of flowers to decorate the altar poured in on the day of the mass, and the altar was beautiful,” she said, thanking those who had donated the flowers.

Representing the Lord Mayor of Cork at the event was Fianna Fáil councillor for Cork City North West Dr John Sheehan, who told The Echo: “I was delighted to deputise for councillor Dan Boyle at this Mass which is in its 73rd year.

“It was a lovely evening, a real sense of summer with the sunshine obliging, and there’s a great community spirit in Clogheen and Kerry Pike and their parish. They were working hard to improve the grotto and taking care of the surrounding area for the last number of weeks in preparation.

“It’s an annual event and people come from right across the city, I met people from the northside, from Bishopstown, Douglas and even some who had driven up from West Cork. So it’s not just a local event but a regional one.

“The Butter Exchange band who play there every year certainly add an awful lot to the sense of occasion.

“Overall the Mass gave people a bit of time to reflect. It was a very nice evening in terms of pausing and thinking back on things in life, remembering people who are not here anymore and looking forward to the future,” he said.

Also in attendance was fellow Fianna Fáil councillor for Cork City North West Tony Fitzgerald, who highlighted the importance of the shrine and the annual Mass.

He told The Echo: “The Lee Road shrine is a very special place for families to remember their loved ones and for those who are bereaved.

“The Mass embraces a liturgical and community celebration involving lots of volunteers who not only organise the Mass but maintain and upkeep the shrine throughout the year.”