Plans announced for Cork city's 99th Eucharistic procession

Some 99 years after Cork’s first Eucharistic procession to mark the feast of Corpus Christi, plans have been announced for the 2025 event, which will culminate in a public prayer and benediction in the city centre.

Cork’s Eucharistic procession – for many years the largest in the country - owes its place in the city’s religious heritage to Cork’s position as a central battle ground of Ireland’s Civil War.

The first procession occurred in 1926 after a group of city businessmen approached the then bishop, Daniel Cohalan, himself a controversial figure from the Civil War, with the notion of a staging a Eucharistic procession through the city to celebrate the Catholic faith.

That first procession, which was seen at the time as part of wider efforts to heal bitter divisions in the city and county, saw 40,000 people attend.

Times have changed in the near-century since then, but last year saw almost 4,000 of the city’s faithful brave heavy rain, and the diocese of Cork and Ross is hopeful that this year will see even more in attendance.

Announcing the 2025 procession, the bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan Gavin, said this year’s procession would be different in that have the final prayer and benediction on a specially constructed platform at the National Monument on Grand Parade.

“This will allow for greater participation of the growing numbers participating,” he said.

“I’m most grateful for everyone’s assistance in continuing - and growing - this long-standing Cork tradition.” 

The bishop added that this year’s procession would have participants from every continent and many countries.

“Cork’s Catholic parishes have been welcoming newcomers to Cork for a couple of decades now and they are making a very valuable contribution to the life of our parishes and our diocese as well as working in so many walks of life.

“I’d like to invite individuals and groups from across the city and county to be part of the celebration. You cannot have the word ‘community’ without ‘unity’. I look forward to welcoming you on the day,” he said.

The procession will commence at 3pm on Sunday, June 22, from the North Cathedral and will be led by the Butter Exchange Band.

For more information, see corkandross.org.