Thousands brave elements for centenary Cork city Eucharistic procession

The appalling weather could not deter the faithful attending the 100th Eucharistic procession in Cork city yesterday, and neither could a one-point defeat to Limerick.

In truth, the Munster hurling final didn’t seem to be on too many minds on the slow walk from the North Cathedral to the Grand Parade, even if – in the words of Bishop Fintan Gavin – “the weather couldn’t have been much worse”.

One organiser estimated there were more than 5,000 people in attendance, well up on last year, and that didn’t seem too much of a stretch, as young and old braved June rain that no longer feels unseasonal.

Cork's first Eucharistic procession occurred a century ago in a bid to bring the city together in the wake of the Civil War.

That first procession saw 40,000 people attend, and for many years the annual Cork ceremony was the largest in the country.

Times have changed since 1926, but Bishop Gavin told The Echo the turnout was a testament to the great faith of Cork people of all ages.

In his homily, the bishop said a century after the first Cork Eucharistic procession, the Catholic community in the city gathered “in faith, in prayer, and in hope”.

It was he said, a gathering in gratitude for all those who had gone before, who had carried the tradition through the century.

“Today isn’t just about looking back, it's not just an anniversary, about something that happened 100 years ago, it’s about recognising the Lord today, in the people who have gathered, in the Eucharist that we carried, the Lord who is with us, and leads us forward in faith.”