A special Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell will be held in the Franciscan Friary in Clonmel today. The Friary will close following the service as announced last year. Priests at the church will be relocated next week. The Franciscans are also departing Cork and Athlone. Yesterday a final service was held at the Waterford Friary – Masses in Waterford had been led by Friars from Clonmel since 2019. St. Luke’s in Clonmel was recently deconsecrated, marking the end of the chaplaincy provided at that location by Friars. The closures are the result of declining vocations over several years.
The closure in Clonmel brings to an end the presence of Franciscans in the town they have served since 1269. Later today the Franciscans are expected to announce details in respect of the future use of the Church and adjacent resident and administrative properties. The service today will be led by Fr Aidan McGrath and begins at 11.30am. The Franciscan Friars are expressing deep appreciation and gratitude to all their benefactors who supported the church in Clonmel through the centuries. The Mass can be viewed on YouTube at the link available here.
