Icon draws crowds of thousands
THE Icon of the Holy Family, specially commission ahead of this August’s World Meeting of Families ( WMOF) in Ireland and the visit of Pope Francis, is now well into its fortnight in the Kerry Diocese, moving yesterday from St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney, to St John’s Church, Tralee.
Part of a tour around Ireland ahead of the WMOF, the Icon was in St Mary’s Church, Listowel, and Holy Cross Church, Kenmare, ahead of its visit to Kerry’s two largest towns. Thousands visited St Mary’s Cathedral to pray before the Icon of the Holy Family during its five-day stay in Killarney. The Icon was welcomed to Tralee yesterday and its visit to Kerry concludes on April 20 ahead of moving to the Clogher Diocese.
St Mary’s Cathedral was left open until 9pm on several nights during the Killarney visit, and Fr Kieran O’Brien described the flow of people through the Cathedral as “constant”, pointing to families and schools visiting to leave petitions and say the Family Prayer. Written by Mihai Cucu with assistance from te Redemptorine Sisters of the Monastery of St Alphonsus in Dublin, the Icon was unveiled and anointed in August of last year.
It takes the form of a triptych, with Archangels Michael and Gabriel written on its front doors. The central image inside is of the Holy Famil gathered at a table, with the Wedding Feast of Cana and the Healing of Jairus’ daughter on its inside panels. A petition box accompanied the Icon, with intentions to be brought to the WMOF and prayed for by religious communities throughout Ireland. TWO of Ireland’s best-known public figures from the last 40 years will be among the list of high-profile speakers at the 2018 Probus All Ireland Rally which takes place in Tralee from May 15 to 17.
Dick Spring and Mary O’Rourke, who have both served as Tánaiste over the course of their careers, will be joined on Wednesday 16 May by a number of high-profile speakers including: Dr Darragh Naughton, Audiology Medical Services; Justin Moran, Head of Advocacy at Age Action Ireland; Gareth Arnold, Rotary International District Governor for Ireland; and Aodh de Burca, Southern Liaison Officer Probus.
Audiology Medical Services, have been unveiled as the associate sponsor of this year’s Probus All Ireland Rally.
Actor and storyteller Owen McMahon will be the Master of Ceremonies at the opening night concert which will feature music from the award-winning Opus 96 Chamber Choir and Réaltaí Nua Traditional Group
The 2018 PROBUS All-Ireland Rally will commence on Tuesday, 15 May, with a number of events including a parade from the Mall to the Brandon Hotel where Kerry County Council will host a Civic Reception for all delegates.
The 10 PROBUS clubs in Kerry, eight in Tralee and one each in Dingle and Castleisland, have a membership of about 350.