STATUE OF OUR LADY WAS ERECTED AFTER WIFE’S DYING WISH
MR REYNOLDS, GM OF THE DUBLIN UNITED TRAMWAYS, ORGANISES CLOGHERHEAD TRIBUTE
A BEAUTIFUL STATUE of Our Lady of Lourdes was unveiled in Clogherhead by Very Rev. B. Larkin, O.P.. Limerick, following its blessing and dedication by Most Rev. Dr. A. O’Kelly, Bishop of Sierra Leone.
The statue, sculptured.by Mr. Eric Gill, well-known Irish-American sculptor, stands in a simple stone grotto inside the entrance to the Church at Hackett’s Cross and behind it lies a story of singular piety and devotion.
The statue was erected by Mr. A. P. Reynolds, General Manager of the Dublin United Tramways Co., in fulfilment of a promise made to his deceased wife.
Mrs. Reynolds was a sister of Mr. J. M. Stanley, prominent Drogheda man, and proprietor of cinemas in Drogheda, Dundalk, and Monaghan.
Her death took place just a year ago. Rev. Fr. Larkin told the story that Mrs Reynolds contracted a serious illness and went to Lourdes, praying for a cure and promising to erect a statue in a little church.
Her prayers were not heard and the fatal illness continued its course. As she was dying, she exacted from her husband a promise that the statue would still be erected, and she chose for the purpose this little church.
She was devoted to Our Lady and to the Rosary, and was anxious to spread devotion to Our Lady.
Following the recital of the Rosary, in which the congregation were led by Rev. J. McCooey, C.C., Clogherhead, and the sermon by Rev. Fr. Larkin, O.P., Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was imparted by Most Rev. Dr._O’Kelly, who was assisted by Rev. Fr. Larkin, and Rev. Fr. McCooey.
The Statue was then blessed by Most Rev. Dr. O’Kelly, in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and parishioners and, was unveiled by Rev. Father Larkin.