Easter Sunday in Cloughjordan

Published: Tue 22 Mar 2016, 4:00 PM

As part of the year-long programme of events in 2016 to commemorate Thomas MacDonagh, ceremonies have been planned in Cloughjordan, which will take place on Easter Sunday, March 27th.

These include the unveiling of a plaque at the youth club (former school) where MacDonagh and his siblings went to school and where his parents Joseph MacDonagh and Mary Louise MacDonagh (neé Parker) taught.

The programme for the day is as follows:

· Assemble on Main Street, Cloughjordan opposite Murphy’s Shop at 10.20am.

· Head to Centra.

· From there march to St Michael & John’s Churchyard (leaving Centra at 10.45am) led by two pipers from Thomas MacDonagh Pipe Band, Templemore.

· Retired Army Officers perform Guard of Honour.

· On arrival at St Michael & John’s Church, the Army colour party will take up positions in the church where they will partake in the ceremonies at Mass (11am).

· After Mass the pipers and Army personnel will lead the procession down Main St.

· On arrival at the old school (youth club) Jim Casey, Chairperson of the 2016 Commemoration Committee, will invite Cllr Ger Darcy, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Council and member of the committee, to unveil the wall plaque (12.30pm, approx).

· After this ceremony, the band members and army personnel will be transported to Mounsey’s Cross where they will assemble and march to Grawn Graveyard (1.15pm ,approx).

· Other participants will walk in procession to Grawn (weather permitting); however, transport will be available if required (Participants are advised not to take their own cars to Grawn as parking may present a problem).

· On arrival there will be an Ecumenical Blessing by Fr Sean Dwan, Reverend Ruth Gill and Rev Shannon De Laureal (2pm, approx).

· Jim Casey will speak on behalf of organisers and community and will introduce Tom Cleary of Ballycapple, who will unveil the information board.

· Attendees then move into the graveyard where Mrs Cahill of Grawn will lay a wreath on the MacDonagh graves.

· Paul McAuley, great grandson of Thomas MacDonagh, will speak.

· Representatives of the Retired Army Officers will play the last post.

· National Anthem will be played.

· All present will be invited for refreshments at the GAA complex where music will also be provided in conjunction with the committee for the Tipperary County Fleadh 2016 (3pm, approx).

The residents of Cloughjordan are urged to display tricolours and bunting and to have the village looking at its festive best to mark this historic occasion.

The organising committee would like to thank Cloughjordan Parish Council, Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA Club, Ireland 2016 and Tipperary County Council for their support for these events.

All are welcome to come along and join in.