‘The Dawning Of The Day’ - IRD Duhallow’s Annual Dawn Mass 2025

By LENORA KELLY IRD Duhallow Development Officer

The IRD Duhallow Annual Dawn Mass saw the gathering of many members throughout the community at the source of the blackwater. The 27th of March was a dry spring morning, with clear skies, with the sun rising as mass commenced. The mass was performed by Fr. Tom Looney. Fr Looney blessed water that was collected by Connie and Julie Mary O’Connor from the source of the blackwater. Everyone who attended mass received a bottle. Following mass, the congregation enjoyed tea, coffee, and scones provided by DCFS and their fantastic staff. The whole event was accompanied with early morning birdsong which acted as the perfect soundtrack to the wonderful proceedings.

IRD Duhallow wishes to thank you to everyone who joined us and to everyone who helped organise it. IRD Duhallow would like to thank Fr Tom Looney for

celebrating the mass, Dr. Séamus O’Máille for giving us few words about his book; Walking the Munster Blackwater: Ó Thriopall Go Caoin Eochaill, Laura Dunlea and Anne Marie Lehane for doing the music, and Leo Fitzgerald for streaming the mass online for those who could not attend. The full mass ceremony can be found on YouTube, the video title is Dawn Mass at Source of The Blackwater. Link to video -

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xPTrclCDMHc

The ceremony was well attended by people from all over Duhallow.

Deirdre Dunlea performed mass readings.

Noreen Flaherty performed mass readings.

Dr. Séamus O’Máille gave a background about his book; Walking the Munster Blackwater: Ó Thriopall Go Caoin Eochaill.

Fr. Tom Looney performed the mass.

Laura Dunlea and Ann Marie Lehane provided the music.

IRD Duhallow CEO, Maura Walsh, adressed the congregation in attendence.

Some of those who attended included James Kelly, Nora Quirke, Peg Fitzgerald, Eileen Fitzgerald, and Margaret Kelly.

IRD Duhallow staff who helped organise the event; Ciarán Carmody, Lenora Kelly and Colm O’Connor

IRD Duhallow’s DCFS provided lovely refreshments after the ceremony.

IRD Duhallow’s Tadhg Curtin sent the IRD drone up in the air to provide a bird’s eye view of the Blackwater source as people arrived. More footage and photographs of the event can be viewed on the IRD Duhallow CLG Facebook page.