ST BRIGID’S Day was celebrated in style in a city parish with a special Mass to mark the golden jubilee of the church named after the patron saint, and to launch an accompanying book. Bishop Brendan Leahy was the chief celebrant of the Mass in St Brigid’s Church located in St Patrick’s Parish, Dublin Road. He was joined on the altar by current and former priests of the parish. The choir from St Brigid’s Primary School added to the celebrations which was fitting as the church is located in Singland. Following the Mass, an accompanying book entitled St Brigid’s Church - Fifty Years Serving a Grateful Community was launched in Fairview Rangers Soccer Club. It was compiled by renowned local history buff Sean Curtin, formerly a long-serving member of this parish. Sean found one fantastic aerial photo of the parish taken in 1954 which shows how almost rural it was. The construction of Garryowen had not yet been started. Bishop Leahy wrote a piece for the book in which he congratulates and prays God’s blessing upon the people of the parish of St Patrick as they celebrate the opening fifty years ago of St Brigid's Church. “The church building is located on a site in the townland of Singland - one of the high places of Limerick Diocese - that is the reputed location of an early monastic settlement with a thousand-year-old tradition that St Patrick himself visited this place,” wrote Bishop Leahy. READ MORE: Major development as retailer primed for former Debenhams store in Limerick Canon Joseph Shire, parish priest, also shared his thoughts in the book. “This book will cover a lot of memories for people down the years in the life of the parish and every aspect is covered from the social, culture and sporting. In the Church we are grateful to all the priests who have ministered in the parish. “We are grateful to the parish pastoral council and the finance committee for continuing to make the parish active and vibrant,” wrote Canon Shire. For more pictures, click 'Next'
PICTURES: Golden jubilee of Limerick's St Brigid Church weaves local community together
