Large turnout at Tipperary rural community's graveyard Mass
Templetenny Graveyard Mass was celebrated by Fr John Nally
The annual Mass at Templetenny Graveyard at Knocknagapple near Ballyporeen attracted a larger-than-usual attendance last Friday, August 7, helped by the great weather.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr John Nally, assisted by Fr Kristen, Michael Pyne and Marese Russell.
Fr John, who set up the altar on the old church wall, welcomed the congregation and noted this was his first time at Templetenny Church.
He was delighted the tradition of remembering those who have passed away is still maintained in the oldest church and graveyard in the parish.
After Mass, a decade of the Rosary was recited as Fr John and Fr Kristen traversed the four corners of the graveyard, blessing each grave and headstone.
The parish thanks Patrick Condon for accommodating parking in the neighbouring field and Tom Cleary, Kevin Russell, Neil Donovan and Mike Geary for graveyard maintenance prior to the Mass and to the Geary family of Fingerpost for the refreshments after the ceremony.
Many people have enquired about the headstone names in Templetenny Graveyard.
All those that are visible have been recorded and photographed with an accompanying map. This information is available for free online on the webpage, historicgraves.com under Templetenny or Knocknagapple.
This task was completed in 2012 as part of the Graveyards of the Ballyhoura - Peter Robinson Assisted Emigration Project and was led locally by Mary O’Gorman.
There are 177 headstones listed, but it must be noted that there are multiple burials with no headstone as is common for graveyards this old.