Huge turnout for special celebration honouring popular Offaly nun

A very special celebration brought the Clara community out in droves to honour the very popular Sr Immaculata Barrett. 

Mass was celebrated by Fr. Joe Deegan in St. Brigids Church, Clara and Bishop Tom Deenihan presided.

Apologies were received from Bishop Michael Smith who was unable to attend. 

The concelebrants were Fr. Padraig McMahon, Fr. Denis McNeilus, Fr. Tony Gavin, Fr. Sean McDermott, Fr. Seamus Houlihan, Fr. Martin Halpin Fr. Luke & Fr. Conor McGee.

Also present were Sr. Immaculata’s family and friends from her native Connemara and her sisters in religion. 

Sr. Immaculata was born in Furnish, Leitir Mor  Galway. A fluent Irish speaker, she never lost her love of  the Irish language and was delighted that many parts of the Mass were “As Gaeilge”. 

Her family participated in the Mass by doing the prayers and readings in Irish. She was particularly delighted to have her grandnieces and grand nephew playing the organ and singing during the Mass.

After Mass, the  Scouts Den was transformed to welcome the hundreds of people from Offaly and Galway and many other parts of the country who had gathered to honour one of Clara’s greatly esteemed residents on what would be an unforgettable day.

The celebration was organised by her friends and was a surprise for Sr. Immaculata.  Although known for her quiet, soft spoken, gentle ways, Sr Immaculata was a very deserving centre of attention for a day that gave the people of Clara a chance to show the height of esteem in which she is held.