In Pictures: Limerick hurling captain guest of honour at parish landmark anniversary

LIMERICK hurling captain Declan Hannon and the Liam MacCarthy Cup were the guests of honour as a city parish marked a landmark festive anniversary.

There was a big turnout at the parish hall adjacent to St Joseph's Church in O'Connell Avenue in Limerick city centre as a Christmas party was held for the first time since the onset of Covid-19.

As well as this, it is the 25th anniversary of the parish's Christmas celebration, the first one taking place in 1997.

Parishioners came from across the community to enjoy a turkey lunch, and they were joined by new Parish Priest Fr Liam Enright, and Bishop Brendan Leahy.

But it was Limerick's record-breaking captain - who lives opposite the church - that people wanted to have their pictures taken with.

And he duly obliged, spending 30 minutes posing for shots and ensuring nobody was left out.

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Fr Enright thanked those who had volunteered to cook the Christmas feast, and all those who give of their own time year-round to help St Joseph's Church.

In the intervening two years since Covid-19, the hall has had a lick of paint, and it was when pictures were re-erected on walls, the anniversary became clear.

"I don't know if it was hair colouring at the time, but there was a lot of darker hair in the photos," laughed Fr Enright.

Fr Enright acknowledged he is "standing on the shoulders" of the priests who have served St Joseph's Parish before him.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you for all you do in our parish, and wishing you and your families a holy and blessed Christmas, and a healthy New Year."