Praise for organisers of St Kilian's relics' events
“You know what they say about a pat on the back? It's about six inches from a kick in the arse. So, when I get it, I'll take it,” opined Independent Ireland representative Shane P O'Reilly who came in for considerable praise as being one of the instigators behind bringing the relics of St Kilian back to Mullagh.
The local elected representative was speaking at the monthly meeting of councillors where congratulations were extended to Cavan County Council for the role it played in helping facilitate the historic occasion earlier this month.
Indeed, Cllr O'Reilly spoke of his immense personal pride. Becoming emotional, he told his fellow chamber colleagues how his son and daughter had joined him on the journey to bring full circle the legacy of a local man who left for Germany 1,300 years ago.
“They got it,” he said, holding back the tears.
Their interest, Cllr O'Reilly continued, was indicative of a wider group of young people across the Diocese of Kilmore.
The major religious and civic event saw the relics arrive to Rosslare before being transported to St Patrick's Pontifical University in Maynooth, and after to Mullagh where they remained at the church named after the local saint.
This was marked by a procession from St Kilian's Well, past Mullagh Lake and Teampaill Ceallaigh, the oldest church in the parish, and the St Kilian Heritage Centre.
The reliquary carrying the relics of St Kilian and his martyred colleagues - Saints Totnan and Kolonat - also visited Cross before making their way to Cavan Town and the Cathedral of Ss Patrick & Felim.
More than 140 pilgrims, along with Bishop Franz Jung of Würzburg and Monsignor Jürgen Vorndran, were in attendance at an event, which Cllr O'Reilly said “will live long in the memory”.
He thanked his council colleagues and the executive, both past and present, for assisting in realising his vision, which started alongside the now Chief Executive Eoin Doyle with a visit to Würzburg 10 years ago where St Kilian is venerated.
The return of St Kilian's relics was “the most emotional and spiritual event” Cllr O'Reilly said he'd ever experienced, adding with amazement: “If it does one thing, those four days, it has renewed the faith of young people.”
Cllr O'Reilly also thanked former Chief Executive, now retired Tommy Ryan; local authority staff such as area staff John McGahern and James Boyle; Conor Harrington who he said was a “great ambassador” for the council; Director of Services Lynda McGavigan; John Maguire and Cavan Civil Defence; Cavan Fire Service and Virginia Station Officer Patrick Farrelly; and An Garda Síochána.
“One hundred thousand thank yous,” he expressed, highlighting the roles also of Bishop of Kilmore, Martin Hayes; Parish Priest Fr Paul Prior, Bishop Jung and Mons Vondran.
“Maynooth, Mullagh, Cross and Cavan, it was a surreal experience and the likes probably we won't see in our lifetime again.”
Mr Doyle, speaking on behalf of the executive, thanked Cllr O'Reilly for his recognition of the work of council staff. He credited the army of volunteers in Mullagh, saying: “The area has a tremendous asset and that asset is its people.”
He concluded by acknowledging how the visit has served to deepen an already healthy relationship between the areas of Mullagh and Cavan and Würzburg and Kürnach.
Earlier other elected members had been effusive in their praise of the series of events staged around the visit of the relics, with due deference paid to Cllr O'Reilly and others like Madeline Ui Mhealoid who also played a crucial role.