Heavy rain keeps Athlone Good Friday procession indoors

by David Flynn

Rain, which was heavy and squally at times, prevented the annual 'Way of the Cross' pilgrimage from taking place through Athlone's streets on Good Friday.

However, the faithful instead took part in a Stations of the Cross ceremony, which honoured Athlone people who have died in the past year, in St Mary's Catholic Church on the day.

With the procession due to be held at noon, the administrators of both St Mary's and Ss Peter and Paul's parishes, Fr Pat Murphy and Fr John Deignan, had to decide on Friday morning whether to take to the streets with the procession in the rain, or to hold it in St Mary’s Church.

"We decided at 10.30am, when myself and Fr Pat spoke, that we would have it in St. Mary's," said Fr. Deignan. "I'm not sure if it was a good or a bad idea, but it certainly was a dry idea!"

The comment got a laugh from the gathering in the church, which was made up of a slightly smaller crowd than the 300-plus who marched in fine weather from St Peter and Paul’s Church to St Mary’s last year.

However, the spirit of the crowd in the Athlone church during Easter 2025 was no less reverential as they celebrated the Way of the Cross ceremony.

Music was played on the organ by the Ss Peter and Paul’s choir master, PJ Stacey. PJ played many religious hymns which reflected the following of the faith, and the Stations of the Cross.

Fourteen Athlone people who died over the past year were honoured at the Good Friday ceremony by some of their family members. There are fourteen Stations of the Cross which depict the death of Jesus Christ on the Friday of Easter week, so each of the local deceased people were honoured at a certain point in the stations.

In previous years family members would carry the wooden cross for a short distance in the town procession, before handing it to another family. On this Good Friday, due to the weather, family members stood at the St Mary’s Church altar holding the cross, and a picture of the particular station event.

Fr Pat Murphy, Administrator of St Mary’s parish, gave an opening welcome to the Good Friday gathering before the ceremony began.

The hymns began with 'Amazing Grace', and the choir was made up of the gathering throughout the church, accompanied by PJ on the organ.

It continued to rain heavily outside while the congregation in the church participated in prayers, hymns, and remembrances for the families’ loved ones.

"Thank you all for being part of it," Fr John Deignan told the gathering.

"We are conscious, each year we gather for this celebration, that many of you are still struggling with the loss of the one we have come here to remember, and it’s easy to feel that others have forgotten, but we haven’t forgotten.

"Today through this Easter Season, God will fill your heart with the hope of resurrection and reassurance that through our faith we will be reunited with those we loved."

He also thanked An Garda Siochana, who, he said, were ready to manage traffic for the procession through town, but "were let off the hook" due to the elements.

"It's a special celebration every year and one that is worth keeping going as we go forward," said Fr Deignan.

The Holloway family was represented by Paul and Doreen, who remembered Paul’s brother Mark, who died last September. Mark lived in The Elms, Cartontroy during his school years in Marist College in the 1980s. He made many friends during that time, and his passing was sadly lamented.

Speaking after the ceremony, Paul paid tribute to his brother. "He was a good lad," said Paul.

"He loved life, and it got cut very short, and we are all a little bit worse off because of that. I wasn't sure what to expect today, but actually it was very nice."

The family of the late Marie Rushe from St Anne’s Terrace was represented by John, Christine and Helen.

The trio, each of whom have been members of the choir and folk group at Ss Peter and Paul's church for many years, joined the congregation of St Mary's in song, during their carrying of the cross and station picture, to the tune of The Old Rugged Cross.

Marie died peacefully six months ago and her family spoke emotionally about her to the Westmeath Independent after the ceremony.

"Today was very special to us. Mam has only gone six months, but there's not a day goes by that I don't think of her," said Helen.

"She would have loved to have seen the three of us up on the altar. It was very special to us."

Christine said that if Marie were alive, she would have been at the ceremony and would have sung to her heart's content!

"Mam was 38 years in Ss Peter and Paul’s choir, and all of this today is part of our own tradition, because I can't remember a time when we weren't involved in Ss Peter and Paul's," said John.

"I did seven years as an altar server, and I was three and a half years as a cleaner/caretaker in the church."

John Rushe has also been 32 years involved in Ss Peter and Paul's senior choir, and 29 years in the church folk group.

"It means a lot for us to be here in St Mary's today," said John. "It's all part of the healing process I suppose, and it was a very special ceremony for us today."

Christine and Helen both said that they were glad to be there for their mother, Marie.

"At the end of the day, we did this today for Mam, and she would have been proud," said Christine.