Chai Brady
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel and Emly blesses the restored statue of Archbishop Patrick Leahy in the yard of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. A statue of an archbishop that was decapitated outside the cathedral in Tipperary was restored and then blessed on December 17.
The vandals who targeted the statue of Archbishop Patrick Leahy, which is based outside the front of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles, were not caught. Despite an investigation launched after the attack in 2019, the culprits nor the head were found. The statue has been covered up since with construction curtains so as to preserve the integrity of the sculpture.
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly blessed the statue at the annual carol service.
The statue of Archbishop Leahy was built in 1911 and recognises his contribution to the building of the cathedral. The prelate was Archbishop of Cashel and Emly from 1857-1875.
Sculptor Stephen Burke carried out the restoration work.