Courtney McGrailShrule parish in Co. Galway recently hosted a weekend of 1916 commemorations in memory of Fr Henry Feeney, chaplain to the Galway Brigade.
The celebrations included a recital of poetry written by Patrick Pearse and WB Yeats and a presentation by Dr Conor McNamara on ‘Fr Feeney, Hero of the Galway Rebellion 1916’.
On the Sunday Bishop Martin Drennan celebrated Mass which was followed by procession to Fr Feeney’s grave.Here the Proclamation was read, a wreath laid at Fr Feeny’s grave by a family relative and the National Flag by was raised by the Colour Troop from Renmore Barracks followed by a recital of the National Anthem. There was then a social gathering in the school hall.
Parish priest Fr Vivian Loughrey said “the spirit of the parish which was very much evident” during the celebration weekend, and “it was an historical occasion for the Feeney family and the parish; one to remember and recall in the future”.