Picture taken by Tipperary photographer takes on a new meaning 20 years later

The new leader of the Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV visited FethardFethard 20 years ago.

Many people in Fethard will have fond memories of the visit to the town in June 2005 of Fr Robert Provost, elected as the new pontiff last Thursday.

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As the then General of the Augustinian Order he was in Fethard for the celebration to mark the 700 years of the Augustinians in Fethard.

Pope Leo XIV , the name US-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken, greeted worshippers on the balcony of the Vatican on Thursday as the world watched the historic moments unfold.
Fethard photographer Joe Kenny was not watching but a short time after those historic scenes unfolded he received a phone call.

SURPRISE
On the phone was Fr Iggy O’Donovan who informed Joe that he taken pictures of the new Pope 20 years previously.
“I was surprised,it is great for Fethard to get a bit of a promotion from the visit,” said Joe Kenny.
Joe was visited last year by Fr Iggy, who served for some years in the Augustinian Abbey in Fethard, and they were looking over the pictures that were taken twenty years ago and Fr Iggy helped Joe complete captions for the pictures from the day.

“Fr Iggy told me that Fr Provost was now a Cardinal but I had no idea he could be the new Pope and I was not watching the television. When Fr Iggy rang me that was the first I knew of it. Fr Iggy went to college with the new Pope and he rang me to let me know,” said Joe.

Joe said he could remember the day very well.
“I remember being introduced to him but I can’t remember having a conversation with him,” said Joe.
“I do recall saying to myself that Fr Provost was the main man at the occasion so I kept focussing on him and thankfully I took a good few pictures of him on the day,” said the Fethard photographer.

Joe said he was fortunate to have always kept a good archive of pictures and the details of the names and events over the years.

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“It is important to have all of the information recorded accurately at the time as you never know it may be needed again in the future,” said Joe.