The people of Clonmel bid a last goodbye during poignant farewell

It was a sad and solemn occasion, an historic event, one that the people of Clonmel hoped they would never have had to witness.
After a Franciscan Order presence in the town since 1269, the people of Clonmel were deeply saddened and powerless in the face of reality by the withdrawal of the friars from the town.
So accustomed to their gentle, kind and caring ministry, the fear of letting go was on the minds of the people of Clonmel as they made their way through the streets of the town to the Friary for a Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell on the Feast of the Epiphany last Friday morning.
With a heavy heart the faith community of Clonmel bid a sad farewell to the Franciscan friars - where their presence has been felt for over 750 years.

DEEP LOSS

There was a great sense of regret and a deep loss etched on the faces of the people of all ages who filled every seat in the Friary and those who stood against the walls of the beautiful church as they gathered to give a final salute to the Franciscan friars.
Each person that attended would have had their own personal connection with the Friary, a connection and devotion that was passed down from generation to generation for centuries in Clonmel.

COMFORT

All would have availed of the tranquil and peaceful escape from daily life the Friary offered in the heart of Clonmel throughout their lives.

They, and their families before them, had been the beneficiaries of the spiritual guidance and comfort given by their beloved friars and they gathered in thanksgiving to pay their respects and give thanks.

LAST GOODBYE
Tears were shed during a poignant last goodbye. It was an occasion filled with emotion and heartbreak which accurately reflected the extent to which the Franciscan Friary and the friars were part of the fabric of the town.
The town has suffered numerous demoralising blows over the years but this departure lanced the very soul of the town, the loss; immeasurable.

CROMWELL
The friars in Clonmel have survived inquisition, Penal Laws, Cromwell, famine, flooding and a pandemic.
Their loss after centuries in the town will have a profound and long-lasting effect on the people of Clonmel.
They were comforted by the words of the Principal Celebrant Fr Aidan McGrath, OFM Minister Provincial, who told the people of Clonmel that they now had a role to play in carrying on the good work of the Franciscan friars now that they were leaving Clonmel.

Fr McGrath said he understood that the withdrawal of the Franciscan Friars was something they could not grasp or understand.
He understood the upset and in some cases the anger of the people at the loss of the Franciscan Friary in the town.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
He called on the people of the town to move forward and implored them to carry on the work of the Franciscans.
Fr McGrath said the friars had strived to observe the Holy Gospel for over 750 years in Clonmel.

HOLY GOSPEL
“The time has come for us to withdraw but we pray that, in all that time, we have sown some seeds that will help you to continue to live according to the Holy Gospel. This call received at our Baptism transcends all human affections and all human loyalties. Our hope is that you can live authentically according to the Holy Gospel, share the joy of that Gospel with others, give thanks to God for what has been received and for what each of you can contribute into the future – that you can continue to be a light in the darkness,” he said.