UPDATE: Group vows to continue protest at Clonmel church despite High Court action

The Abbey House of Prayer Group has vowed to continue their protest at Clonmel's former Friary church over the decision to close it as place of worship despite the Franciscan Order initiating High Court action to compel the group to vacate the building.

In the High Court in Dublin yesterday (Thursday), Mr. Justice David Nolan granted permission to the Franciscan Order to serve proceedings over alleged trespass on the prayer group's officers, chairman Patrick O’Gorman and secretary Joseph McCormack.

Mr O'Gorman told The Nationalist they have been served with a notice to appear before the High Court next Tuesday but pointed out the prayer group's members and other volunteers will continue their sit-in in the meantime.

He said they expect the High Court to issue an order next Tuesday directing them to vacate the church. He vowed to continue their protest outside the church if they have to end the sit-in.

“We are disappointed the Franciscans have taken such a hardline approach. All we want is for mediation to take place but they are refusing to go down that route.”

Mr O'Gorman said the Preserve the Abbey House of Prayer petition will be available to sign at the Main Guard in Clonmel tomorrow (Saturday) between 12 noon and 3.30pm. He estimated the petition, set up by Thomas Ryan who is involved in the sit-in, has so far been signed by about 2,000 people. 

The Abbey House of Prayer Group's sit-in began on New Year's Eve and was prompted by the decision of the Franciscan Order to permanently close the church building from that date.

The voluntary group had been allowed to keep the church open as the Abbey House of Prayer since June 2023 under a temporary caretakers agreement with the Franciscan Order, whose members departed Clonmel six months earlier due to falling vocations. People could visit the Abbey House of Prayer daily for prayers and Mass was celebrated there twice a week up to the end of December.