BY BRENDAN MEEHAN
There was both reverence and celebration at the Marion Shrine this morning as parents and Corpus Christi’s Communion group paid tribute to the fallen children of Moyross.
This year 15 children from Moyross made their First Communion and they brought out the sunshine and numerous well-wishers as they paraded down past homes and businesses in Hartigan Villas and Sarsfield Gardens.
The First Communion children came with flowers as part of the May Procession.
The Shrine, which is located in Castlepark, was erected in 1997, when a band of locals took the initiative to fill the void left by demolished houses with a picturesque shrine.
However, today was the turn of the kids to take centre stage, as they sported their beautifully flamboyant outfits and sung harmonious hymns.
“It’s a beautiful ceremony and it’s now part of the school calender,” said Tracy McElligott, estate management worker. She helped revive the May Procession which had been abandoned for the last number of years.
There are two ceremonies each year, the other one taking place on the 8th December specifically to remember every young adult and child who has died.
“Its very hard for parents to come to that one, the 8th of December, for obvious reasons,” said Tracy.
“The residents done most of the work, and the shrine honours all of the children that have passed away in the area,” she said. “There is huge respect for the shrine, the community enterprise workers keep the grass cut and the residents safeguard it.”
Fourteen years after its inception, the shrine looks as pristine as ever, as last year participants from the local youth project repainted the statue of Holy Mary.
PHOTOS (COPYLEFT) BY: ALLEN MEAGHER, 'CHANGING IRELAND'.
