St John's Eve to be celebrated at historic site in County Waterford

The celebration of St John's Eve (Oiche Fhéile Eoin) is to be celebrated this year on Monday, June 23 and will take place in a very special and historically significant location in County Waterford.

The celebration occurs traditionally on June 23 each year, the eve of the Feast of St John the Baptist.

It's something that used to be celebrated widely around Ireland and in certain areas still is.

This year, a Mass and a procession to the cemetery in Crooke will be celebrated at the Church of St John the Baptist in Crooke, Passage East, with the kind permission of Fr .PJ. Breen PP.

The location for the celebration was chosen not only because the Parish Church is dedicated to the saint but also because the ancient ruined Church at the cemetery once belonged to the Knights of Malta.

They received it after the suppression of the Knights Templar, who were the original owners. 

St John the Baptist is the principal patron of the Order of Malta, and his feast is always celebrated with great solemnity within the Order.  

This year's Mass will begin at 7pm and will be followed immediately by the procession. 

The celebrant will be Fr Tom Rogers, Chief Chaplain of the Order of Malta in Ireland, and all are very welcome to attend.