Public pay farewell to Mount Melleray in County Waterford

Hundreds flocked to Mount Melleray last weekend for the final mass hosted by the abbey's cistercian monks.

Emotions were understandably high, as church-goers from across the country said goodbye to the monks, at least for the time being.

During the service, the public were offered the reassurance and hope that one day the monks may return to Waterford.

For now however, they will be situated at Roscrea, as an interim measure.

Bishop Cullinan said on the day: "Please God they will persevere, and please God many more will join them, so that the monks can return to this holy place on the slopes of the Knockmealdowns."

Speaking to a number of attendees following the final mass, a significant number spoke on how well prepared the grounds were, and how touching the mass was. 

Others complimented the choir for their characteristically beautiful renditions. 

Marie Morrissey, from the west of the county said: “We’ll really miss it. The monks were always great and we’d always come up a few times a year to visit and walk the abbey."

Another local, Andrew, said he regularly uses the St. Declan’s Way walk, which borders the abbey: “It will be a bit different now passing through but its always nice to see it anyway and it offers a lot to the area, so hopefully it will be maintained."

He added: “I do the walk every now and then, and today I had to come up by myself to see the crowds."

"The people stewarding are doing a good job. There's only so much space here so its hard to get everyone in and make space but they have everything laid out nicely for parking.

Another visitor, who travelled from Mayo to attend the service said:

“It was a very nice mass. It’s a special place here, and Waterford is lucky to have it. So hopefully it will come back at some point, but who knows."

Read more about the story of this historically significant abbey here