President Higgins attends prayer service in Church St

Monday, 16 May 2016

Yesterday (Sunday 15th of May 2016) President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina, attended a prayer service to commemorate James Connolly in St Mary of the Angels, Church St. The President joined members of the Connolly family, as well as representatives from SIPTU and the Labour Movement, in the service lead by Capuchin Friars Brother Martin Bennett, Brother Richard Hendrick and Brother Paul Murphy. A representative of the Connolly family speaking at the event said that the family wanted to highlight the work that the Capuchin Friars did for the executed leaders and how they helped the families long after the event.

Before the service, Brother Kevin Crowley greeted the President on behalf of the Capuchin Community in Church St and invited him to the Capuchin Day Centre where the President had time to meet over 100 members of James Connolly’s family. From Church Street the crowds, lead by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band, marched to Arbour Hill to continue the commemoration.

Brother Paul Murphy presented President Higgins with a reprinted copy of the 1966 Capuchin Annual on behalf of the Capuchin Provincial, Brother Adrian Curran, and all the Capuchin Friars.