Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Pilgrimage: Sunday August 2nd 2026

Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly

Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine

Pilgrimage Programme

2pm: Rosary

2.30pm: Anointing of the Sick

3pm: Concelebrated Mass

Chief Celebrant: Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly

Mass will be followed by Eucharistic Blessing and Outdoor Rosary Procession (weather permitting)

Music: Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Choir

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly in mid-western Ireland is in the province of Munster. The then separate dioceses of Cashel and Emly were established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail. Cashel diocese was promoted to the status of Metropolitan Province in 1152 at the Synod of Kells. Emly diocese was formally joined to Cashel in 1718. The Patron Saint of the Archdiocese is St. Ailbe whose Feast Day falls on 12 September. It consists of 46 parishes across much of County Tipperary and part of County Limerick.
Located in the Archdiocese is the famous Holycross Abbey, a Cistercian monastery so lovingly restored from a roofless ruin, in 1969-75 which celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its reopening as a Parish church and place of Pilgrimage in October of last year. A relic of the true cross can be found in Holycross Abbey. A lovely link with Knock is the replica of the great East window of Holycross Abbey can be found in the Basilica at Knock. While the building of the Basilica was taking place in the early 1970’s Holycross Abbey was simultaneously being restored to its former glory. So it is most fitting that the replica of the window at Holycross Abbey, representing the province of Munster, be in the Basilica at Knock which celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year.
It was in the archdiocese too that in March 1980, the famous Derrynaflan Hoard was found in the Parish of Killenaule & Moyglass, on Derrynaflan Island approximately 12km SE of Thurles. The items found form part of the rich history of ecclesiastical vessels of Ireland of that period.
The world famous Rock of Cashel, where the original Cathedral of Cashel diocese was located, forms an important suite of ecclesiastical buildings overlooking the town and is one of Irelands National monuments.
Grange stone circle, the largest stone circle in Ireland can be found as part of the renowned Lough Gur Archaeological site in the parish of Knockainey & Patrickswell, Co Limerick, also in our diocese.