Annual blessing of the animals known for five-star cooked food

THE annual ‘Blessing of the Animals’ took place in Clondalkin Village on Sunday, amid a sizable crowd and sunshine.

Deacon Don Devaney blessed parishioner’s pets in the carpark of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

It is an annual event, and everyone is welcome to attend the family friendly festivities, which features music and singing.

Eddie Byrne, who helps to organise the event with his wife Marie, says the weather started ominously but thankfully improved as crowds arrived.

“At 12noon, the rain was teeming down incessantly, and the omens were not good. But at 1.45pm, patches of blue appeared,” said Eddie.

“At the exact time we were playing that wonderful piece Finlandia by Jean Sibelius ‘My countries skies are bluer than the ocean and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.’

“Out came the sun and Paddy, The Echo photographer arrived and mingled with everybody. By now, a truly sizable crowd of dogs and their owners had arrived. Deacon Don Devaney led us all in an interactive service and then he blessed each individual dog, and if a pet had passed on, he blessed the cherished memory of it.”

Blessing of the animals in Clondalkin is known for its “five-star home cooked food”, which Eddie says is only possible by the “ongoing very generous sponsorship of Brian McElroy Funeral Directors.”

Food available included a deluxe home cooked fruitcake and Ballymaloe dressed sandwiches.

“Everyone buzzed around and mingled really well, fortified by the full range of Ballymaloe relishes. Roll on 2025, where we will host the Blessing of the animals on the first Sunday in October at 3pm. See you there,” said Eddie.