The annual Blessing of the Lilies took place at the Franciscan Friary in Killarney on Saturday, 13 June, marking the Feast of St Anthony.

The traditional ceremony was celebrated by Fr Joe Condren OFM as part of the annual St Anthony’s Novena.

The custom, which originates from the older Roman Ritual, sees lilies blessed on this specific feast day.

The lily serves as a traditional symbol of St Anthony, representing purity, with the blessing itself stemming from historical accounts of miracles associated with the flower.

Fr Joe, a Dublin native, is a familiar figure to the local parish, having previously served as a member of the Killarney Franciscan community during two separate periods, from 2000 to 2002 and again from 2011 to 2014.

Since his time in Kerry, his ministry has taken him abroad to Zimbabwe, and he later served as vicar provincial from 2017 until 2023.

He is currently based in Rome, Italy, where he resides at the Irish Franciscan College of St Isidore and is involved in ministry within the general Curia at the OFM headquarters.

Meentogues National School pupil wins regional Green-Schools award

A pupil from Meentogues National School was among the winners at the annual Uisce Éireann Green-Schools poster competition.

Julia Keane won the regional award in the primary school junior category. She received her prize at an awards ceremony held at Wood Quay in Dublin.
The competition received 1,600 entries from primary and secondary schools across the country. Students designed posters based on the theme ‘Water and Me / Mise agus Uisce’, focusing on moments when water has mattered to them.
As a regional winner, Julia received a €100 voucher, and her poster was professionally framed.
The event marked the 13th year of Uisce Éireann’s sponsorship of An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme. The initiative works with over 300 schools and 90,000 students on water conservation and environmental awareness.
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