Nuns from the Dominican Convent in Cabra bring a relic to the birthplace of Oliver Plunkett.
Oliver Plunkett was born on 1 November 1625 in Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath. His well off, influential family lived in a tower house attached to a church in Loughcrew. The estate was taken by Oliver Cromwell in 1641.
In 1669 Oliver Plunket was consecrated Catholic Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh. Arrested in 1678 on a charge of high treason, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, London on 1 July 1681.
Oliver Plunkett was beatified on 23 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Oliver Plunkett is to be canonised on 12 October 1975 by Pope Paul VI, becoming the first Irish saint since the 11th century.
The ruins on the Loughcrew estate are to be a centrepiece for the Oliver Plunkett Week celebrations beginning on 3 July and ending on 10 July which is his feast day.
Nuns from the Dominican Convent in Cabra visit the ruins at Loughcrew to present a casket containing the relic of a shoulder bone belonging to Blessed Oliver Plunkett which they have held in their convent for many years.
An RTÉ News report was broadcast on 26 June 1975. The footage shown here is mute.
