Confirmations crux
Thursday March 18 2010
A NORTH Cork father has strongly criticised a decision that will leave relatives with no alternative but watch his daughter's confirmation from a specially erected marquee.
A record 80 children from Glantane, Bweeng and Dromahane will be confirmed next Thursday, spurring a decision to issue each child with just four tickets for family members inside Bweeng church, due to pressure of numbers. For the added numbers expected at the annual Confirmations a marquee will be positioned outside Bweeng church to accommodate other relatives of the children being confirmed. This will be linked to the church via CCTV.
Bweeng is the smallest of the three parish churches and does not have the capacity to cater uncle, who both did not wish to be named, expressed disappointment at the church's decision to provide a marquee.
Dromahane PP Fr Patrick Buckley has been accused of failing to listen to appeals for alternative arrangements from parents.
However, Fr Buckley said that he believed the majority of parishioners were 'rallying' behind the decision to have a marquee outside the church.
Acknowledging that some concerns were raised by parents at a recent meeting, he added that he firmly believes that the marquee is the 'way to go this year'.
He said he had not received any request from parents to have two days of Confirmation in Bweeng or let the largest parish of Dromahane have their own day.
"I would encourage people to enter into the spirit of the sacrament. The decision has been made," said Fr Buckley. continued on Page 2 for what is the largest ever number of children to be confirmed in the parish.
However, several parent have told The Corkman they are not happy that close relatives will not now be able to attend their child's Confirmation in person.
Angry Dromahane father Pat Taylor said church officials have failed to consider any alternatives.
"I have grown up in Dromahane and I have never come across this before. I would like to see Bweeng get two days of Confirmation rather than this. The grandparents are elderly in our family and they are not prepared to sit in a marquee," said Mr Taylor.
"I will be surprised if the marquee will be more than half full on the day. What should be a happy family day has become a farce," added Mr Taylor.
Speaking to The Corkman, another father and an
- LOUISE MCCARTHY
