The grounds of medieval Ballintubber Abbey in Co Mayo were transformed into the road to Calvary this week, with hundreds of people braving gale-force winds and Atlantic showers to watch a re-enactment of the Passion of Christ.
The hour-long drama, The Triumph of Easter, which involved almost 100 members of the local community has been performed for the last number of years.
Ballintubber Abbey curate, Fr Frank Fahey, said yesterday the Passion play, now in its 18th year, challenges Irish society's recent abandonment of Christ and the cry of the poor.
"As we have grown richer, we have become more selfish," said Fr Fahey, a former "Mayo Man of the Year". He believes it to be the only annual play of its type in the country.
There is a sequence in the drama when the crucified Christ asks: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
A chorus of the poor replies: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken us?"
This is repeated several times, culminating in Christ asking: "My people, my people, why have you forsaken me?"
Fr Fahey says this reflects the seismic change in post-Celtic Tiger society.
He added that the use of "ordinary language" - the local dialect, as it were - ensures that the drama has more impact and poignancy.
Fr Fahey thanked the Carmelite Sisters of Knock for their "prayerful intercessions" regarding the elements.
"Thank you, sisters, once again for ensuring that the wind blew ferociously and the rain pelted down at all the right moments," he said.