A book on the historic parish of St Cronan's, Roscrea, will be officially published today at a reception attended by one of the town's well-known sons, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh. Also speaking will be the Right Rev Dom Laurence Walsh OCSO, abbot of the nearby Mount St Joseph Abbey.
Written by local historian Mr George Cunningham the 200-page publication is a history of the parish. The book describes the town from its earliest times when a monastic settlement was established in its centre to the continuation of that tradition by the Cistercians at Mount St Joseph in 1878, through to the modern history of the parish.
"The book centres on the building and development of St Cronan's Parish church, started in 1844 and not completed until 1869," Mr Cunningham said.
St Cronan's, built in the 1800s on the site of the 15th century Franciscan friary, was described as "one of the best churches in Ireland" by the architect of Westminster Cathedral, Mr John Bentley. In the foreword, Dr Walsh says the phrase, "being parochial" usually has a perjorative meaning. "I make no excuses, however, for 'being parochial' when I say that I am truly delighted to welcome this story of my native parish of Roscrea." The reception will take place at St Cronan's Church at 5 p.m.