THE THEFT of an ancient relic from an abbey in Co Tipperary has boosted the number of people visiting the historical site.
A gold and bronze crucifix containing what is believed to be a piece of the real cross on which Jesus died was stolen from Holycross Abbey in Thurles in October.
But Fr Tom Breen said the loss of the relic had not put people off travelling to the abbey, which was its home for more than 900 years.
“Visitor numbers have actually increased. Human curiosity is a wonderful thing,” said Fr Breen.
“We’re getting a lot of devotion here. We hold a novena here in September which attracts large numbers, but we have had busloads of visitors arriving since October.” Fr Breen said he did not keep an exact record of the numbers visiting the site, which attracts an average of 200,000 people a year, but added: “I’d say this year we have had close to a quarter of a million.”
Despite this, he said the local community was still reeling from the theft two months ago, during which two masked men used an angle grinder to cut open a steel-framed glass display that housed the 12in (30.5cm) artefact.
They also stole a 14th century silver cross that hung from a chain and contained two crosses and two dark stones.
“The community is still grieving over the theft – the loss of all that history,” said Fr Breen.
At the time of the theft, gardaí confirmed the stolen items had no commercial value.
“The thieves probably overestimated the value of the crosses. They are invaluable,” Fr Breen went on.
“What they would have considered gold was actually mainly brass, so they would not have got much for it after all.”
He said he was confident, therefore, that the relics may one day be returned.