The last resident priest on Clare Island, Co Mayo, bade farewell to his 160 parishioners last week.
Father Ned Crosby, a former missionary, will not be replaced and the island will be served by priests from Westport. Clare Island is the latest island off the Mayo/Galway coastline to feel the effect of Church cutbacks. Inishbofin has had no resident priest since last summer and weekend Masses have been discontinued at three churches on Achill Island.
The fact that the island will be regularly served by priests from Westport doesn't impress resident Ms Ann Flynn.
"What about wintertime. Will the priests always be able to travel?" she said.
The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, has said he is aware of the sadness the continued rationalisations will cause but changes were necessary because of a continuing shortage of priests.