Holy Year Cross Mass

Each August, people gather at the Holy Year Cross overlooking Clonmel for the annual mass — a tradition that began in 1950, when the cross was first raised to mark the Catholic Church’s Holy Year.

The climb is steady, the atmosphere quiet but communal. Families make their way up together — some in prayer, others chatting, dogs in tow, and the occasional horse looking on from a distance. At the summit, the view opens wide over the valley, and the mass begins. A ritual carried by memory, habit, and faith — still alive on this hill.