Sundae Service! Buncrana priest serves up free ice-cream cones to 3,000 mass-goers

An Inishowen parish priest has brought some summer cheer by handing out almost 3,000 free ice-cream cones to mass-goers.

Not quite the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, but certainly a perfect sundae service, we must cone-fess!

Fr Francis Bradley explains the idea behind the annual bonanza, which saw two ice-cream vans stationed outside all eleven weekend masses in the Buncrana, Burt, Inch and Fahan parishes.

“It’s a play on the idea of ice-cream sundae, and it’s about getting people to linger a wee while when they come out of the church; not to be in a terrible rush,” he says.

“It’s just a nice wee treat and it’s a great way to get people of all ages chatting together. It reminds some of the older parishioners that we’re all still just children at heart.”

Fr Bradley smiles that he “had to lead by example” and partake a little himself too.

“But I only had the one, though!” he laughs.

The Buncrana PP said the annual ice-cream event is held to coincide with the Feast of Corpus Christi and the culmination of a religious programme for schoolkids.

“We always do this ‘In Memory’ programme for the children of second class who have been preparing for their First Holy Communion. There were two ice cream vans at each of the eleven weekend masses and at the Corpus Christi Procession at the Oratory on Thursday night.”

“A total of 2,900 cones approximately were given out, and the parish pays for them all.”

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Fr Bradley says the tradition has been taking place every year since he was first appointed parish priest in Buncrana in 2014.

“It was actually started by a very good friend of mine, Fr John Cargan. He started it in the parish where we were together in Derry back in 2008. He and I were together in Steelstown.”

“He was forever dreaming up things for people. When people would be at the early mass the whole way through Lent, he would give everybody chocolate on the last morning.”

“It’s just about a wee recognition and having something to look forward to,” Fr Bradley added.