Graveyard Mass moved to avoid clash with All-Ireland final
Cemetery Sunday at Cockhill switches to Saturday night
The annual Graveyard Sunday Mass at Cockhill cemetery has been rescheduled to avoid a clash with Donegal’s All-Ireland football final against Kerry.
Traditionally held on the last Sunday of July, the Graveyard Mass was due to take place at 3pm on Sunday, July 27.
However, with the All-Ireland final throwing in at 3.30pm that same afternoon, the parish has opted to bring the Graveyard Mass, which always draws a huge attendance, forward to Saturday evening.
Buncrana Parish confirmed that the Graveyard Mass will now take place on Saturday, July 26 at 7pm.
The change comes as thousands of local parishioners prepare to travel to Croke Park or watch the final from home, with many hundreds expected to attend both the rescheduled Mass and the match.
It’s the first time ‘Cemetery Sunday’ has been held on a Saturday evening rather than a Sunday afternoon.
A post on the Buncrana Parish Facebook page said: “Following Donegal’s win in the All-Ireland Semi-Final, the decision has been made to move the Cockhill Graveyard Sunday Mass, which was due to take place on Sunday 27 July at 3pm, to 7pm on Saturday 26 July.”
In keeping with long-standing tradition, the parish will offer an early morning mass at 7.30am in St Mary's Oratory in Buncrana for those heading to Dublin on Sunday.
Weekend Mass schedule for the Buncrana Parish is as follows:
Saturday, July 26
4.30pm – Vigil Mass, St Mary’s Oratory
7pm – Graveyard Mass, Cockhill
Sunday, July 27
7.30am – Mass, St Mary’s Oratory
8.30am – Mass, St Mary’s Oratory
9.45am – Mass, Star of the Sea, Desertegney
11am – Mass, St Mary’s, Cockhill
There will be no 12.30pm Mass