It is said that Youghal is the second oldest town in Ireland, after Kinsale.  That’s as may or may not be, but it is certainly true that the Corpus Christi Procession in Youghal is the oldest and longest running in the country.   This is something of which the local people are obviously very proud and, on Sunday last  the Feast of Corpus Christi, the people of Youghal did not come out to line the streets during the Procession.   No!  But the people did come out in their hundreds to walk the streets of their town to accompany the Monstrance, the Body of Christ through Youghal. Denise FitzGerald Reports | Photos: Michael Hussey-YoughaOnline.com and Kevin Power | Audio of Youghal Parish Choir courtesy of Community Radio Youghal www.youghalradio.com

The sun shone brightly on the Gardens of St. Mary Collegiate College, where chairs had been set out to facilitate the huge numbers of people who gathered there for 12.00 noon Mass.   The congregation was made up of all ages, from babies in prams to those more elderly who needed help, teenagers, men, women and children. The Choir were there to sing during the entire service, and during the Procession took place through the town, a very efficient loudspeaker system was in place so that those walking could sing with the Choir.

The 2009 Corpus Christi Procession was led this year by the local boys and girls Communicants, all of whom behaved beautifully and were obviously delighted to be part of this wonderful ceremony.   The Clergy, with the Monstrance held high, received a Guard of Honour from the gates of the Gardens, through the town, and back again to the Gardens.   Members of the local Cork Hill Pipe Band stood respectfully and played their music as the Procession commenced.   The Procession, which took the route down the back streets and up the main street, was a most profound display of faith and love from the people of Youghal,  for the Body of Christ. Read more