The chapel on the summit of Croagh Patrick, with a statue of St. Patrick behind the altar.
It’s confirmation time in Ireland at the moment, and for many Catholic churchgoers, a rare chance to meet their bishop in their local church. Confirmation is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic church, and, as the name suggests, it is a chance for believers to confirm their faith [given that they probably didn’t know too much about their faith if they were baptised as a baby]. Confirmation is usually performed by the bishop of the diocese. It is appropriate, though a complete coincidence, that Confirmations occur roughly around the celebration of Ireland’s first bishop, Patrick.
The offerings box outside the chapel on the summit of Croagh Patrick, with a statue of St. Patrick behind the altar.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day – you are all officially Irish today.
UPDATE (3.30pm) – It’s a gorgeous day in Galway. There are people sunbathing on the beach in Salthill, kids munching through ice-creams and plenty of people debating what is the earliest time that they can go for their first pint without feeling guilty.