Students and parishioners gather in Castlepollard to pray for peace

Some 500 schoolchildren and parishioners of all faiths from north Westmeath gathered in Castlepollard on Friday for a prayer service for peace in the world, in conjunction with a celebration marking 220 years since the construction of one of the local parish churches.

St Michael’s Church, the Catholic church in Castlepollard, was built in 1806 and over the last 220 years has opened its doors to parishioners, enduring through tithe wars, famine, land wars, wars of independence, a civil war, world wars and cold wars.

Conflict continues to cast a long shadow over the world today, as evidenced by the traumatic events and incalculable loss of life in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and Ukraine. Never was prayer more necessary than it is today, the event organisers said.

With that in mind, the desire for peace was at the heart of the multi-faith celebration on the grounds of St Michael’s Church on Church Street.

Bishop of Meath, Most Rev Tom Deenihan, had visited Castlepollard on Tuesday last to bless a new statue of St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of the parish of Castlepollard, which was officially unveiled on Friday.

Very Rev Fr Patrick Moore (PP, Castlepollard), Very Rev Fr Joseph Gallagher (PP, Tullamore and one of the Vicars-General of the Diocese of Meath) and, from the Church of Ireland, the Rev Damien O’Catháin of the Castlepollard and Oldcastle Union of Parishes were present on Friday along with students from 12 schools from the Deanery of Fore and beyond to take part in the celebration. People of different faiths and nationalities also attended.

Presentations were made to the schools, and to members of Castlepollard Fire and Rescue Service, who in 2026 mark 80 years of service to the people of north Westmeath.

A yew tree was planted on the grounds of St Michael’s Church by local men Andy Donohoe and Peter Earley, acknowledging and paying tribute to all those in the parish who built and maintained the church through its 220 years.

Speaking last Tuesday at St Michael’s, Bishop Deenihan said: "The blessing of the statue today is an encouragement to us to pray to Almighty God through the intercession of St Michael the Archangel for protection and for peace in our world.

As mentioned during the blessing, people were very conscious of the need to pray for peace, and the church venerates St Michael the Archangel as the protector."

The bishop went on to praise the local initiative and community in celebrating faith and peace together considering the "terrible turmoil in terms of world peace".

The prayer for St Michael the Archangel was followed by a short speech by Fr Moore, thanking the bishop for his attendance, and Castlepollard parish volunteer Micheál Cassidy, who with his wife Emily donated the statue.

Micheál explained how the statue was part of a bigger local initiative of bringing people together in the name of peace, especially as conflict continues to cast a long shadow over the world today. The organising committee felt that "never was prayer more necessary than it is today".

Mr Cassidy emphasised the desire for peace from everyone in the community, especially the children at the schools he visited to pick their brains in anticipation of the event.

"Thank you, Bishop Deenihan and Fr Moore, for sowing the seed. I have no doubt that it will grow successfully," said Mr Cassidy.

Twelve schools attended the ecumenical prayer service on Friday: St Tola’s NS, Delvin, St Mary’s NS, Finea, Castlepollard Parochial School, St Michael’s NS, Castlepollard, St Michael’s NS, Castletown, St Mary’s NS, Collinstown, Scoil Mhuire, Coole, St Feichin’s NS, Fore, St Mary’s NS, Loughegar, Scoil Diarmada, Whitehall, St Cremin’s NS, Multyfarnham, and Taughmon NS.

A representative of each school received a commemorative scroll and refreshments were provided for all afterwards at the local parish centre, including goodie bags for the schoolchildren.