A married couple who rang the bell in their local church twice a day, seven days a week, for 30 years have been honoured with a prestigious papal award in recognition of their devotion to the parish.
Paddy and Maura Murray, sacristans at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Enniskeane, west Cork, have been presented with Bene Merenti medals for their service over three decades.
The couple, who have two grown-up sons, stopped ringing the bell two weeks ago after an automated system was installed. However, they still carry out a number of duties, including opening the church at 8.30am daily, looking after church supplies and locking up again in the evenings.
Maura Murray, who is in her seventies, said yesterday that she was thrilled to receive the papal honour. "I never dreamt that something like this could happen. It is a big honour," she said.
The Murrays were recommended for the Bene Merenti medal by the parish priest of Enniskeane, Father Michael Nolan. The Bene Merenti medal is a papal decoration conferred on lay and religious people who have rendered distinguished service to the church.
The medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI and is frequently given to a person after long years of service.
