A special commemorative sculpture will be unveiled to the memory of the late Nenagh born archbishop, Michael Courtney in Loughrea Cathedral on Sunday.
The eight foot high limestone sculpture was commissioned by the Diocese of Clonfert and stands in the cathedral grounds. Handcrafted by Bray based master sculptor and letter cutter, Tom Glendon, it will be unveiled following concelebrated Mass.
Chief celebrant on the day will be Bishop of the Diocese of Clonfert, John Kirby. Also in attendance will be the Papal Nuncio, the Most Rev Dr Giuseppe Lazzarotto; Archbishop of Armagh Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, Bishop Willie Walsh of the Diocese of Killaloe and the Bishops of the Western Province.
Representing the State and acknowledging the late Archbishop Courtney's skills as an international diplomat will be Minister for European Affairs, Noel Treacy.
Parish Priest of Loughrea, Fr Cathal Geraghty has extended an invitation to all from the Diocese of Clonfert and from Archbishop Courtney's native county to the unveiling of the sculpture.
Archbishop Courtney, who was 58 when he was shot dead in Burundi in December , 2003 was a native of Summerhill, Nenagh, and at the time of his death Papal Nuncio to Burundi and a central figure in peace talks there. He died after he sustained bullet wounds in an ambush near the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.