Doing the Stations of the Cross by rail

It is a (railway) Stations of the Cross event like no other, involving Iarnród Éireann, the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, and its bishop, Rt Rev Michael Burrows, a noted railway enthusiast.

People are being invited to join him “at a station near you” for “moments of reflection on the cross” throughout Good Friday.

The "stations in the stations" begins with a litany in Waterford Church of Ireland cathedral at 7.30am and a reflection at 8am in the city's Plunkett railway station.

The second of 14 subsequent station stops is at 8.45am in Carrick-on-Suir. The third Station stop is Clonmel at 9.20am, followed by Tipperary at 10.20am, Thurles (via Cashel) at 11.20am, Templemore at 11.50am and Ballybrophy at 12.40pm.

Pilgrims will then take the 12.55 train to Portlaoise (and the eighth station), arriving at 1.08pm for the reflection by Bishop Burrows at 1.15pm. From there, they travel to Kilkenny, where there is a pause for the final part of the three-house devotion at St Canice's Cathedral.

Further reflections

The ninth station reflection, at MacDonagh railway station in Kilkenny, is at 3.20pm. From there, pilgrims will take the train to Thomastown for the reflection at 4pm. O’Hanrahan railway station in

Wexford

is the venue for station 11, where the reflection is at 5.20pm.

Enniscorthy is at 6.15pm, Gorey at 7.05pm, Carlow at 8.30pm, Bagenalstown at 9.15pm, and the journey concludes at 10pm with Compline in Leighlin Cathedral.

There will be collections at stations in aid of the Railway Benefit Fund, which helps families who have connections with Iarnród Éireann.