Relic theft boosts number of people visiting abbey

THE theft of an ancient relic from an abbey has boosted the number of people visiting the historic site.

A gold and bronze crucifix containing what is believed to be a piece of the cross on which Jesus died was stolen from Holycross Abbey in Thurles, Co Tipperary, in October. But Fr Tom Breen said the loss of the relic had not put people off coming to the abbey, which was its home for more than 900 years.

“Visitor numbers have actually increased. Human curiosity is a wonderful thing,” said Fr Breen.

“We’re getting a lot of devotion here. We hold a novena here in Septemberwhich attracts large numbers, but we have had busloads of visitors arrivingsince October,” he says.

Fr Breen said he did not keep an exact record of the numbers visiting the site, which attracts an average 200,000 people a year.

Despite this, he said the community was still reeling from the theft two months ago, which saw two masked men raid the abbey and use an angle grinder tocut open a steel-framed glass display which housed the 30.5cm high artefact. They also stole a 14th-century silver cross which hung from a chain and contained two crosses and two dark stones.

“The community is still grieving over the theft — the loss of all that history,” said Fr Breen. At the time of the theft, gardaí confirmed the stolen items had no commercial value.

“The thieves probably over estimated the value of the crosses. They are invaluable. What they would have considered gold was actually mainly brass, so they would not have got much for it after all,” said Fr Breen.

He said he was therefore still confident the relics may one day be returned. “I think they may still come back to the abbey” he says.

The relic of the real cross was taken to the abbey around 1180 after it was consecrated by Cistercian monks. It is understood it had been a gift from King of Munster Donal Mór O’Brien, who founded the abbey. Gardaí have no leads in the investigation, says Fr Breen.