In spite of the Penal Laws, a public procession to honour the Blessed Sacrament was led through the streets of Tullow by the coadjutor Bishop, Dr. Daniel Delaney on the feast of Corpus Christi in 1784. Such a public display of religious devotion was most unusual at the time, but the occasion passed without incident in Tullow and this inaugurated the custom of the annual Corpus Christi Procession over two hundred and nineteen years ago.

 

A year later, 1785, Dr. Delaney established a Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament - a group of parishioners to honour the real presence in a special way, including around-the clock vigil during all- night Exposition.

 

The remains of Bishop Delaney are interred on the left hand side of the main altar in the parish church here in Tullow. The grave is marked with a with a limestone slab which is surrounded by white marble slabs commemorating the foundation of the Brigidine Sisters on the feast of St. brigid 1st February 1807 and the Patrician Brothers on 2nd February 1808

 

The leading of the Procession to the  convent grounds each Corpus Christi by the Bishop of the Diocese is in recognition of tullow's pioneering role in public worship of the Blessed Sacrament. TheTemple area of the convent garden where the Procession concludes was designed by Dr. Delaney himself and takes the shape of a Monstrance.

 

In 1999 the practice of Eucharistic Adoration was re-established  and today a small but dedicated group of parishioners maintain a vigil in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday and Wednesday from after 9.30 a.m. mass in the morning until 10 p.m. in the evening.

Corpus Christi Procession 1940's