Sprinkling of Holy Water

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The Heffernan family May Altar, Rathordan, Cashel

Michael Heffernan

About this custom

This has been the custom in my family for many generations. The reason holy water was sprinkled on the thresholds of the house and at the farm entrance gates was to protect the house/family and the farm/livestock/machinery for the coming year.

A May altar was also set up in a room of the house. A statue of Our Lady was surrounded by vases of flowers, usually natural flowers.

Where does this take place?

Rathordan, Cashel, County Tipperary