Blessing of the Graves - Ballybay Parish

Each August the graves in the parish of Ballybay and Tullycorbet are blessed in a short series of services that draw home relatives and past parishioners as much as regular Mass-goers. The tradition opens on Sunday, 2 August 2026, when the priest blesses the graves at Ballintra Cemetery straight after 11am Mass. The following Sunday, 9 August, the same ceremony is repeated at Tullycorbet after 9:30am Mass and at St Patrick’s, Ballybay after 12:15pm Mass, so families with relatives buried in more than one of the three graveyards can attend each one.

What to expect

Short prayers and a walk through the rows of the graveyard by the parish clergy immediately after the scheduled Mass, blessing each section in turn. A collection is taken at every blessing for the general upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery grounds, a standard part of how Irish parishes fund grave-care through the year. Families bring flowers to place on graves, and it is common to see relatives gather at a family plot for a few quiet minutes before moving on to the next one. This is one of the older fixtures of the Catholic calendar in rural Ulster, tied to no particular saint’s day but to a traditional August timing shared by parishes right across the diocese. Locals travelling home for the occasion often plan a visit around whichever of the three dates covers their own family plot.

Getting there

Ballintra Cemetery lies in the townland of Ballintra just outside Ballybay town. Tullycorbet and St Patrick’s, Ballybay are both a short drive from Ballybay’s Main Street. None of the three graveyards has significant on-site parking, so those attending by car should expect to park along the approach road.

While you’re in Ballybay

Ballybay sits on the shore of Lough Major in south Monaghan and makes a natural base for visiting all three graveyards across the two Sundays. There is more to see in Ballybay and across Co. Monaghan.

Good to know

• Date: Sunday, 2 August 2026 after 11am Mass (Ballintra); Sunday, 9 August 2026 after 9:30am Mass (Tullycorbet) and 12:15pm Mass (Ballybay)
• Venue: Ballintra Cemetery, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, plus Tullycorbet and St Patrick’s, Ballybay the following week
• Price: free to attend; a collection is taken for cemetery upkeep
• Recurrence: an annual parish tradition held every August
• Accessibility: not stated by the parish; expect grass and uneven ground typical of rural cemeteries