Christmas 2025 saw packed churches around the country, as attendance has been increasing gradually since the pandemic, The Irish Catholic has learnt.
Fr John Dunphy, PP Graiguecullen / Killeshin Parish in Carlow said they celebrated seven Christmas Masses in his parish and all of them “were overflowing”. For him, Christmas 2025 Mass “was certainly the most [attended] we have seen for many years.” Fr Dunphy said, “It was lovely to see all the choirs at the different Masses and the involvement of all the ministry groups coordinated by Cathriona Kelly, our pastoral worker.”
In the West, Christmas was also very well attended, Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe said both ‘Eve’ and ‘Day’ were crowded, “especially in Ennis Town.” Bishop Monahan said that, from what he heard, “the crowds seem to have increased from previous years, which took a while to build up again post Covid.” He also said that “the Sunday after Christmas was well attended also, which was good to see, the Feast of the Holy Family and the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Hope.”
In Co. Galway, Fr Diarmuid Hogan, PP Oranmore Parish said the Masses saw more people “than a ‘normal’ weekend”, but it was similar to past Christmases. “This has been a feature of parish life in recent years, so I wouldn’t say that the churches were more packed than in previous years.” However, “both me and my colleagues note the very significant presence of children at Christmas Eve services and have timetabled Mass to suit,” enabling parents to attend Mass with their children but being home in time “to prepare fully for the arrival of Santa Claus.”
Bishop Niall Coll, recently appointed Bishop of Raphoe, celebrated his last Christmas as Bishop of Ossory in 2025. His final Christmas in his “beloved” Ossory “saw large congregations attending parish Masses across the diocese, which includes most of Co. Kilkenny and portions of Counties Laois and Offaly.” Bishop Coll “was delighted by the numbers present” in St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny City.
Attendance in St Mary’s Parish, Navan, Co. Meath was great, but what “surpassed all expectations” for Fr Declan Hurley, CC was the Confession’s attendance. The Sacrament was offered on the Monday before Christmas and “normally there would be two priests hearing and there would be full moments during the day,” but this time they had to have four priests available. “On my 18th Christmas in Navan, I can say that attendance at Confession was the largest I have witnessed and indeed heard!”
As Fr Hurley celebrated his 18th Christmas, Fr Stuart McGovern, in Tramore Parish, Co. Waterford experienced his first one as a priest. “I’m still in the early months of my priesthood, so everything’s still exciting and new… But Christmas made it all the better.” Fr McGovern was with the parish priest for the Vigil Mass, which “was probably busier than it’s ever been.” The Mass was “extremely busy from 15 minutes before the Mass started, Fr McGovern said. “They were standing on every side of the church. There were an awful lot of people there. It was great.”
