Irish Grandparents Association celebrate longest married couple

More than 12,000 people attended the annual national grandparents’ pilgrimage to Knock last weekend, which celebrated the relationships of the longest married couples in Ireland.

This was the eighth year for this growing gathering to attend the day of celebration at Ireland’s national shrine. It included a procession of representatives carrying banners from branches of the Catholic Grandparents’ Association from Ireland, Britain and other parts of the world.

This year the association initiated a search for the longest married couple in Ireland and found Margaret and James Hurley from Co. Tipperary, who have been married for 74 years.  They have 12 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  They were closely followed by Eileen and Ned Cusack, married for 70 years, and Mr and Mrs Michael Walsh, married for 68 years and who attended the pilgrimage.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown was the chief celebrant at Mass, with bishops and priests from Ireland and abroad, and he gave a blessing and certificate to Mr and Mrs Walsh.