Bishop Alan McGuckian says people must work with the public authorities to bring Covid reproduction rate back down again because "people’s health and lives are at stake”.

Bishop Kevin Doran pays tribute to an Garda Siochána at a service to mark the events of 7 July 1980 in Loughglynn, when Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley died in the line of duty.

In his homily, Mgr Tommy Johnston told mourners, “The gunshots that rang out in the early hours of Wednesday morning echoed not just in the town of Castlerea but right across the country.”

Tributes to 81-year-old Fr Michael Guckian, who served in the Philippines as a missionary for 30 years, describe him as “a walking saint”.

The pilgrimage follows the route across Sliabh Bán taken by monks who lived in Cloontuskert Abbey, which was founded by St Brendan and his brother St Faithleach in 520 AD.

“It is not for us to judge people, but that doesn't mean that we should not make objective moral judgements,” Bishop Kevin Doran.

“From the beginning he was a teacher, and a very good one by all accounts. The word most often used by people was kind. Quiet in disposition and very discreet.”