Ballymurphy Cemetery Mass and Blessing of Graves

What to Expect

Mass and the blessing of graves takes place at Ballymurphy Cemetery on Sunday 30 August 2026 at 3pm. It is listed by the Parish of Borris among its important dates for the year, with the note that it is subject to the weather on the day.

Ballymurphy is one of three church communities in the Borris parish, alongside Borris itself and Rathanna, and this afternoon Mass in the graveyard is the parish’s main act of remembrance for the year. The priest moves through the cemetery blessing the plots after Mass, and families use the occasion to tend and decorate graves beforehand. Because it is a Sunday afternoon in a small south Carlow village, it functions as a reunion as much as a liturgy, and people travel back for it.

There is no seating provided, the ground is uneven and the site is exposed, so bring a coat and consider a folding chair if standing for an hour is difficult.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Sunday 30 August 2026 at 3pm.
• Venue: Ballymurphy Cemetery, Ballymurphy, Co. Carlow.
• Free and open to all. No booking required.
• The parish flags it as subject to weather on the day. If conditions are poor, phone the parish on 059 977 3128 or email borrisparish@gmail.com before travelling.
• Two further remembrance Masses follow later in the year at Sacred Heart Church, Borris: the Mass of the Holy Angels for children who died before and after birth on Wednesday 16 November at 7.30pm, and the Mass for those who died during the year on Wednesday 25 November at 7.30pm.
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in Sacred Heart Church, Borris, each Wednesday after the 10am Mass until 1pm.

Getting There

Ballymurphy is a small village in the southeast corner of Co. Carlow, on the R702 under the western slopes of Mount Leinster, roughly 8km east of Borris and about 30km south of Carlow town. Coming from Carlow, take the R705 to Bagenalstown then the R702 through Borris; from Enniscorthy or Bunclody the R702 runs west over the Scullogue Gap. Parking is on the roadside near the cemetery and it is tight on the day, so arrive early. There is no public transport to Ballymurphy, so a car or a lift is essential.