Local News

Members of the Atlanta Hibernian Benevolent Society and others gather to honor the memory of Father Thomas O’Reilly, whose intervention during the Civil War prevented General William T. Sherman from burning the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and other historic downtown churches and parts of the city. The wreath-laying at the memorial monument to the priest took place outside the old Atlanta City Hall March 12. (Photo by Cindy Connell-Palmer)

Archbishop-emeritus John F. Donoghue, center, leads the Liturgy of the Eucharist as the main celebrant for the St. Patrick’s Day Mass. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

(L-r) Father John Kieran, pastor of St. Pius X Church, Conyers, Msgr. Edward Dillon, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, and Msgr. James Fennessy, pastor of St Jude Church, Sandy Springs, and chaplain of the Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta, enjoy a moment of Irish brotherhood at the wreath-laying ceremony. Msgr. Dillon was honored by the Hibernian Society as “Irishman of the Year” (Photo by Cindy Connell-Palmer)

Enya Filberg, left, 12, and Erin Wylie, 13, pray the Our Father during Mass March 17. The young ladies dance with North Atlanta’s King O’Sullivan School of Irish Dance. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Fifteen-month-old Patrick Hoefer sits with his mother, Rebecca Murphy, as they attend the annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Msgr. Hugh Marren, pastor of St. Andrew Church, Roswell, delivers the homily during the St. Patrick’s Day Mass, honoring the patron saint of Ireland. Msgr. Marren, a native of Ireland, hails from Tubbercurry, County Sligo. (Photo by Michael Alexander)