St. Oliver Jubilee Year Pilgrim Walk - Site of Blyke’s Inn to Church of St. Oliver, Dorsey 31st May 2025

Our thanks to all who took part in the Jubilee Year Walk to the church of St. Oliver Plunkett in Dorsey, south Armagh on Saturday 31st May 2025.

The walk commenced at the site of the former Blyke’s Inn, a well-known hostelry used by St. Oliver to meet priests from the northern end of his archdiocese. A special thank you to the McAllister family(nee Burns) owners of the property on Bond’s Road – to Mary McAllister, her daughter Rebecca along with Rebecca’s husband Leslie. The family have always been most gracious in their welcome during such visits, and provided welcome refreshment for the pilgrim walkers on this occasion. To celebrate the St. Oliver 400, an oak sapling, grown from the St. Oliver Oak tree at Ardpatrick was planted close to the site of the former inn. Canon Michael Toner PP blessed the oak sapling during the planting ceremony. St. Oliver hid from his pursuers in this oak tree which is still standing near his former home close to Louth Village - locals refer to the tree as the St. Oliver Oak or St. Oliver’s Bed. Leslie, Rebecca and Mary are shown in a picture standing behind the oak tree alongside Canon Michael Toner PP and Tommy Burns of the St. Oliver 400 committee, Drogheda, who gave a talk on St. Oliver after the planting.

During the Jubilee Year walk, each pilgrim had the immense privilege of carrying in turn a first class relic of St. Oliver. Along the way, Canon Toner stopped at the house of Mrs. Maisie Moley, to bless her with the relic. Maisie, an articulate and able bodied 102 year old, is shown in the picture along with her daughters, Caroline Donnelly and Catriona McCreesh. Another picture features, Sue O’Neill holding the relic alongside her husband Seán - both have reason to give special thanks to St. Oliver for a huge favour received by the family though St. Oliver’s intercession. Upon reaching the church of St. Oliver at Dorsey, Vespers was recited in choir by the congregation, followed immediately afterwards by the Saturday evening vigil Mass and a blessing with the relic by Canon Michael.

Our thanks again to all concerned - St. Oliver pray for us.

In garden for tree planting

Canon Michael Toner speaking to those assembled

Tommy Burns, St. Oliver 400 Committee, Drogheda, giving a talk on St. Oliver and Blyke's Inn

Tommy Burns, St. Oliver 400 committee, Drogheda giving a talk on St. Oliver and Blyke's Inn

Leslie Wassan with his wife Rebecca, her mother, Mary McAllister, Canon Michael Toner and Tommy Burns

The newly planted and well-protected oak sapling

Leslie Wassan with his wife Rebecca, her mother, Mary McAllister and Canon Michael Toner

Leslie Wassan with his wife Rebecca, her mother Mary McAllister and Canon Michael Toner

Canon Michael Toner PP blessing the newly planted oak sapling

Gathering for the planting ceremony

In Barn, site of old Inn

Canon Michael Toner, Tommy Burns and Mary McAllister on the site of the Blyke's Inn

Mary McAllister, continuing the tradition of an Inn - welcomes and offers hospitality to all

On the Road

Sue and Seán O'Neill

Seamus Bellew on the walk leaving the site of Blyke's Inn

Commencing the walk from the site of Blyke's Inn

On the road

Half Way

Blessing of 102 year old lady in house

Maisie Moley with her daughters, Catriona McCreesh and Caroline Donnelly and Canon Michael Toner PP

Canon Michael Toner PP blessing 102 year old Maisie Moley with relic of St. Oliver

In the Church

Tomás Hodgins PRO St. Oliver 400 - thanking all present and outlining the forthcoming St. Oliver events

Sanctuary of St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Dorsey

Beautiful St. Oliver Plunkett Statue, Dorsey

Vespers

Praying Vespers with the congregation in choir

Canon blessing the congregation 

Canon Michael Toner PP blessing the congregation after Mass with the relic of St. Oliver