Vandals attack Tobertynan Shrine

There was outrage in the Longwood and Rathmolyon areas this week at the descecration of the shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes in Tobertynan Wood.
The popular shrine, which is a place of pilgrimage for local people, was attacked by vandals this week, for the second time in just over a month.
The most recent attack on the shrine, which is on the Tobertynan Estate, was discovered on Monday morning at around 12noon.
The glass on the shrine was smashed and a two foot high statue of Our Lady of Lourdes was stolen and graffiti sprayed around the place.
It was the second attack on the shine in recent weeks. On 23rd July, the statue was defaced and sexual obscenities were spray painted on the shrine.
Since the 1980’s a pilgrimage to the shrine has been taking place on the first Sunday of May.   Cllr Bill Carey said he was “absolutely appalled and dumbfounded” at the attack.
“It is unbelievable how low people can go,” he said.
“It is a wonderful peaceful place that means an awful lot to people over a wide area'.