A discarded television, old clothes, and other sodden debris were some of the many things that the Gorey Tidy Towns volunteers discovered in the Tesco Gorey car park where they gathered for their annual spring clean.
In the week which saw churches open once again, it was a memorable time for popular Gorey sacristan John Woodbyrne as his work came to a conclusion at St Michael s Church.
After 38 years in the role, Mr Woodbyrne is looking ahead to retirement and after getting a taste for it back during the first lockdown, and he has had time to reflect on his time as a well-known figure in the parish. I had a trial run for retirement from April to July of this year and it fitted nicely, he laughs. Originally I was a volunteer in the church and the vacancy came up and I was asked. I was close to the situation so I knew what it entailed and in any job or situation, it looks easier from the outside than when you get in to do it.