A Donegal parish that held First Holy Communions this past weekend became one of the first in the country to do so since numerous bishops publicly declared they no longer support Government guidance to forego them until the autumn.

Fr John Joe Duffy of St Michael’s Church in Creeslough celebrated the ceremony with 18 pupils from two local schools, plus immediate family.

“Personally I feel that September will bring an increase in the virus [because schools will be back]. We will be getting back into flu season and the Government is already talking about having to give booster vaccinations to the population,” said Fr Duffy.

“I feel that now over the summer months is one of the safest times to hold Communions and Confirmations. This is one of a number of reasons I have for pressing ahead with the Communions after the Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian, said it was okay to do so.”

Fr Duffy has been supported by parents from local schools including those in Scoil Mhuire National School and Glassan National School.