Our old friend, King Puck, Sean Jones is back in the headlines after celebrating a Traveller wedding that appears to have broken Covid restrictions.
At the height of Covid restrictions in the South two Traveller families were determined to have a normal wedding, with a large number, a horse drawn carriage and several limos.
The Southern restrictions say that only 6 can attend a wedding along with the priest and couple – a total of 9.
The diocese of Kerry have been trying very hard to keep Jones name out of the media – his presence is a sensitive matter in Kerry.
He’s the pink elephant in the room.
Jones has the power to destroy the already disliked bishop of Kerry Ray Brown.
If Jones steps out of line the Kerry clergy will down on him like a ton of bricks for ordaining Jones.
The Blog has heard that Brown made Jones sign an affidavit denying rumours before he would ordain him.
A Kerry priest told the blog yesterday: “We are watching Jones like hawks”.
TRAVELLER WEDDINGS – THE CHALLENGES.
There are soecial issues around Traveller weddings and ceremonies.
For a Traveller bride her wedding day is the greatest day of her life and her family’s life.
Such weddings are hallmarked by large attendance, extravagant dresses, flowers and receptions.
But Travellers, like all of us, have to accept the restrictions around Covid.
In the South that means 9 at a wedding including the priest and the couple.
That leaves room for 6 guests. Take the couples parents out of that and you can have two other guests.
That’s it!
That’s Covid.
The priest celebrating is responsible for policing these regulations.
If he is strong enough the Travellers will cooperate.
If they don’t, then, sadly, the priest needs to seek help from the police.
This did not happen in Tralee, for whatever reason.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 