Eternum Columbarium

16/07/2026

A beautiful rendition of Andy Beck’s Laudate Dominum sung by the Down & Connor Pilgrimage Choir.
Music truly brings us closer to God.

16/06/2026

Very interesting article on cremation and the need for places to lay the ashes of our loved ones to rest. Our beautiful columbarium in Ennis Cathedral Ennis Parish gets a mention, too.

As cremation becomes increasingly common, new questions are emerging about where and how we honour the dead, writes Dr Brian Casey.

09/06/2026

We are looking forward to the information evening in Benburb Priority next Wednesday 17th June.
Come along to hear our exciting plans for a beautiful columbarium garden in this stunning location.

'In Benburb, we're working with the Priory, because a lot of people are finding it difficult to find burial space. In addition to that, a lot of people would choose cremation anyway, but there are very little options for people when they have the ashes of their loved ones'. https://tinyurl.com/y2s4xrzp

02/06/2026

🌿 INFORMATION EVENING – Proposed Columbarium Wall at Benburb Priory 🌿

The Board of Benburb Priory, with the support of the Servite Community, is exploring the possibility of creating a Columbarium Wall as part of a beautiful new prayer and reflection garden within the Priory grounds.

A columbarium is a specially designed wall containing individual niches for the placement of cremated remains. As burial space becomes increasingly limited and facilities for ashes remain scarce, this project would provide a peaceful, dignified resting place in the tranquil surroundings of Benburb Priory.

Currently, only Servite friars can be buried within the Priory grounds. The proposed columbarium wall would offer those with a connection to Benburb, as well as friends and neighbours of the Priory, the opportunity to have their remains laid to rest in this special place of prayer, solitude and community.

As this project is still in its early stages, the Priory Board would like to gauge community interest and hear your thoughts.

📅 Information Evening
📍 Blue Room, Benburb Priory (access via the Stables Courtyard)
🕢 7:30pm
📆 Wednesday 17th June

Joseph O'Neill of Eternum will be present to provide a presentation, answer questions, and discuss the proposal.

For further information, you may contact Joseph directly:
📞 07821 451 233
📧 [email protected]

Everyone is welcome to attend. We look forward to sharing this vision and hearing your views.

16/05/2026

Joseph O’Neill from Eternum will be in the Cathedral of SS Patrick & Felim in Cavan today. Our beautiful new columbarium is planned to open here this autumn. 🙏

12/12/2025

The extension of our columbarium in SS Peter & Paul Cathedral, Ennis has been installed.
There are now over 500 resting places in the Mortuary Chapel and so many people have the comfort of knowing they will rest within the walls of this sacred building.

St Anthony’s extension to the Columbarium in the Cathedral was completed this week. There are now 144 new Niches available, some have been reserved already. If you are interested in reserving a Niche in St Anthony’s section, Joseph O'Neill from Eternum Columbarium will be in the Cathedral on Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th, and Thursday 18th December. To make an appointment, please text 085 2148301

04/10/2025

Eternum is very pleased to announce that we are working with Benburb Priory to install a beautiful columbarium wall on the estate.

A place of serene beauty and peace, the columbarium garden will offer people a beautiful place to lay their loved ones to rest.

For more information, please contact us:
[email protected]
07821 451 233

Discover the Servite Community’s vision for a new columbarium wall and prayer garden at Benburb Priory — a dignified resting place for loved ones in a peaceful, spiritual setting.

27/06/2025

Due to demand, we are hoping to extend the Columbarium in the Cathedral . The new niches will be above the vaults of St. Conaire and St. Conall. Joseph from Eternum will be in the Columbarium in the Cathedral on Monday 30th June and Tuesday 1st July from 1.00pm to 6.00pm to meet with anyone who might have questions or wish to reserve a niche. Please contact him for an appointment on 085 214 8301 or 0044 7821 451 233 or email [email protected]

10/03/2025

The Cistercian Community at Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey, Portglenone is working with Eternum Columbarium on this beautiful new project.

Burial close to churches has been part of sacred tradition for centuries, but, as cemeteries move further away, this tradition has been lost. The proposed columbarium garden will be located under the public church of the Abbey and offer people a dignified and spiritual place to lay loved ones to rest.

For more information please contact [email protected] or phone Joseph O’Neill on 07821 451 223

The Cistercian Community in Portglenone announce an exciting and important new venture. Let us know what you think.

29/10/2022

Very sad to hear of Fr. McMahon’s passing. He was a kind and supportive friend to Eternum and the idea of pastoral columbaria in churches. His support and encouragement was vital in establishing Eternum’s presence in Ennis.
Rest in peace Fr. Joe - you are now both in heaven and on earth.🙏🏼

JOE MACMAHON OFM, RIP

On 29th October our brother, Joe MacMahon OFM, went home peacefully to God after a long illness. He was 80 years old.
A member of the Ennis fraternity, Joe was born in Limerick in 1942. He entered the Franciscan novitiate in Killarney in 1960, and the following year celebrated his First Profession. After studies in Galway and Leuven, Belgium he was ordained to the priesthood in 1970.
Having requested to be sent on the foreign missions, Joe went to Chile the following year. He returned to Leuven in 1974 to pursue his doctorate in social studies, and thereafter lectured in Bolivia and Pretoria, South Africa.
He returned to Ireland in 1988 and was appointed to various houses in the Province over the next 22 years. In 2000 he returned to the missions and lectured in St Bonaventure College in Lusaka, Zambia. However, within a year he was elected by the friars in Zimbabwe to be their Custos. He came back to Ireland in 2005 and was appointed Secretary of the Province, based in Dublin. He went to Ennis in 2017.
Joe's gifts and Franciscan spirit were highly esteemed by the friars, and he was called upon to serve in various roles in the Order throughout his life.
His contemplative soul and his ready smile and kindness meant that his ministry among the people of several countries was fruitful over many years.
May the Lord comfort his family members and the friars who grieve his loss, and grant Joe the reward of his faithful Franciscan life.
Funeral Arrangements
Reposing in Daly’s Funeral Parlour, Francis Street, Ennis on Sunday 30th October from 2.00pm to 6.00pm, followed by removal to the Franciscan Church of The Immaculate Conception, Francis Street.
Requiem Mass on Monday 31st October at 11.00am, followed by burial afterwards in Ennis Friary plot, Abbey Street.
“Welcome Sister Death”