The service was led by Parish Priest, Canon Jimmy McPhillips and Canon Lar Dawson, Brookeborough. Hundreds of people from neighbouring parishes travelled to attend the dawn service. 

Locals travelled from various neighbouring areas, including, Boho, Brookeborough and Enniskillen.

“Unfortunately weather conditions did disappoint this year, but the attendance at the Mass most certainly did not.

“An estimated 500 people from all parts of the county and neighbouring counties joined for the Mass,” Canon McPhillips explained. 

Explaining the significance of the dawn service he said, “Tradition tells us that on this most holy of Christian mornings, the rising sun dances in the sky to celebrate the great Christian belief in the Resurrection.”

Addressing the gathering Canon McPhillips said, “The resurrection of Jesus gives us so much hope, yet the awful finality of death can so often hit us square in the face. 

“It can be overwhelming.”

Speaking in the graveyard his message was one of hope that as a result of Jesus’ resurrection, “We now believe that there is good news from the graveyard. Good news that death had lost its sting. Good news that the grave had lost its victory.”

Canon McPhillips added, “After the Mass celebration some 400 of the congregation enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the local Parish Centre where Carol Anne Symth and her family provided.”

Across the Clogher diocese three dawn services took place. In addition to that in Lisnaskea, in Irvinestown a service was held at Rossigh Bay, Lough Erne at 6.15am.

The Polish tradition of the blessing of baskets of fresh food on Holy Saturday was also upheld at four parishes in the diocese, Enniskillen, Lisnaskea, Monaghan and Broomfield.