Churches in the Shannonside region have welcomed people back into pews and socially distanced seating this morning for the first public celebration of masses since October.
The Level 5 lockdown meant that while churches remained open, masses were held behind closed doors for the most part with just a handful of people, or sometimes almost no-one, present.
Around fifty people attended 8am mass at St Mel's Cathedral in Longford this morning, with a slightly bigger crowd for the 10am mass.
Kevin McGillicuddy spoke to some people outside the church who enjoyed being able to celebrate their faith with fellow churchgoers for the first time in weeks :