A hugely creative Killarney woman, who has designed and helped build the spectacular Christmas crib in St Mary’s Cathedral for several decades, is to be honoured with one of the highest awards the Catholic Church can bestow, KillarneyToday.com can confirm.
Rene Kennelly will receive the coveted Benemerenti Award – sanctioned by Pope Francis and the Vatican – in recognition for her years of great service to the Church.
Rene, whose late husband Colm, was Kerry County Engineer, has made an enormous contribution and she has been a great support to the parish over a number of years.
She has designed and overseen the construction of the life-size festive season crib for the past 48 years. Her incredible work of art has become a seasonal tourist attraction in its own right with people travelling long distances just to see it.
From humble beginnings in the early 1970s, when she was asked to design a crib by Fr John O’Keeffe, the crib now features life-sizes figures, a striking stable, animals, fir trees and moss as well as a very realistic life-like pool which Rene sourced from a film studio in Dublin.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Rene is also responsible for the wonderfully atmospheric sacred space in the cathedral.
The award will be presented to Rene at the 6.15pm Mass in the cathedral on Monday, August 15 and all are welcome to attend.
Originally established as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, in the 1700s, the Benemerenti is now a cherished civil decoration.
The current medal is a gold cross depicting Christ with his hand raised in blessing. On the left arm of the cross is the tiara and the crossed keys symbol of the papacy. On the right arm is the coat of arms of the current pope and the medal is suspended from a yellow and white ribbon, the colors of the papacy.
Artistic flair runs through the Kennelly family as Rene’s daughter, Kate, is the long-serving Kerry County Council’s Arts Officer.
Her other daughter, Shirley, is also hugely creative and son, Mark, a former political advisor to Enda Kenny, is now is now the CEO with the Golfing Union of Ireland.
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