The Edel Quinn Grotto is part of the community of the Old Bridge area of Clonmel. It is to be found next to the old church and graveyard of St. Nicholas’ Church. The site was formerly known as “The Bleach Yard” where residents would wash clothes in the stream that flowed through the site. In the 1950’s a committee was formed of the local residents who transformed the site into the religious grotto which still stands today, incorporating a statue of our Lady of Lourdes with St. Bernadette kneeling in prayer. Over the years the committee set about cutting the grass and the shrine was tidied up for the annual Mass which takes place early on the June Bank Holiday Monday every year.
The Tús Programme and STDC came on board in 2015 to help with the upkeep and maintenance of the Grotto. Thanks to the innovation of many of the Tús participants and financial support from STDC, the Grotto has become not a labour but a labour of love. This has been done by the Tús participants through removing some of the tired shrubbery/tree’s and replacing those with a variety of plants/shrubs and flower boxes which were built by the Tús participants and now produce life and colour throughout the year.
