Would You Believe? Stand Up For Mary – episode 2 in new series.
Sunday 22 March RTÉ One 22:35
Breda Larkin is a struggling stand up comedian – not with her routine but with her faith. A lot of what she holds dear from growing up in a rural catholic household makes it difficult to leave the church.
As Breda realised her wish to be a priest and her sexuality were not acceptable she felt her church had abandoned her. On a comedy tour that takes in her favourite holy places she hopes to resolve her dilemma expressed on stage through the medium of her comedy.
She’s a farmer’s daughter who loves and respects the land, its rites, rituals and traditions. Drawn towards the Celtic world she sees in her surroundings she‘s also fascinated by holy shrines and grottos and the stories of the moving statues from the mid eighties which she regards as legends from her childhood.
WYB? travels with Breda and her travelling companion , a two foot statue of Mary, as she meets a witness to the moving statue at Melleray in Co.Waterford and stays the night as a guest of Melleray Abbey the Cistercian Monastery just up the road.
Challenged to rise at four a.m. and attend Vigils with the Brothers she finds she can’t go back to bed and ponders her faith, drinks tea and thinks about leaving the church.
‘I had a feeling I should defect from the church cos of guilt and stuff. Due to updates in canon law you’re not allowed…so that’s that!’
In early morning conversation with guest house master Fr Dennis Luke she learns that in common with the monks she’s a seeker.
Onwards to Faughart in Louth and the shrine of catholic saint and celtic goddess Saint Brigid. Here pre Christian and Christian tradition reflect the spiritual heritage of her people.
It’s spring and there’s work to do on the farm as Breda and her partner Lianna plant a tree on the spot where they hope to build a home …and there’s a place for Mary’s statue.