Internet mass attracts 3,000 views a week

Priests saying Mass at Tullamore's Church of the Assumption have almost as many virtual as physical attendees, it has been revealed. Congregation numbers locally average 4,000 per week according to Tullamore Parish administrator Tom Whelan. However since Masses have been broadcast over the Internet via a webcam online viewership stands at approximately 12,000 per month, or 3,000 per week, in addition to that. Mr Whelan said the move to install a webcam last January and make Masses available throughout the world was with the diaspora in mind. "We felt it was important now that so many people are emigrating," he explained. Online viewing figures have taken everyone by surprise however, with thousands logging on to the Tullamore Parish website each week for Mass via webcam. Mr Whelan said all services are available via the website, including First Holy Communion Masses, Confirmation Masses and funeral Masses. Mr Whelan said those involved with Tullamore Parish had no idea how many people the new facility would serve when they installed it at the beginning of this year. However he said figures provided by the company that installed the device show average monthly Mass views of 12,000. That figure jumped to 14,000 for the month of April, which Mr Whelan puts down to the fact that Easter fell during that month. Mr Whelan said he's now looking for a breakdown of viewing figures to see where in the world most viewers are logging on from. If you have relatives or friends abroad who would like to attend local Masses virtually, they should log on to www.tullamoreparish.ie and follow the "Live Web Cam" link.