The Archdiocese of Dublin has advised parishes and priests not to organise events to give communion to parishioners after mass, either inside or outside of churches.
The advice came as a parish in west Dublin stopped handing out communion to 130 parishioners on Sundays, after gardaí advised it should not be doing so. "Under current restrictions all religious services continue to take place online.
In the interest of health and safety priests and parishes ought not to distribute Holy Communion before or after mass, in or outside churches," the Archdiocese said in a statement.
It added: "Drive-in masses are not permitted as no gatherings of people outdoors or indoors are permitted. Churches remain open for private prayer only; liturgies and