A Tralee priest who condemned from the altar the online racist abuse of a local family has been praised.
Theresa Elumelu is originally from Nigeria but has lived in Kerry for 22 years.
She and her children - who were born and raised in Tralee - were subjected to online abuse, after their visit to Rome in the wake of Pope Francis's death, was reported in The Kerryman.
Online trolls questioned the family's Kerry identity, their name and the colour of their skin.
Last Sunday at Our Lady and St Brendan's Church in Tralee, Fr Pádraig Walsh condemned the abuse and said it was not representative of the feelings of people in the community.
Ms Elumelu who attends the church said it meant a lot to her and her family that Fr Walsh made the statement from the altar during Mass.
