Saint Assicus of Elphin (Walsh)

From Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy:

"St Asicus is mentioned as the first bishop of Elphin and to have been placed in the see by St Patrick but it is doubtful whether he has been one in the lifetime of the apostle. The festival of St. Asicus is celebrated on the 27th of April but the year of his death like unto the deaths of other saints is not known. Ware fixes his incumbency in or about 450. It is said that Asicus was an excellent goldsmith and that he adorned the cathedral with monuments of elegant workmanship that he also wrought for St. Patrick quadrangular chalices and altars. It is also related of him that through a penitential spirit he retired from his diocese to the mountain Slievliag in Donegal where, after sojourning a considerable time, he was discovered by his disciples. He could not be induced to return to his see but went with them to a solitude and when he died was buried at Rathcunga barony of Tyrhugh in that county. Next to Asicus is mentioned his nephew Bitheus bishop of Elphin and who was buried with Asicus in Rathcunga.  Bron bishop of Caisseal Iorra was the contemporary of both and died in the time of St. Bridget, AD 512. The names of the successors are lost to our enquiries but may we not hope that they are recorded in the book of life."

"Rathcunga in the barony of Tir Hugh. A very old establishment St Asicus of Elphin and Baithen are interred here St Patrick is said to have erected this church."
 
"881 Asicus bishop of Elphin Biteus and Tassach who fabricated sacred utensils are noticed as such as well as Dageus The ingenuity of the last saint is described in his life which Colgan quotes Idem enim episcopus Dageus abbatibus aliisqne Hibernite Sanctis campanas cymbala baculos cruces scrinia capsas pixides calics discos altariola chrismalia librorumque coopertoria qusedam horum nuda quaedam vero alia auro atque argento gemmisque pretiosis circumtecta pro amore Dei et sanctorum honore sine ullo terreno pretio ingeniose ac mirabiliter composuit."

"See of Rathcunga county of Donegal: St Bitheus. was the founder was contemporary with Bron of Cashel Iorra and Asicus of Elphin, who was his uncle. It is likely that he was also bishop of West Cashel. He has been buried at Rathcunga where the remains of his uncle St Asicus were deposited."

Ballindune Priory (Walsh)

From Walsh, Thomas; History of the Irish Hierarchy, cap. lx, p. 640.

Ballindune in the barony of Tirelill, seven miles north of Boyle and on Lough Arrow. The ancient sept of MacDonagh founded this monastery for Dominicans about the year 1427. This family has given bishops, priests, martyrs and heroes to Ireland. They are a branch of the MacDermot of Moylurg who was descended of Heremon, the third son of Milesius. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and it could compete with many monasteries of the country in extent and beauty.

In the twenty seventh of queen Elizabeth the possessions consisted of a church and cemetery with half a quarter of land of every kind annual value 6s 8d English money. They were granted to Francis Crofton who had assigned them to Edward Crofton. They have eventually fallen into the hands of the King family. In the year 1756 there were four friars attached to Ballindune, Michael Reynolds the prior, Dominick O'Hart, Andrew Dwyer and Miles Lipnan. Turlogh MacDonogh, the most eminent lawyer of his time, has been buried in this abbey.

Lough Key Abbey (Walsh)

From Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy chapter lix, p. 632 ff:

Loughkey. The river Boyle runs through this lake in which there is an island called Trinity Island, an abbey dedicated to the holy and undivided Trinity having existed there AD 700.

AD 1215 the eminent Clarus Mac Moyhn O'Mulchonry, archdeacon of Elphin, refounded this abbey under the invocation of the Holy Trinity for Premonstré canons. He also founded the church of Deryndonne.

AD 1231 on the 15th of December died here Dionysius O'Morra, who had retired from the bishopric of Elphin.

AD 1234 Gillisa O Gibbellan anchorite of this island died.

AD 1239 Lasra Fina, daughter of Cathal Croivdeargh and wife of O'Domnail, granted to this abbey the half townland of Rosburn, being part of her dower.

AD 1380 the abbot who was son of MacDermod Roe died.

AD 1440 the abbot died.

AD 1466 the abbey was consumed by an accidental fire caused by the negligence of a woman. This abbey was filial to the abbey of Premonstré in France. Its possessions were granted with other property valued at 26 13s 8d annually to Robert Harrison for ever in free soccage. The annals of Loughkey were preserved here.

Cashell Jorra

Cashell Jorra (See diocese of Elphin) in the barony of Corran between the rivers Uncion and the Owenmore and six miles south of Sligo. St. Bron, the disciple of St. Patrick, was bishop of this place.

Baslick Abbey (Walsh)

From Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy chapter lix, p. 624 ff:



Bais-leac-mor. St. Sacellus, a disciple of St. Patrick, was bishop of this place, now called Baslick. He was one of those who attended the synod at Maghseola. Whether he was then a bishop or not, remains in doubt.

Bealaneney, was a house of conventual Franciscans. It was found to contain a church, with other buildings, and a cemetery, orchard, and garden within the precincts; eight acres of arable land and seven of pasture; a castle in the town of Athlone, near the cemetery of the parish church, in which were two chambers, and a parcel of land adjacent to the said castle, extending from the east near the market-place, sixty feet, and in length, near the river Shannon, two hundred feet.

These possessions were granted to Edmund OTallon, of Athlone, at the annual rent of 44s. 7d., Irish money.

Drumcliffe Abbey (Walsh)

From Walsh, Thomas; History of the Irish Hierarchy, chapter lx, p. 646 ff.

Drumcliffe in the barony of Drumcliffe formerly a town of some note.

Lanigan is not inclined to assign to St. Columbkille the merit of erecting the monastery of Drumcliffe. He is only willing to admit as he does with regard to St. Fechin at Ballysadare that St. Columba only founded a church in this place. At the time in which not only Columba flourished but also that in which St. Fechin was cut off by the plague the erection of a monastery was a work of very little delay, especially when the people or the prince were pleased to sanction and assist in its construction. The Abbé MacGeoghegan writes that the piety of the early Christians of Ireland was such that they not only gave food and other necessaries for the wants of their religious houses but even dedicated some of their families to the service of God as was the custom with the Jewish people.

If the history of the foundation of Imay, Co. Galway, be correct we are therein assured that the holy founder was at his monastery in Easdara when admonished to seek the island of Imay by an angel. Yet Lanigan will not accord to him the erection of that establishment. A St. Thorian, a disciple of Columba who followed him afterwards to Hy, is named as having governed Drumcliffe as the first abbot. It is again argued that as a blank occurs in the names of the abbots until the year 921, St. Columba was not the founder Drumcliffe, does not appear to be singular in this respect. Voids of the same sort occur in the succession of the bishops of our sees. Lanigan also urges the silence of Ware with regard to its foundation &c. Ware is also silent of the Dominican convent of Clonmel, one of far later date. Ware omits the ancient monastery of Tirdaglas, founded by Columba, son of Crimthan.

AD 921 died the abbot of Drumcliffe, St. Thorian or Thorannan. He was also abbot of Banchor and was honored on the 12th of June. Died also this year the blessed Maolpatrick Mac Moran.

AD 930 died the abbot Moyngall son of Becan.

AD 950 died the blessed Flan Ó Becain, archdeacon of Drumcliffe, a learned and celebrated scribe.

AD 1029 This year Aengus Ó Hoengusa, archdeacon of Drumcliffe, with sixty other persons, perished by an accidental fire in an island called Inislanne, territory of Carberry.

AD 1053 Murchad Ó Beollain, archdeacon of Drumcliffe, died.

AD 1077 died Murrogh Ó Beollan, comorb of Drumcliffe and St. Columb.

AD 1187 the abbey was spoiled by Melaghlin, king of Meath. The wrath of Heaven soon overtook him, having been killed in a fortnight after.

AD 1225 died Amlave Ó Beollain, archdeacon of Drumcliffe, a man of extraordinary erudition and in general esteem for piety wisdom and unbounded hospitality.

AD 1252 died in this abbey Maelmaidoc Ó Baollan, comorb of St. Columb, a venerable and hospitable man and in universal estimation in England and Ireland.

AD 1416 this abbey was set on fire by a band of plunderers, the abbot Maurice Ó Coincoil perished in the flames.

AD 1503 died the abbot Ó Beollan.

Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Sligo

Members and friends of Saint Assicus' Catholic Heritage Association made their pilgrimage to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the afternoon of Saturday, 17th October, for a Traditional Latin Mass.

The Cathedral was designed by English architect George Goldie (1828-1887), who was also responsible for the design of Churches in Bohola (1859), Ballymote (1859), Strokestown (1860), Gurteen (1866), and Killasser (1868).  The Cathedral's design was 1867.  Building took place between 1867 and 1875.  It was opened on 26th July, 1874, by Paul, Cardinal Cullen and consecrated by Cardinal Cullen on 1st July, 1897.

The design is in a massive Lombard Romanesque, the only 19th Century Irish Cathedral in the Romanesque style.  It is in a basilican style with the triforium gallery extended across the transepts. This effect can also be seen, 'though less correctly and with much less effect, in a Gothic context, in Ss. Peter and Paul's, Cork City.  The tower reaches a height of 70 meters.  The interior is 69 meters wide at the transepts and 19 meters high.  The aisles continue under the triforium right through into a fine ambulatory with a corona chapel that is now a baptistery.  The High Altar, surmounted by a statue of Mary Immaculate is intact under a brass baldachino.  Some of the stained glass is by Lobin of Tours.

Sligo Abbey (Walsh)

From Walsh, Thomas; History of the Irish Hierarchy, chapter lx, p. 655 ff.

Sligo, the capital of the county; a seaport, market-town and a parliamentary borough.

Maurice Fitzgerald, who was Lord Justice of Ireland in the year 1229, and who retained that office from 1232 to 1245, founded this noble monastery on the bank of the river Gitly and adjacent to the castle of Sligo, which Maurice erected A.D. 1245. The church was dedicated under the invocation of the Holy Cross, of which a commemoration was made daily in the divine office. It was supplied with
friars of the order of St. Dominick.

O'Connor Sligo was a liberal benefactor to this monastery. So was Pierce O'Timony, whose statue was erected in the cloister.

A.D. 1360, Mac William Bourke spoiled and burned the town.

A.D. 1414, the sacred edifice was destroyed by an accidental fire: at this time twenty friars were resident in the abbey. Pope John XXIII granted an indulgence to all who would contribute towards the expenses of refounding it.

A.D. 1416, the monastery was rebuilt by friar Bryan Mac Dermot Mac Donagh.

A.D. 1454, Bryan Mac Donagh, dynast of Tirerill, was interred here.

At the general suppression, it was granted to Sir William Taaffe.  It is at present in the possession of Lord Palmerston, who can be styled the "Cecil" of England in this enlightened century.

The ruins of this spacious and beautiful monastery indicate its former magnificence. The northern and southern sides of the arcade, with the east one, still remain covered with an arched roof, which will soon yield to the wreck of time. The arches and pillars are of extraordinary workmanship, a few of which are adorned with sculpture. The east window is beautiful, and the high altar, which still remains, is decorated with relievo sculpture in the Gothic style. On the south side of the altar is a monument of O'Connor, with his own figure and that of his lady.

Archdale observes that Cromwell has done some injury to this monastery, but "that merit" rather belongs to Ireton and Sir Charles Coote, who could perceive no fault in the "frolics" of his soldiers when transfixing Irish innocent babes with their bayonets, and then elevating them on their points, in order that the writhings of those "innocents" would afford diversion to the puritan soldiery of England. Cromwell was never in Connaught.

Pilgrimage to Sligo Cathedral

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National Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Knock 2015

The National Latin Mass Pilgrimage is a special event in Knock.  Unique among Latin Mass pilgrimages around the Country, His Grace, the Archbishop of Tuam has designated this pilgrimage under his own authority and appointed a chaplain, Fr. John Loftus of the Diocese of Killala.

The organisation of the National Pilgrimage was undertaken by Our Lady's Catholic Heritage Association in co-ordination with the other Catholic Heritage Associations around the Country but all Latin Mass Communities, Chaplaincies, Associations and groups around the Country are invited to participate each year.

As usual, the main exercises of the pilgrimage took place in the old Parish Church of Knock, whish stood when the apparitions took place.  The apparitions are uniquely Eucharistic in that the Blessed Sacrament was present in the form of the Lamb of God with Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John, during the whole of the apparition.  That may be the reason for the silence of the apparition and perhaps the key to it's central message, the importance of silence in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament - very appropriate for the Traditional Latin Mass.

There was a tremendous turn out from all parts of the Country for a Missa Cantata of Our Lady celebrated by Fr. Loftus.  In keeping with the exercises of the official pilgrimages to the Shrine, the Missa Cantata was followed by the Stations of the Cross and the pilgrimage concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.