Friday 8 March 2019

Old Leighlin (Walsh)

The following is from Fr. Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy, published in New York in 1854, chapter xxxvii, at p. 368:

Old Leighlin Saint Gobhan founded this abbey for canons of St Augustine in the year 616 In the year 632 St Gobhan surrendered his abbey to St Laserian the son of Cairel and Blitha Laserian is said to have had fifteen hundred monks under his jurisdiction Laserian was made bishop of Leighlin He died in the year 638 and on the 18th of April AD 639 Delasse MacWinge the abbot died AD 725 Saint Manchen bishop of Leighlin died AD 767 Ernagh MacEhyn the abbot died AD 863 Manchen the abbot died AD 876 Dungall the abbot died In the year 916 Leighlin was plundered Saint Stephen's priory founded by Burchard a Norwegian captain about the year 1060 The founder was buried in the choir of the cathedral Felix was prior Philip was prior after him in the year 1304 In the following year one John was prior This priory was dissolved in the year 1432 by authority of Pope Eugene rV and the lands belonging to it were annexed to the deanery of Leighlin

Monday 4 March 2019

Stradbally (Walsh)

The following is from Fr. Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy, published in New York in 1854, chapter lviii, at p. 620:

Stradbally gives name to the barony In the twelfth century The O Morra founded this monastery for conventual Franciscans August 18th 1582 Queen Elizabeth was seized of this friary and all its appurtenances which consisted of besides other property three hundred and forty five acres of land in different townlands all of which were granted to Francis Cosby and his heirs at the annual rent of 17 6s 3d Irish under an obligation of finding yearly nine English horsemen to defend and maintain British supremacy In 1609 a new lease was made to Richard son of Alexander Cosby

Monday 10 December 2018

Sunday 2 December 2018

A retreat at Mount Melleray


The retreat was my first visit to Mount Melleray.  After a long drive from Dublin my first glimpse came as somewhat of a surprise, seeing it from a distance nestled on the side of the


Describe the daily programme - Early Mass celebrated by Fr. Gregory - Solemn Reqiuem Masses - Conferences - Stations of the Cross - Benediction


Fr. Winterton, Cong. Orat.


Tour of the Abbey

On Friday afternoon, while confessions were being heard in the People's Church, the other retreatants had a talk from a member of the Community about the life and spirituality of the Cistercians, as they do every year. Fr. Denis Luke spoke about the Rule of St. Benedict. Afterwards, he took them on a tour of the Abbey Church and farm yard, including the famous miraculous bin of Mount Melleray.


Saturday 28 July 2018

Pilgrimage to Borris, County Carlow

Members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association joined together this afternoon for a Pilgrimage to Borris, County Carlow, and a Traditional Latin Mass in the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart, at the foot of Mount Leinster, in the valley of the River Barrow eight miles upstream from Graiguenamanagh and next to Borris House, seat of the McMorrough Kavanaghs, the ancient Gaelic Kings of Leinster.  The Mass celebrated was that of the day, the feast of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs; Victor I, Pope and Martyr; and Innocent I, Pope and Confessor.

Reports of previous Traditional Latin Masses organised by the Association to Borris can be found here: 2012, 2013, 2014.

Unfortunately, Buildings of Ireland has only a short account of the Church here.

The Parish website can be found here and the link to the webcam of the Church can be found here.









Saturday 21 July 2018

Traditional Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Strokestown

A warm welcome awaited us today in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, the home place of the late Fr. Flanagan, our first Chaplain, today for a Traditional Latin Mass for the repose of his soul in the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception, a towering beacon in stone standing guard over the town, on the feast of St. Lawrence of Brindisi.  Our grateful thanks to the Priests and People of Strokestown for their many kindnesses.

Buildings of Ireland has a full description of the Church here.
The online Dictionary of Irish Architects has a note of the Church here.
Reports of previous pilgrimages can be found here (2013) and here (2014)







Tuesday 3 July 2018

Latin Mass in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

We are returning to Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, on Saturday, 21st July, 2018, for a visit to the graveyard followed by a Traditional Latin Mass in the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception at 2 p.m.


Latin Mass in Ballyhea - Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The next Traditional Latin Mass in St. Mary's Church, Ballyhea, Co. Cork, will be on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16th July, at 12 noon.



Come and pray with us!

Monday 2 July 2018

Pilgrimage to Kilcock, County Kildare

Members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association joined together last Saturday for a Traditional Latin Mass for the repose of the soul of one of our founder members.

Reports of previous Traditional Latin Masses organised by the Association in Kilcock can be found here: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017.

The Patroness of the Parish is St. Coca. You can find out more about her here.

St. Ninian of Scotland began his career in Cloncurry, also in the Parish. You can find out about his connection with Kilcock here.

Buildings of Ireland gives a detailed description of the Church of St. Coca here.







Thursday 28 June 2018

Killeigh (Walsh)

The following is from Fr. Thomas Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy, published in New York in 1854, chapter l, at p. 512:

Killeigh in the barony of Geashill. St. Sinchell founded this monastery for canons of St. Augustine. See Clane Co Kildare.

AD 849 died Reaghtawry abbot of Killeigh

June 28th eighteenth of Elizabeth this monastery with three messuages one hundred and twenty four acres of arable land twenty four of pasture three of meadow and four of underwood and three messuages six cottages twenty acres of arable land and seven of pasture in the town of Donfeigh in the county with the tithes were granted for ever in capite to John Lee at the yearly rent of 45s 6d.

May 16th 1578 this abbey with all its temporal possessions was granted to Gerald, Earl of Kildare, and his heirs at the yearly rent of 33s 4d with an obligation of maintaining one able horseman.

A nunnery for canonesses of St. Augustine existed here. Its erection is attributed to the Warrens but before the English settled in Ireland. This establishment was in existence. They may have repaired it Gray Friary. This house was erected in the reign of King Edward I by an O Connor as some suppose.

AD 1303 Donald O Bruin guardian of this monastery was made bishop of Clonmacnoise.

At the general suppression this abbey was granted to John Alee. Killeigh was formerly a place of note and its religious houses were amply endowed particularly the monastery of the canons regular.

Monday 25 June 2018

First Pilgrimage to Tullamore

It would a joyful privilege for members and friends of the Catholic Heritage Association to be joined by so many people from Tullamore and the surrounding Parishes for our first pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, last Saturday.

The Parish website gives an excellent history of the Catholic Heritage of Tullamore, on the occasion of the recent centenary of the Church, here, with a survey of the Church building here.  Buildings of Ireland, as ever, has a thorough appraisal of the Church itself here.  Archiseek has another excellent piece here.

Our good friends at Tullamore Parish have posted some photos of the Mass on their excellent Parish website here. Mary with her loving Son, bless us each and every one!






Sunday 24 June 2018

Latin Mass Pilgrimage to Kilcock, Co. Kildare

We are returning to St. Coca's Church, Kilcock, Co. Kildare, on Saturday, 30th June, for a Traditional Latin Mass at 12 noon.


Come and Pray!

Saturday 23 June 2018

Latin Mass in Ballyhea - Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

The next Mass in St. Mary's Church, Ballyhea, Co. Cork, will be on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, 29th June, at 12 noon.


Come and pray with us!

Tuesday 19 June 2018

Our Gaelic Christian Heritage (Part 5)

Among the stirring lines that affirm the high endeavour of the Gaelic Race in the cause of Christ, few can equal for sheer force and colour, some anonymous lines urging fidelity to the True Church against the wiles of heresy. Qui legit intellegat!

Ní trácht ar an Ministir Ghollda,
Ná a chreideamh gan bunús gan bhrí,
Mar 'sé ba bhunchloch dá Theampall,
Magairlí Anraoí an Ríogh!


File gan anim

Saturday 16 June 2018

Pilgrimage to Duiske Abbey 2018

Along the waters of the mighty River Barrow that forms the backbone of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin - and whose waters have witnessed many of our pilgrimages in the past - we returned again to beautiful Graiguenamanagh and to the ancient and new Duiske Abbey for a Traditional Latin Mass of Our Lady on Saturday. Reports of previous pilgrimages are to be found here and here, here and here. It was also our second pilgrimage in just over a month to one of the few of Ireland's medieval Abby Churches restored to the Worship of God. The other being Holy Cross Abbey, Co. Tipperary.