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NEWS 2007
O'Doherty clan seeks 'blessing' for St. Patrick's Well
An ancient well at Grianan Fort where St. Patrick is said to have
baptised Gaelic chieftains around 430 AD should be recognised as
a place of outstanding historical interest.
The former editor of 'Ar Dutchas' ('Our Heritage'), Derry historian,
Fionnbarra O'Dochartaigh is one of those spearheading the renewed
campaign. Mr. O'Dochartaigh urges "Please join our lobbying
on the highly neglected state of St. Patrick's Well at Grainán
Fort. It isn't even marked as a place of outstanding historical
interest.
"It was the water from this well which was used by St. Patrick
to baptise the local Gaelic chiefs, Conall Gulban and Eoghan (Owen),
King of Tyrone, around 430 AD. It is thus the pivotal fountainhead
of Christianity in this region. Would we be so very insulting to
'officialdom' to claim that in any other country, even a small commemorative
memorial would have been placed there, generations ago?"
Mr. O'Dochartaigh said that the clan executive knows the campaign
has plenty of support, but that the relevant departments in Dublin
and public representatives have so far only sent a letter of acknowledgment.
"Therefore we feel we should now cordially request permission
to place a commemorative plaque at that site, and maybe even a miniature
Celtic Cross. This would avoid the use of tax payer's money as we
are confident that we can privately raise the funds necessary to
do so," he said. However, Mr. O'Dochartaigh said the clan would
like to have the 'blessing of the Public Works Department, or whoever
and whatever agencies of 'officialdom' which might be involved.
He added "I wouldn't wish to see the memorial pulled down
because of lack of planning permission, ironically by the same 'officialdom'
which has remained inactive for over a decade on this proposal.
This is a major national heritage site, if not a prime tourist attraction,
as well as being a place that many religious followers don't even
seem to know about.
Concern was first expressed about the neglect of St. Patrick's
Well in 1995 by Pascual O'Dogherty of Madrid, now a retired admiral
of the Royal Navy of Spain, where he wrote to the editor of the
O'Dogherty clan's newspaper. The retired admiral, a regular visitor
to the North West, is the younger brother of Dr. Ramon Salvador
O'Dogherty, the XXXVII hereditary Lord of Inish Eoghan.
The admiral's initial letter noted. "On a recent visit I found
the well absolutely abandoned, a hole in the ground, full of muddy
rain water. I am sure that when Irish people realise the potential
of that place, as a point of encounter for all Irish people, Catholics,
Protestant and dissenter alike, there will be a strong movement
for action, involving the Derry, Donegal and Tyrone authorities,
the churches and the common people."
The admiral later put his proposal for a fitting marker at the
holy well to the Standing Committee of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains,
and the editor of the clan paper duly wrote to the Dep. of Public
Works, relevant ministers, politicians, an both Derry City and Co.
Donegal councillors. The issue was taken up at the time by the local
media, but to no avail. Now, a dozen years later, the admiral is
again calling for action. The call for recognition of this important
historical site is timely with a special international gathering
of the O'Doherty clan planned for next summer to commemorate its
21 year old chieftain, Sir Cahir Rua, whose death in action at Killmaccrennan,
ended the prolonged rebellion of 1608.
The project team involved with the St. Patrick's Well campaign
can be contacted via rights.civil@googlemail.com
or on 028 71 286359.
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