AUGUST 2009

Special service at Carrowmena Mass Rock

Sunday 23rd August at 3pm a very special religious ceremony will be held at the local Mass Rock Carrowmena. Mass will be celebrated by Moville parish priest Fr. Paddy O'Kane and local priest Fr. Jim McGonagle. The rock was identified this spring by Tremone Historical Society member Anthony McGonagle.

Sunday will be the first time in at least 200 years that Mass will be said at the rock. The spot where the Mass Rock was found is quite secluded, and that's because in penal times priests wanted to say Mass somewhere the Redcoats couldn't see them said The Society's chairman, John A. McLaughlin, referring to the British soldiers who were charged with enforcing their government's ban on Catholic worship in Ireland. Penal times were dangerous for Catholics, especially the clergy. Fr. Hegarty's rock near Buncrana marks the spot where one local priest held Mass in secret before he was captured by the British and put to death.

It has been believed that the Ballynagaraghy Mass Rock was located somewhere on land that used to belong to the Farren Family. "Mick Farren promised to take me out to look for the mass Rock, but he took ill and was never able to do it. In fact the last surviving member of the Farren clan, Rosie Donovan, was buried in Ballinacrae last week," said John, who thanked current land-owners Anthony and Phil Brennan, for permitting the Mass to take place. "Earlier this year Anthony McGonagle was out taking pictures in the area and he noticed one of the rocks had a 10 inch square hole chiselled into it. A local priest told him this was for hiding a chalice."

Preparations for the Mass have already begun with work to cut grass at the field, put up direction signs for motorists as well as erecting a tent for the priest in case of poor weather, all to be completed by this weekend, when people from Carrowmena and further afield will gather in a small corner of the townland of Ballynagaragy.

According to John if the weather is good on Sunday, mass-goers would be treated to stunning views across the sea to the Scottish island of Islay, as well as Rathlin and Inishtrahull. "Depending on the weather there will be parking in a nearby field. I would ask that people bring suitable footwear, no high heels should be worn, for example. It's a spectacular setting and I hope there is a big crowd for this Mass. If it goes well hopefully the mass at the Ballynagarghy Mass Rock can become an annual event."

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