Public invited to historic mass at Tullynascreena Mass Rock

A special outdoor Mass will take place at the historic Tullynascreena Mass Rock on Sunday, June 29 at 3 p.m., marking the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025.

The Eucharistic celebration will be led by Bishop Paul Connell and Fr Patsy McDermott, Parish Priest of Killenummery and Killery. The event is part of this year’s Leitrim Gathering and promises to be a powerful moment of reflection and community spirit at one of Leitrim’s most sacred and storied sites.

The Tullynascreena Mass Rock, perched 170 metres above sea level in Dromahair, served as a secret worship site during the brutal Penal Laws era, when Catholics were banned from openly practicing their faith. Priests risked execution for saying Mass, and locals gathered in remote locations like Tullynascreena to keep their religion alive in defiance of persecution.

“It dates back to the Penal times,” said local organiser Hubert McHugh, Chairperson of the community group CADA. “Priests used to say Mass there, because it was strictly forbidden. Fr McGovern O.F.M., who once celebrated Mass there and is now buried in nearby Creevelea Abbey, and people still take clay from his grave for cures.”

His grave remains a place of pilgrimage, where visitors bring clay in the hope of healing the sick. On the day of the Mass, one of two local scapulars linked to Fr McGovern—traditionally believed to cure whooping cough—will be present for those who wish to witness or take part in the tradition.

This year, the Mass will include a special feature: one of two traditional scapulars linked to Fr McGovern O.F.M., believed by locals to have healing powers. “If someone had the whooping cough, they’d be passed the scapulars,” said McHugh. “People believed they’d be cured. We’ve managed to acquire one for the Mass.”

One of the most enduring stories tied to the site is that of Brian Lee, an elderly man who gave his life to protect a young priest from capture and execution—ensuring the continuation of spiritual ministry for generations to come.

The site’s elevated position once offered a crucial vantage point to watch for British patrols, and its seclusion made it a safe haven for worship. The story of Brian Lee, an elderly man who reportedly gave his life to save a young priest from execution, remains part of the rock’s deep legacy of faith and sacrifice.

To ensure accessibility, Goddard’s Mini-Buses will provide transport from St Mary’s Church, and local locations to the site. “It can accommodate a crowd,” McHugh said. “And for those unable to walk, we’ll have buses running for the duration of the day.”

For more information, contact Fr Patsy McDermott at patsymcdermott@outlook.ie or Hubert McHugh at christinahubert6@gmail.com.

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