Mass celebrated at Mullaghgarve Mass Rock

Notwithstanding the inclement weather on Sliabh an Iarainn for much of Sunday, June 23, almost 80 hardy souls attended Mass at Mullaghgarve Mass Rock, organised by Kiltubrid Youth Pastoral Council.

‘The Mullaghgarve Mass Rock Walk’, (newly waymarked and developed, with an access road, carparking facilities and short sections boardwalked) is considered ‘mildly challenging, with an elevation of 178 metres.

The driving rain and heavy thunder added to the authenticity of the ‘pilgrimage’ in the footsteps of our ancestors, to what was once a secret place of prayer during Cromwell’s campaign against the Irish, and the Penal Laws in the mid-17th century.

Mass was illegal then; services were not scheduled and parishioners would have informally spread the word of Mass arrangements.

While most people have a general knowledge of the history of that period and of the Mass Rocks dotted all over Ireland,

Monsignor Liam Kelly; Priest, Historian and Kiltubrid native, gave a fascinating account of some of the local history and people related to this particular Mass Rock.

He told the congregation gathered that the cliff-like rock formations, high up on Sliabh an Iarainn, gave shelter to the Mass altar, and his guess was that there was a temporary roof over it.

It was referred to as ‘An Teampall’ (The Church), and even up to the 1940s, the old people referred to it as ‘The Old Church’,

Kelly recounted: “By 1590 or so, the churches at Kiltubrid, Annadale Cross, Ballinaglera and in Ballinamore were all closed because of the reformation and Catholics no longer had the use of them. Priests were being persecuted and they came up the mountain to hide and to have a place to celebrate Mass.”

“The first documented reference to religious ceremonies up there was in 1611, when a Jesuit Priest came on a mission to Longford and came on into Leitrim. He spent a week there; preaching, saying Mass and hearing confessions, along with other priests.

“Three years later, 7 people (2 McKiernan brothers and 5 others), were in jail in Cavan for the ‘crime’ of attending the sacrifice of the Mass. They spent 6 months in horrific conditions in Cavan jail, the details are well documented”, explained Msgr. Kelly.

He told the crowd gathered of one such man who celebrated Mass there, Bishop Eugene McSweeney, who even ordained one priest on the mountain. This, he said, is documented in historical records.

The Bishop lived close by, on the mountain, from 1655 to his death in 1659. The priests were mostly from the Franciscan order, and the one who is most associated with Mullaghgarve Mass Rock is Fr Dan McGriskin from north Leitrim.

“Fr McGriskin hid from the authorities and lived in a cave, which became known as ‘Fr Dan’s Cave’. He used to carry a set of bagpipes, as a disguise. Another Franciscan priest, Olly Duignan used the disguise as a juggler and was known as ‘Robin the Juggler’, which allowed him to travel around freely and then say Mass secretly”, Msgr. Kelly explained.

It is believed that Mass was celebrated at Mullaghgarve Mass Rock for about 150 years, up until about 1750, which understandably explains why the place was known locally as ‘The Church’.

Mass was concelebrated by Msgr. Kelly and Fr Frankie Murray, P.P. in Drumshanbo, in the Parish of Murhaun. Some of the members of nearby St. Joseph’s Church, Rantogue, lead the singing throughout the Mass and finished up with a most fitting hymn; ‘Faith of Our Fathers’.

The thunder ceased, the rain cleared off and the vistas beyond ‘The Church’ were spectacular. All made a safe descent back to the kick-off point at Rantogue Church, happy to have been part of a most memorable and blessed day, perfectly organised by the members of Kiltubrid Youth Pastoral Council.