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.
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,
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’,
“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.
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.
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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’.
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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.
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