A successful Jubilee Pilgrimage
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Dom Laurence Walsh planted a tree in memory of his cousin the late Bishop Willie Walsh. Pictured are Fr Bavo, Bishop Fintan, Fr Antun Pasalic, Dom Laurence Walsh, Fr Tom Corbett, John Hogan, Fr Molloy.Image 2 of 4
Fr John Molloy, Fr Tom Corbett, Bishop Fintan Monahan, Dom Laurence Walsh, Fr Anton Pasalic, Fr Michael O’Meara, Fr Bavo and altar servers. Photos: PJ WrightImage 3 of 4
Bishop Fintan Monahan, Tadhg Maher and Sean Hogan.Image 4 of 4
Some of the large attendance at the event.The Jubilee Pilgrimage - Walk to Monaincha Abbey, often referred to as the 31st Wonder of the World took place on Sunday, June 15, from St Cronan's Church, Abbey Street, Roscrea.
The Pastoral Council comprising Camblin, Clonakenny, Couraganeen, Kyle and Knock and Roscrea, played a pivotal role in organising this huge historical event, led by Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan.
The pilgrims began the walk from St Cronan's Church at 10.30am, arriving at Monaincha Abbey one hour later. The opening address was given by renowned historian, George Cunningham. This address set the scene for the celebration of mass by Bishop Fintan.
The theme of the ceremony was the Jubilee Year of Hope.
During the Mass Tadgh Maher sang the newly composed hymn, O Holy Cronan. This piece was composed by popular composer and writer Séamus Doran.
The ceremony concluded with the planting of a mountain ash tree to commemorate the life of the late Bishop Willie Walsh, a Roscrea native. Bishop Fintan was assisted at the planting ceremony by Rev Dom Laurence Walsh, OCSO, Mt St Joseph's and cousin to the late Bishop Willie Walsh and Fr Tom Corbett, Roscrea. The huge crowd received refreshments at the Abbey Hall afterwards before returning home to many parts of the dioceses and beyond.
HISTORY OF ABBEY
Noted in the book of Ballymote (14th century manuscript) as the 31st Wonder of the World, Monaincha Abbey is truly a special place.
A sight of pilgrimage and spiritual retreat, Monaincha is associated with Irish saints Canice of Aghaboe, who built the original abbey in the 6th century, Elair who patronised the reforming Culdees (Céilí Dé), and Cronan of Roscrea.
The present church was erected by Augustinians who took over services in the 1140s, when the prior of the island was usually represented by a member of the Ó Meachair clan.
It fell to ruin when the Augustinians abandoned it in 1485 for nearby Sean Ross.
This occurred before the Dissolutions under Henry VIII in the 1500s, so Monaincha was spared from desecration during the Reformation period, continuing as a popular pilgrimage destination and hermitage for monks and friars.
A notable pilgrim in 1610 was Bishop Conor O’Devany - two years before his execution in Dublin.
While the Irish name for the townland in which the church is situated is Móin na hInse (Bog of the Island), it was originally built on an island in a lake known as Loch Cré and is always referred to in the Irish Annals as Inis Loch Cré, while Inis na mBeo (Island of the Living) is another Irish name applied to it.