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We
start with the History of Christianity in the Parish. However, for further
study regarding Archaeological History, Mining History, History Notes,
History of the three Villages, Pastors of Kilronan down the centuries
& Curates who served in Kilronan Parish.
Click on the following Links Below: Archaeological History - Mining History - History Notes - History of the Villages Pastors of Kilronan - Evolution of Life in Kilronan Parish down the Centuries |
| History
of Christianity in Kilronan Parish: Christianity in the Parish owes its origin, according to tradition, to St Ronan who with his daughter Lasair came from Monaghan in Northern Ireland sometime in the early sixth century. Ronan MacNinneadha, to give him his full name, and his daughter, it is said, travelled much of Ireland searching for a place of peace and solitude where they could establish a quiet prayerful retreat. After some years they came to the shores of Loch Maothla, now Lough Meelagh, beside Keadue in Kilronan Parish. Pleased with that lovely scene and fertile district they erected their "House of Prayer and Solitude" on Inis Mor Maothla the largest island on Lough Meelagh. Lasair persuaded her father to build a church on the shoresof the lake. They did so, and Lasair called this church "Cill Ronain" "till judgement day" or Church of Ronan. This, as far as can be ascertained, was the earliest mention of Kilronan. When Ronan
found his end approaching he went back to his island place of prayer
where he said he would "Meet God Face to Face". Ronan died on his island
which is now known as "Orchard Island " |
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Lasair's Holy Well
is on the side of the road from Keadue to Ballyfarnon less than half a
mile from Keadue and on the shore of Lough Meelagh. There is a major "pattern"
or "patron day" each year on the last Sunday of August where some thousands
of people gather from all the parishes of the region to pay homage to
St Ronan and his daughter Lasair and to pray for the dead in the cemetery
around the old abbey. Beside St Lasair's well is a large flag-stone supported
by four stone pillars known as " Leac Ronain" or St Ronan's Altar. It is on this flag-stone that the "Holy Patron Mass" is celebrated each year. ( Mass at Saint Lasair's Well ). It is believed that backache can be cured if the sufferer were to crawl under the flag-stone three times . Big numbers of people continue to crawl under the stone each year in the week before and after patron day and make the old traditional stations. ( A local doctor says " if you are able to crawl under the stone your back wasn't very bad in the first place" ). The traditional stations consisted of three Hail Marys said at the edge of the well; to the East of the well a decade of the rosary and The Apostle's Creed. The rosary is continued while walking around the well three times with the well always on the right ie. walking in a clockwise or sunwise direction. Three drinks of water from the well are taken and the remains in the container must be thrown towards the lake and fresh water taken up. More simplified stations are "done" on patron day but the old stations still live on. Also, pilgrims often used to hammer coins into the tree above the well , so much so, that the practice eventually made the tree dangerous and it had to be cut down. According
to tradition, St. Lasair's Well was originally situated on the top of
the hill above and to the left of the old abbey. It is said that the
well was desecrated by Oliver Cromwell's army who tried to block |
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The
Abbey of Kilronan: The
ruins of the old Abbey of Kilronan, not of course of the original one,
still stand in the ancient cemetery.
The present church dates from the fourteenth century, though the Eastern very ornate doorway seems to date from a much earlier period. Time has been harsh to the old building. Ivy and roots of trees growing on and up the walls have penetrated the stonework. The ivy holds the stones together and bursts them at the same time. If the ivy is killed the walls will fall and if it is not killed it will demolish the walls - A real "Catch 22 " situation - .There is a real danger we may not have the old Abbey of Cill Ronain with us much longer. Pastors Curates of Kilronan down the centuries can be viewed by clicking on the link & learn about the Parish & its people today. The Parish |
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