Cobh

<h3>Mass at Mass rock</h3>
<h3>&nbsp;Mass returns to Marlogue this Friday at 6pm. Please spread the word.</h3>
<h3>Celebrant Fr Liam Kelleher</h3>
<h2>PENAL DAYS AND THE MASS ROCK AT MARLOGUE</h2>
<h2>By Anne Mc Sweeney</h2>
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<p>Penal laws against the Catholic Church had existed in Ireland since the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, daughter of Henry V111 and Anne Boleyn, but the most infamous laws were passed by the Irish Parliament in the 1690’s into the early 1700’s.</p>
<p>This was the age that gave to Irish topography the "Corrig-an-Affrion," (The Mass Rock) found so thickly marked on every barony map in Ireland. What memories cling around each hallowed moss-clad stone or rocky ledge on the mountain side, or in the deep recess of some desolate glen, whereon, for years and years, the Holy Sacrifice was offered up in stealth and secrecy, the death-penalty hanging over both priest and worshipper.</p>
<p>Mass was often interrupted by the approach of bounty-hunters; human bloodhounds. Quickened by the rewards to be earned, there sprang up in those days the infamous trade of priest-hunting; "five pounds" being equally the government price for the head of a priest as for the head of a wolf.</p>
<p>The utmost care was necessary in divulging intelligence of the exact time when Mass would next be celebrated. When the congregation had furtively stolen to the spot, sentries were posted all around before the mass began. Yet in many instances, the worshippers were taken by surprise, and the blood of the murdered priest wetted the altar stone.</p>
<p>Well might our Protestant national poet, Thomas Davis, contemplating this era of suffering and sorrow, exclaim:</p>
<p>&nbsp;"Oh! weep those days - the penal days,</p>
<p>When Ireland hopelessly complained:</p>
<p>Oh! weep those days - the penal days,</p>
<p>When godless persecution reigned.</p>
<p>&nbsp;They bribed the flock, they bribed the son,</p>
<p>To sell the priest and rob the sire;</p>
<p>Their dogs were taught alike to run</p>
<p>Upon the scent of wolf and friar.</p>
<p>The gradual defection of the Catholic landed-class removed the sanctuary of the ‘Great Houses’ in which to say Mass; as had been the custom from the early penal days since the priests were forced to say Mass ‘on the run’.</p>
<p>On the Great Island, however, nature provided a haven for the celebration of Mass in the form of a cave beneath the woods near Morlogue Strand. A hollow in a nearby rock was used as a holy water font. For many years an iron cross used to mark the site – an inscribed plaque marks the place today. *In the past an annual Mass was celebrated there but the custom seems to have died out. The main reason, as far as I know, being the difficulty in accessing the area which is covered in seaweed and is very wet and slippery.</p>
<p>A priest whose name has not been recorded and whose ministry appears to have ceased in 1694 is the earliest priest known to have used the sacred little grotto. He is believed to have reached the age of one hundred. Most of the priests during that era were nomadic friars.</p>
<p>In Penal times a priest or ‘saggart’ as he was called, arrived early in the morning, assisted by a server. His Great Island congregation stood on the sea-shore facing the cave while his Imokilly parishioners gathered on the opposite shore at Gurrane, near where the Church of the Holy Trinity stands today. The two congregations were separated by the narrow estuary at East Ferry.</p>
<p>Mass began with the Latin intonation ‘Introibe ad Altare Dei’ I will go to the altar of God …..  The climax of the ceremony, the Sanctus and Elevation were signalled by the hoisting of a white flag, raised aloft, in silence, for fear of drawing unwanted attention, while ‘lookouts’ on the surrounding hills kept their eyes peeled for the dreaded Priest Hunter.</p>
<p>In happier times, at the Elevation, the congregation would bow their heads and cry out “Míle Fáilte, Chríost, ár Slánatheoir”. “A Thousand Welcomes, Christ, our Saviour”.</p>
<p>Now,  they dared not make a sound and as soon as Mass was over, the ‘saggart’ made a hasty departure on horseback and both congregations slipped away as discreetly as possible.</p>
<p>Tradition has it that one of the Lavallin family of Walterstown Castle, who finally succumbed to Protestantism, became a tenacious Priest Hunter.</p>
<p>“All the while, men watch from the hill.</p>
<p>Lest, Lavallin, recreant rogue,</p>
<p>Sweep on his prey, that Penal day,</p>
<p>At the Mass-cave at Morlogue.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;When you consider that Mass was being celebrated in a cave on the sea-shore, directly below the Lavallin’s estate – with no less than two separate congregations standing in the open - you would have to question the tenacity of the ‘recreant’, as he is deemed never to have captured as much as one priest.</p>
<p>Given the history of the Lavallins of Walterstown Castle and the sacrifices that had been made by them in the name of Catholicism - several members of that family had been outlawed and exiled in France, never to see their native shore again - I think it far more likely that the Lavallins could not afford to take any further risks, lest they had their estate confiscated and therefore would have had to make it perfectly clear that they did not want Mass to be celebrated next, nigh or near their property and who could blame them.</p>
<h4>Anne McSweeney</h4>
<h2>Bunn Scoil&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>VISIT TO COBH BIBLE GARDEN 🌻</h2>
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<p>6th Class were delighted to pay a visit to the Cobh Bible Garden and completed a short research project on its history. The Cobh Bible Garden was created more than 20 years ago and the children were fascinated at its Jerusalem Cross layout which survives today. It was very enjoyable and everyone had the opportunity to sit in a quiet space, reflect and relax on what has been a very busy start to our school year!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>St Mary's</h2>
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<p>Back to the Books!</p>
<p>Rang 3 enjoyed their first evening back in the school library. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader!</p>
<h2>PIRATES</h2>
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<p>The J2 panel named for tonight's game against  Youghal in The Paddocks in the 1/4 final of the OSullivan Cup. Its brilliant so see some of last years 18.5s and this years 20.5s making their debut. The Paddocks Bar Cobh.</p>
<h2>&nbsp;Under 15's in Final</h2>
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<p>Great win by our u15 Hurlers on our main pitch in the East Cork semi final v Lisgoold on Wednesday.   This team are  now in an East Cork final v Watergrasshill on the 1st October.</p>
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Great Island and Cobh News September 15th

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