by Vincent | Feb 22, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
Urlaur Abbey (Parish of Kilmovee)
Urlaur Abbey lies in ruin. Its walls have crumbled and roof has long since collapsed but its floor – foundation – remains solid. Many people come here to spend a bit of time at the lake, to say a prayer in the cemetery and to imagine (pray) the sacred past of this place. On the 4th August every year, the place fills and the familiar sounds of Eucharist echo from the walls “do this in memory of me.”
At the Pattern Mass some years ago, a Dominican priest spoke of the positioning of the Abbey. He said the water’s edge was often a chosen spot for the building of a monastery. Is there a link somewhere with Jesus standing on the shore? Is there a connection with his calling people to come from the water, spend time with him and be nourished by him? Only then could he send them on mission.
The priest that day spoke too about cemeteries developing around these monastic settlements and that somewhere there’s an image of and a connection with the journey from the waters of baptism to the final resting place. The structure and the sacraments of the church seeking to be the bridge between the two.
Today we celebrate the Feast of The Chair of St Peter “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church” … Peter’s “rock”, no more than Urlaur Abbey’s walls, crumbled but his foundation was solid. We are still walking on the floor he laid.
A Lenten thought! Gratitude for an ongoing faith, a present church – even if walls and structures aren’t as solid as they might have been or wished for. There’s a rock beneath.
by Vincent | May 28, 2016 | Photography
On Tuesday evening I was leaving Urlaur Church after Mass and noticed a lovely sunset so went as quickly as I could to Urlaur Abbey and Lake. Most of these photos are from that journey! There’s another from the following evening, taken in Naomh Mobhi Cemetery, Kilmovee. Just thought I’d share!
by Vincent | Nov 8, 2015 | General Interest, Religion
Some weeks ago I had a call from a Dominican Priest in Rome. He told me about the upcoming celebration and Jubilee Year marking the 800th Anniversary of the Dominican Order.
He mentioned that the Order was hoping to celebrate this event on Twitter with the “hashtag” #op800 and hoped that dioceses and parishes using Twitter would include a mention. I told him I’d be happy to do so. Our phone call ended.
When mentioning this on Twitter last night, having noticed others doing likewise, I was reminded of my conversation with this priest and the fact that I didn’t mention to him that our parish has a strong link with the Dominican Order, through the presence now, in ruined state, of Urlaur Abbey. Strikes me that when we come to celebrate the Pattern next August, God willing, we could do worse than keep this in mind.
Below, a few images from the Abbey and its surrounds, including some images taken during our “Dawn Mass” on Easter Sunday.
Urlaur Abbey lies three miles from Kilkelly on the shores of Urlaur Lake and it is a monastic settlement founded in 1430 by the Dominicans. It is a must for all tourists as the Abbey has been remarkably well preserved.
The Abbey was dedicated to Saint Thomas and was found by Fr. William Nangle and Fr. Thomas O’Grogan after permission of the Pope Eugene IV. The building was financed by Edmond Costello and his wife Fineola Cusa, daughter of O’Connor Dun, and became the burial place of the Costellos.
This Anglo-Norman family also endowed Saint Mary’s Augustinian Abbey in Ballyhaunis around the same time, taking the name Costello and becoming Lords of the barony.
The Dominicans are named after their founder Saint Dominic who was born in Spain in 1170. He chose a life of penance and poverty and gathered together a band of preachers in southern France in the early part of the 13th century.
The preachers were sent to cities where the Universities and other seats of learning were to be found. Finally, the Dominican Friars came to Oxford and London in 1221 and to Dublin in 1224 and are known as the Order of Friars Preachers.
The Order spread quickly through Ireland forming communities and churches. The Black Abbey in Kilkenny, founded by William Marshall the younger in 1225, is a fine example of a Dominican Church in use to the present day.
This remote and peaceful lake attracted the friars who came here from all over Connacht to spend their life following the rule of their order strictly. The austere vision of Saint Dominic is well reflected in the strong lines of the architecture.
The Church is rectangular in shape with doorways in the western and southern walls, windows and three gothic arches. There is an aperture where lepers could rest and hear Mass. The Abbey also had other buildings such as the kitchens, the refectory, the boathouse for a quick escape and, up the steps, the dormitory where the friars slept.
In 1608 and 1610 two inquisitions fell on Urlaur and the friary was suppressed. Its lands passed to Sir Edward Fisher and later to Sir Theobald Dillon, but the friars went on living quietly at Urlaur.
With the coming of Cromwell Fr. Dominic Dillon and Fr. Richard Overton of Urlaur were put to death at Drogheda; Fr. Mac Costello was also killed by the Cromwellians and Fr. Gerard Dillon died in prison.
In 1698 the friars fled the Abbey because of the Penal Laws, only five of them remained in the area including Fr. Pierce Costello and Fr. Redmond Costello. By the end of 18th century the monastic settlement was in ruins.
Urlaur Abbey is now in ruins but the annual pattern held on 4th of August brings locals and visitors to the area. Mass is celebrated in the old Abbey and a sense of peace is evident among the hallowed stones.
(Courtesy of Mayo-Ireland.ie
http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/kilkelly/history/urlaur-abbey.html)
by Vincent | Dec 5, 2014 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion, Photography
Just over a week ago I drove through a very heavy fog as I went to visit a family in Urlaur. The road, though very familiar to me, was vague and uncertain. Twists and turns seemed to come from nowhere and visibility was, as they say, “low”! I thought how easily, when the conditions aren’t right, we can lose sight of something that we take for granted on another day.
Perhaps the fog captured something of my mood. During those same days a young man from home was missing and I knew that many were worrying about him, looking for him and hoping for his safe return. Again, the fog that enveloped them, our community at home, was intense and un-yielding.
The house I was calling to, also had its worries with the mother of the house in hospital and not doing so well. A lot of cloud around for sure. I thought how easily we might give up, turn back on the road and leave the journey for another time. Whilst I had that luxury, my neighbours at home or the family I was planning to visit did not. The journey for them, even in fog, had to continue. So also, mine.
I drove down as far as Urlaur Abbey and was stunned to find there, the clearest of evenings. The fog, though still thick behind me, held no power over the Abbey or its surrounds. The images before me were breath-taking.
How could I have foreseen these beyond the fog? The journey has stayed with me. Sadly the young man from home and the mother of the house I called to have since been laid to rest. May they rest in peace. My heart is with their people, still I’m sure, caught in the fog and my hope – my prayer is that they can emerge at the other side and, with the fog behind them, see clearly once again.
by Vincent | Aug 9, 2014 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion
Friday was the Feast of St Dominic. I couldn’t help but think of our gathering at Urlaur Abbey on Monday last. Bishop Brendan mentioned that the Abbey was founded in 1430 – about 200 years after Dominic founded the Order of Preachers. He died about five years after founding the Order. Two hundred years later, men came to Urlaur in his name and memory and set up a Monastery there. Again, Bishop Brendan told us that the Monastery flourished for about two hundred years and was then supressed by Cromwellian’s soldiers but it survived due to a supportive local man, to whom the land was given, and continued until the mid 1800’s.
I was taken by Dominic’s initial intention in the setting up of the order. He wanted to win Souls – save Souls – through preaching and persuasion.
Maybe it’s time to give persuasion another chance!
Bishop Brendan’s Homily at the Urlaur Pattern (Courtesy of iCatholic.ie)