Lorrha/Dorrha
 

Churches

Fr. Terence O’Brien.

The following piece was sent to this web site from  Patrick Jordan O’Brien OP a Dominican living in Galway with a keen interest in Terence Albert O’Brien.
Patrick always had some interest in the martyr though he is no relation… and spent some years in Limerick and tried to trace some of the history and the locations that are associated with TAOB. in the Limerick and south Tipperary area. Patrick visited Lorrha on a number of occasions and describes our village as a quiet and peaceful place.

Patrick says that he cannot claim to promote the cause of TAOB for canonization along with the other 16 or so martyrs, but he does try to keep his name alive and before the minds of people. He  has various bits and pieces – that he has put together over the years. Patrick also tells us readers that he is no historian, just a person with an interest who has written a few pieces over the years and this is the latest piece for the Galway Tribune for this week.

A New Patron

With the link between the dioceses of Galway and Clonfert, Galway has gained a new patron, Blessed Terence Albert O’Brien. He was prior of the Dominican priory in Portumna he later became provincial of the Irish Dominicans and later again Bishop of the diocese Emly, now part of Cashel and Emly.

Due to Cromwell’s persecutions of Catholics, he was unable to live in his diocese and sought refuge in Limerick. In 1651 he encouraged the people to stand united during the second siege. When General Ireton broke their resistance Bishop O’Brien faced death on the gallows – he was hanged, drawn and quartered for treason, i.e., defying the realm.

Blessed Terence Albert O’Brien’s memory is kept on October 30. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1992 along with sixteen others. We note in passing that when provincial of the Irish Dominicans, Terence Albert petitioned Rome that the Dominican Sisters of Galway, first established in 1644, be formally recognised as members of the Dominican Order.

TAOB is associated with Portumba as well as Lorrha and of course Limerick where he was martyred in 1561.

 

Take Note

                        This note is taken from the Irish Press of 19 May 1977

 

Reference in the article to the martyred Bishop of Emly, Terence O’Brien, reminds me that Bishop O’Brien, was prior of the Dominican Abbey …. at Lorrha for several years. There is a tradition in Lorrha that Dr O’Brien gave his Rosary to a man just before his public hanging. It was said that this man brought the rosary to Lorrha where it remained in safe keeping for some time. Its present whereabouts is now unknown, but it is thought that it may have found its way to some house of the Order in Ireland. We of the parish of Lorrha would very much like to know if it still survives.

Like Limerick, the parish of Lorrha and Dorra owe a deep debt to the Dominican friars. When the priory there was destroyed by Ireton, they remained in the locality, said Mass, and administered to the flock.

Northwest of the village in a wood at Moatfield, there still remains a Mass Rock, on which some devoted but unsung friar said Mass for the faithful of Lorrha and Dorra

 

Dermot Corcoran, P.P.,

Corpus Christi,

Stechford,

Bermingham.

 

On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the Dominican Order in Limerick. 19/5/1977.

 

Jordan O’Brien op

The Claddagh

Galway

 

Cois Deirge Cluster Mass Times From July 21st & 22nd 2018 including Borrisokane, Terryglass and Lorrha.

Contact: Fr. Tom O’Halloran (Borrisokane (067) 27105
Fr. Michael Cooney (Terryglass) (067) 22017

 

Lorrha 6.30pm Sat.                Sunday Morning:      9.30a.m. Terryglass.

7.00p.m.  Borrisokane                                                10.30a.m.    Borrisokane/Aglish

8.00p.m.  Kilbarron                                                    11.30a.m.    Rathcabbin

Borrisokane:   Aglish Mass will be always on 1st Sunday of the month.
All other Sundays  Borrisokane will have 10.30a.m. Mass.

Please note, when making a booking for Anniversary/ Month’s Mind Mass, Wedding, Christening etc.  you can contact the parish office by phone – 090 9747009 and leave a message  or E Mail:  lorrhaparishoffice @ gmail.com (preferred options), you can also make bookings after Masses on Sundays or phone parish office on Wednesday nights 8.00 to 10.00pm .

 

 

          Major Changes in Killaloe Diocese Brings Huge Change to Lorrha Parish.

                                                              By: Rose Mannion.

 There was much sadness and a lot of shock and dismay in the parish of Lorrha when it was announced recently by the Bishop of Killaloe, the Most Reverend Fintan Monahan, that Fr. Pat Mulcahy P.P. was to be transferred to Clonlara in Co. Clare.

Fr. Pat Mulcahy P.P. a native of Burgess outside Nenagh, replaced Fr. Joe Kennedy P.P. in the steeped in history parish, eight years ago. St Ruadhan was the first to put Lorrha on the map coming to the area in the middle of the 6th century. The parish has flourished in the peaceful days of saints and scholars, been raided and pillaged by marauding Vikings but recovered to become a major monastic settlement only to be overrun by the forces of Olive Cromwell and then re resurrect itself once more to prosper right into the present century.
Once known as ‘a city of religios’ records recorded that in 1704 the registered priest for Lorrha parish was a Fr. Adam McGrath and for Rathcabbin was Fr. Daniel Egan. More than likely, with so many monasteries and a Convent too, Lorrha was probably never without a priest in its long history.

Bishop Fintan visited the parish recently and addressed the necessity of the clerical changes, which are not just affecting the Lorrha parish, but other parishes too. He mentioned that the appointments reflect the ongoing work of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and came about after much consultation with Pastoral Councils and the Clergy.
He outlined how he met with the Parish Pastoral Council a few weeks ago ‘to explain why Fr. Pat was moving to Clonlara and why the parish will unfortunately no longer have a resident priest’. ‘At that meeting’ he said, ‘it was felt that I should come to the parish, meet you personally and communicate with your good selves’. He also mentioned Fr. John Donnelly AP who is the oldest priest in the Diocese and celebrating his Diamond Jubilee this year, and parish native Fr. Pat Deely who is in another cluster, Pastoral area 15, comprising of Roscrea, Bournea, Kyle and Knock.

‘Changes’ said the Bishop is ‘part of Diocesan life, partly because of choice and partly out of necessity’. He explained that in the normal run of events it’s important for priests and for people that there be a certain amount of movement, but it also addresses the need for vacancies that arise in a Diocese due to retirements, getting sick, getting older and in some cases he said, passing away and hopefully some new people coming on stream.

He stressed the importance of consultation between the Bishop, the priest and the people of the Diocese and ‘especially with the priests on a one to one basis in particular with the priest involved’ when it came to change.  He recalled a time when it was just the Bishop who made the decision and sent the letter in the post to the priest and in cases he said ‘they might have had only days before they had to move, but all that has changed’.  Following on from meetings with the priest’s individually and in groups, and with plenty of advice from the appointments board and various other consultations, Bishop Monahan explained that ‘changes haven’t been done on a substantial basis in Killaloe for many, many years’. He mentioned that it’s the same in many Diocese in Europe, not so much in Asia or Africa and said ‘we have a greatly declining number of priests available to us’. He mentioned that ‘2017 was a particularly challenging year losing Four active Parish Priests’. ‘The statistics’ he said were ‘getting more and more stark every year and our hand was forced to make substantial changes in 2018’.

He told the congregation that there was four ordinations to the Priesthood this year, one was presently studying for the diocese and two are considering studying next year. ‘We have two Indian priests presently and possibly two more coming so this is a major change with the countries that we used to supply with missionaries in years past are now coming to Minister here in Ireland’.
He spoke about the ‘struggle’ to manage the parishes in the Diocese with a ‘reasonable level of service that people have come to expect’.  The 58 parishes of the diocese have, up to now, been divided into 12 clusters now known as Pastoral areas, but experience and feedback from the recent area meeting has shown the need to review these structures and reduce the size of some of the larger clusters. There will now be 15 Pastoral areas across the Diocese and the plan is so the priests will be able to manage the whole cluster.
‘Last year’ he continued, ‘twenty two parishes had no resident priest under the age of 75. So I suppose when you feel aggrieved that this is the first time in living memory that Lorrha won’t have a resident priest, up to this year, 22 in the Diocese had none so it isn’t the case of picking on Lorrha this year, many, many parishes in the Diocese for the last few years, have been in a similar situation’. Bishop Fintan also mentioned that due to changes and the movement of priests which is to take place from 20th  July, they have been able to reduce these parishes without a resident priest from 22 to 18. ‘Instead of one P.P. in a parish now, there will be Co-PP’s in a whole cluster. ‘There are between Twenty and Thirty pastoral changes this year taking in the  re-structuring of the pastoral areas.

He promised that this new system will be closely monitored to ‘see how it will go and to plan for important Pastoral events. He also explained about the Mass changes that will take place from the week-end of July 21st / 22nd. the Diocese view, and how keeping in mind the sacramental numbers in each parish ‘Lorrha was one of the quietest parishes in the Diocese’ he said. He reminded parishioners that when that was considered, Lorrha has been lucky to have had a priest in residence for so long as he went on to mention other parishes in similar positions. ‘You have been aware for a number of years that this would probably happen and like bereavement and death, it’s always a big shock when it does happen. He expressed his regret too that 22 parishes had no resident priest for the past number of years.  ‘It’s always sad when a parish loses a resident priest and I acknowledge the sadness that naturally comes in relation to that. It would have been better if it wasn’t so sudden and preparation could have been done in a more organised way and I regret that but we were forced this year because of the disastrous 2017 we had’ he said.

He mentioned the loss of Garda Stations and Post Offices in rural towns around Ireland and compared the same happening in the Church and the pressure on the clergy who are trying to provide services to parishioners all ‘highly regrettable and unfortunate’ having to make so many changes.
He thanked Fr. Pat for his outstanding care of the people in the parish and other parishes that he served in and for his willingness to go to Clonlara even he said ‘if it was much easier for him to remain here in Lorrha where he has been so happy for many years’.
In thanking parishioners for their patience, understanding, Fr. Pat and the Pastoral Council for their guidance, he reassured parishioners that preparation for sacraments will continue with two active priests in Fr. Michael Cooney from Terryglass and Fr. Tom O’Halloran from Borrisokane.
Lorrha is now one of three parishes, Terryglass and Borrisoke been the other two, who come under the  Cois Deirge cluster. The new week-end Mass changes for the parish cluster of Cois Deirge which commences Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd July are as follows:

Vigil Mass:

6.30p.m. Lorrha/Redwood:      Sunday Morning:      9.30a.m. Terryglass.

7.00p.m.  Borrisokane                                                10.30a.m.    Borrisokane/Aglish

8.00p.m.  Kilbarron                                                    11.30a.m.    Rathcabbin

Please Note:  Saturday Evening Mass will alternate between Lorrha and Redwood.

Redwood Mass will be 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.
Lorrha Mass will be 2nd, 4th and 5th (as applies) Saturday of each month.

Borrisokane:   Aglish Mass will be always on 1st Sunday of the month.
All other Sundays  Borrisokane will have 10.30a.m. Mass.

 

 

Church of the Most Holy Redeemer Redwood 
This pleasantly situated and interesting church dates from 1853, and is the most northerly parish church in Tipperary.
Mass Times in Cois Deirge Cluster which includes Borrisokane,Terryglass & Lorrha commencing July 21st & 22nd 2018
Saturday evening Vigil Mass will alternate between Lorrha and Redwood. Redwood Mass will be 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Lorrha Mass will be 2nd, 4th and 5th (as applies) Saturday of each month.
Contact:
Fr. Tom O’Halloran (Borrisokane) on (067) 27105.
Fr. Michael Cooney (Terryglass) on (067) 220176.30p.m. Lorrha/Redwood:      Sunday Morning:      9.30a.m. Terryglass.7.00p.m.  Borrisokane                                                10.30a.m.    Borrisokane/Aglish8.00p.m.  Kilbarron                                                    11.30a.m.    RathcabbinPlease Note:  Saturday Evening Mass will alternate between Lorrha and Redwood.Redwood Mass will be 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.
Lorrha Mass will be 2nd, 4th and 5th (as applies) Saturday of each month.Borrisokane:   Aglish Mass will be always on 1st Sunday of the month.
All other Sundays  Borrisokane will have 10.30a.m. Mass.
Our Lady Queen of Ireland Rathcabbin
This modernistic church, with its striking combination of circular shapes, dates from 1983-84.
Mass Times in Cois Deirge Cluster which includes Borrisokane,Terryglass & Lorrha commencing July 21st & 22nd 2018
Sunday Mass at 11.30am each Sunday
Contact:
Fr. Tom O’Halloran (Borrisokane) on (067) 27105.
Fr. Michael Cooney (Terryglass) on (067) 22017
 St. Flannan’s Old Church which was removed in 1981 to make way for the present Church. 
St. Ruadhans Church Lorrha
St. Ruadhan’s Catholic Church in Lorrha shares the medieval site of the Dominican priory with the roofless priory church.
Mass Times in Cois Deirge Cluster which includes Borrisokane,Terryglass & Lorrha commencing July 21st & 22nd 2018
Saturday evening Vigil Mass will alternate between Lorrha and Redwood. Redwood Mass will be 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Lorrha Mass will be 2nd, 4th and 5th (as applies) Saturday of each month.
Contact:
Fr. Tom O’Halloran (Borrisokane) on (067) 27105.
Fr. Michael Cooney (Terryglass) on (067) 22017
St Ruadhans Church of Ireland Lorrha
St. Ruadhan’s Church of Ireland in Lorrha partly occupies an early monastic site and is in fact an extension of the chancel of St. Ruadhan’s medieval parish church.
Sunday Service Time:
Morning Prayer at 10.00a.m.Contacts: Rector: The Venerable R. Wayne Carney Archdeacon of Killaloe & Clonfert.
(057) 9120021. (087) 6773196. e-mail: mapleire@eircom.net.
Assistant Priest: The Reverend Ruth Gill.
(057) 9135341 (087) 9484402
e-mail: ruthgill@iol.ie
Church Of Ireland Pallas  (Also know as Dorrha Church)
Located about 1.5kms east of Rathcabbin in the townsland of Graigue, Dorrha Church is sited beside Dorrha’s medieval parish church ruin. It is at the end of a leafy lane off the small road to Rathcabbin (L5046) that branches off the Borrisokane – Cloghan Road (R438).
Sunday Service Time:Every second Sunday at 9.30a.m.Contacts: As for Lorrha.