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.The Patron Saints of the Diocese of RAPHOE |
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Saint Eunan (Adhamhnan) Feast Day 23 September
Saint Colmcille (Columba) Feast Day 9th June On the right >>>>>> The Icon of St Colmcille, by Sr Aloyious McVeagh, commissiioned by the Diocese of Raphoe for the 1400 anniversary of his death on Iona on the 9th June 597
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| St Patrick, if
tradition is to be trusted, set up some bishops in Tir Chonaill
(Donegal), for example, his disciple Assicus at Racoo (Drumholm
Parish) and Brugach in Raymochy (Drumoghill Parish). Racmochy
was, it seems, ruled by bishops until the 8th century, when Raphoe
became the espiscopal seat. But abbots now overshadowed
bishops. The Iona confederacy, founded by a prince of Tir Chonaill
Colum Cille (Columba d. 597), included amongst its Irish houses
such monasteries as Drumholm, Raphoe, Tory and Gartan. Adomnan (Eunan),
ninth abbot of Iona (d. 704), great administrator, author, scripture
scholar and legislator, was Colum Cille's kinsman.
In the 12th Century diocesan reorganisation, the diocese of Tir Chonaill had its seat at Raphoe. The Columban tradition remained vigorous in Derry, but by the 13th Century Derry had become the seat of the northern Tir Eoghain diocese, appropriating from Raphoe Derry itself and the Inishowen penninsula.. One of the new monastic orders, the Cistercians, made a foundation at Assaroe on the Erne (ca. 1184). In the 15th Century the strong Franciscan reform movement took root in the diocese, with houses at Belleghan, Magherabeg, and elsewhere. Donegal 'Abbey' was the leading friary in the north of Ireland. The Carmelite friary at Rathmullan was part of this religious reform movement. The final conqust of Ulster by Enlgand (1603) made possible the introduction of gthe Protestant reform. The best lands wre now parcelled out among English and Scottish planters, while Catholicism was proscribed. Among Catholic martyers are reckoned in 1584 Glaisne O'Cullenan (Ballyshannon), O Cist., Abbot of Boyle, and in 1612 Conor O'Devanney (Glenfin) OFM, Bishop of Down & Connor. Philiip Clery, a young priest, reputedly martyred, was nephew of Abbot O'Cullenan, whose brother John, Bishop of Raphoe, was driven into exile in 1653. Reconstruction after the penal night was slow. In 1704 Raphoe had fifteen registered priests, in 1731 it had only five poor cabins for churches. This was the era of the Mass Rock. Bishop James O'Gallagher (1752-1801) wrote his famous Sermons, which for generations helped to sustain the faith and devotion of Irish Catholics. But at a time of persecution, in which at least two priests lost thier lives, he was forced to leave for Kildare. Better times came. Bishop Anthony Coyle (1782-1801) also wrote prose and poetry for popular consumption and started a little school for boys. Bishop Patrick McGettigan (1820-'61) welcomed the National Schools, gave his Letterkenny house to the Loreto Sisters, and became a folk-hero for his struggle with proselytisers. His successor, Bishop Daniel McGettigan, brought the Mercy Sisters from Kinsale to Ballyshannon, before being transferred in 1820 to Armagh. He was followed in succession by Bishops Logue and O'Donnell, who became Cardinals. in thier day, priests like Fr John Doherty (Gweedore) and Fr James McFadden (Gweedore and Glenties) were prominent in the struggle to improve the lot of a people living in poverty. Bishop Patirck O'Donnell built built Letterkenny's St Eunan's Cathedral (1901), the present Bishop's House, St Eunan's College and much more. Bishop McNeely (1923-'63) brought the Franciscans back to Ards (Capuchins) and Rossnowlagh, while Bishop Anthony McFeely (1965-'82) had the task of implementing the decrees of Vatican II. Bishop Seamus Hegarty (1982-'94) and Bishop Philip Boyce (ordained bishop 1995) have had to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing Ireland. (From the Irish Catholic Directory 2003) See Former Bishop's Page for more information on recent former bishops . |
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