Christmas Day Mass to remember horrific massacre in Offaly church

For the first time in over 370 years, a Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated in the ruins of a county Offaly church which was the scene of one of the worst atrocities commited during the persecution of Catholics in Ireland by Oliver Cromwell.

Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated at 11am in the church ruins of the old Killoughey graveyard, just outside Mountbolus, in remembrance of those who perished when the church was surrounded and set alight by Cromwellian soldiers in 1651.

The atrocity, which was one of the worst examples of Catholic persecution carried out by Cromwell's soldiers in Ireland, saw the priest, along with his parishioners of all ages, and their animals being burned to death as they gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The decision to hold the rememberbrance Mass is the brainchild of a local committee which was established in 1985 to preserve the ruins of the old church located in Killoughey graveyard. The church was built at the time of St. Bridget c450a.d. Local tradition tells the story of how water was very scarce in the area at the time and St. Bridget visited Killoughey when the church was being built. She knelt on a rock and said a prayer, and it is believed a spring formed under the rock when Bridget knelt on it and water flows from it to this very day!

At the time of the massacre in Killoughey, Catholics were forbidden from attending Mass and risked their lives by doing so. It was the custom for people to bring their animals into the church with them so as not to alert Cromwell's soldiers to the fact that Mass was being celebrated, hence the reason why so many horses perished in the 1651 church burning.

The committee which was set up to preserve the ruins of the old church in Killoughey received an award from the National Heritage Council for their preservation efforts, and this year they made the decision – for the first time ever – to hold a special remembrance Mass on Christmas Day.

Further information on this unique and historic event can be had by contacting Breda on 086 2435152 or Odran 086 3434012