Mass to Celebrate 800th Anniversary of Tracton Abbey

Writes Leo McMahon

There will be a special Mass on Sunday, September 15th at 12 o’clock at The Sacred Heart Church in Minane Bridge to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the founding of Tracton Abbey by the Cistercian monks in 1224.

The principal celebrant of the Mass will be the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin and he will be joined by some of the priests of the family of parishes (comprising Tracton Abbey, Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Passage West and Monkstown) as well as monks from Mount Melleray and nuns from the Cistercian abbey of Glencairn, Co Waterford. Everybody is welcome and a large congregation is expected.

The special occasion is being organised by Tracton Abbey Pastoral Council comprising Pat Maher, chairperson; Anita O’Sullivan, secretary; Catherine Collins, Robert Cronin, Dan Good, Anita Dempsey, Val Dempsey, Mary Gillis, Esther Lombard, Pat Lyons and Mary O’Keeffe supported by retired former parish priest Canon George Murphy and also Mons Aidan O’Driscoll, Frs. James McSweeney and Michael O’Connell MSC.

Leading up to the celebration, the group organised prayer ceremonies in July and August at the graveyard close to the original site of the abbey; Nohoval old cemetery in the village, Kinure near Oysterhaven; St Patrick’s Cemetery near Nohoval, Ballyfoyle near Rocky Bay and Kilpatrick.                                  

They are mounting a display to illustrate the history and life of a  Cistercian monk or nun that will include a mannequin with a Cistercian habit, a psalter, a copy of the Rule of St. Benedict, a Bible, a sheaf of corn depicting the daily work of the order, a hospitality corner and accompanying panels.  

Speaking to The Carrigdhoun, following a meeting with retired former parish priest Canon George Murphy and some members of the pastoral council, Fr Denis Luke O’Hanlon from Mount Melleray said he was pleased to be invited to the 800th anniversary of the coming of the Cistercian monks to Tracton Abbey because it was part of the inheritance and identity of its people. He also spoke of how impressed he was by the beautiful church in Minane Bridge and paid tribute to the pastoral council and others associated with the 800th anniversary celebration.

After mass in the local church, Pat Maher and Anita O’Sullivan accompanied Fr Denis Luke to the shoreline at Ringabella where the first monks coming from Abbey of Alba, Carmarthenshire, Wales in 1224, would most likely have disembarked before proceeding further upstream. The trio then travelled to the old cemetery next to the former Church of Ireland opposite The Overdraught Restaurant and Bar near Ballyfeard, where stones, located on a farm in the townland of Tubrid, indicate what is probably the actual site of the original Tracton Abbey. There is a brief history of abbey by the late Daisy Corrigan in the ‘history corner’ (a pastoral council project dedicated in 2010) next to plaques designed by local architectural technician Barry Good listing all the abbots and parish priests since 1224 in the church.

On another positive note, the first 11am Sunday Mass since re-decoration and repainting of St Patrick’s Church (1859) at Nohoval was celebrated by Fr O’Connell on September 1st.

Group pictured next to some remains in the grounds of Sacred Heart Church, Minane Bridge from the original Tracton Abbey founded by Cistercian Monks who travelled from Wales in 1224 ahead of the Tracton Abbey 800 th anniversary Mass on September 15 th (all are some of the members of the Pastoral Council unless otherwise stated) l-r: Mary O’Keeffe, seated; Canon George Murphy, retired parish priest; Anita Sweetnam, Barry Good, architectural technician, who designed two stone plaques in the church listing all the abbots and parish priests over the past 800 years; Anita Dempsey, Pat Maher, Val Dempsey, Esther Lombard, Cistercian monk Denis Luke O’Hanlon, Mount Melleray, Co Waterford and Pat Good, seated – photo Leo McMahon.