Though physical evidence suggests that a pre-existing 13th century building was incorporated into the site. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, the Friary was founded by the McCarthy Reagh family in 1240.
By the 15th Century the Friary was recognised as a significant place of learning. Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy Reagh (1455-29/10/1492) is said to have been educated by the Friars of Timoleague. Despite the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 by Henry VIII, the Friars remained in Timoleague.
In 1642 Timoleague Friary was burned by crown forces. Some friars escaped by rowboat heading west to Sherkin Island, where there was also a friary, to take refuge with their brothers. They were rescued by fishermen from Cape Clear, who saw their boat drifting at sea. They found three friars in the boat, two were dead and the third utterly exhausted. He left a box in the custody of the people of the house until his return, but he never came back.
In 1855 the Parish Priest, Fr. Henry Leader, was visiting Cape, and spotting the box, enquired as to its history and to what it contained. As the family were instructed by the Friars, it had never been opened in over 200 years. So, the Priest gave instructions to open it; it contained the remains of vestments, and also a chalice that had been made in London in 1633. It was returned to Timoleague Parish and is known as the Timoleague Chalice.
In October 2024, it was used at Mass by the priests of the Diocese of Cork and Ross during their annual priests’ retreat.
St. Bernadette witnessed eighteen apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes in 1858 and countless millions of people have visited Lourdes since.
This visit of St. Bernadette’s relics will afford to the many people who can’t go to Lourdes an opportunity to be close to St. Bernadette and to Our Lady of Lourdes.
People will be able to venerate the relics at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork, and at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty.
On a weekend when heavy rain and winds had blown across his diocese, it seems more than coincidence that a new pastoral message from the Bishop of Cork and Ross should begin with a scripture quote: “Even the wind and the seas obey Him”.
Bishop Fintan Gavin read his message on Sunday to pilgrims attending the annual Mass at St. Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra.
Bishop Fintan’s message is a call to the people of the diocese to commit to a year-long time of prayer, listening and discernment about the future of the Catholic Church in the parishes and chaplaincies of the diocese.
In a time of unprecedented change in society and the Catholic Church in Ireland, people are understandably concerned about their parish’s future, he said.
The following are the dates of Masses in the family of parishes at which children from the local schools will receive their First Holy Communion.
These dates will be preceded by an enrolment ceremony (dates to be decided), participation with their families at Sunday Mass and the celebration of First Reconciliation in February.
Saturday 3 May 2025 |
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Clogagh NS | 10:30am: Clogagh Church |
Saturday 10 May 2025 |
|
Barryroe NS | 10:30am: Barryroe Church |
Scoil na mBuachaillí St. Joseph’s Primary |
10:30am: Clonakilty Church |
Timoleague NS | 10:30am: Timoleague Church |
Saturday 17 May 2025 |
|
Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin | 10:30am: Clonakilty Church |
Kilmeen NS | 10:30am: Rossmore Church |
Saturday 24 May 2025 |
|
Ardfield NS Rathbarry NS |
10:30am: Rathbarry Church |
Darrara NS Knockskeagh NS |
10:30am: Clonakilty Church |
Ardagh Boys NS Lisavaird NS Reenascreena NS St Marys |
10:30am: Rosscarbery Church |
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