Local correspondent (Two-Mile-Borris; Moycarkey; Littleton) Mr Gerry Bowe reports:
People are cordially invited to walk the “Way of the Cross” on an ancient pilgrim path to the Church of St. Mochaomhog in Liathmore, Leigh, Two-Mile-Borris on Friday next (Good Friday) April 15th.
The Stations will start at 12.00 noon at the Church boreen, beside two family residences, just after the signpost for the first junction to the right after the Turnpike.
People will follow the ancient Mass Path to the little Church, before continuing on to the site of the Round Tower, before concluding in the Main Monastery Church of St. Mochaomhog (St. Pulcherius), latter saint known as ‘The Holy Man of Liathmore’.
Who was St. Mochoemog?
Different accounts vary, however from what we can glean from our history; St. Mochoemog was born to parents Beoanus and Nesse, latter a sister of St. Íte of Killeedy, a civil parish located south of Newcastle West, in Co. Limerick, possibly around 550 A.D.
It is believed that he was brought up or at least strongly influenced by his aunt, Saint Íte, and at the age of 20 was sent to then recently established Bangor Abbey, Co. Down (established 558 A.D.) where he was further instructed by the Clonmacnoise educated and founder of Bangor Abbey, Abbot Saint Comgall.
Bangor was then a major centre of learning, referred to as the “Light of the World” [Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. ( John Chapter 8: verse 12)], and was responsible for the training of many documented missionaries, including St. Columbanus, St. Mirin and Carthach (Saint Mo Chutu mac Fínaill)
He later returned to southern Éile (County Tipperary), where a chieftain granted him a site for a monastery in an area known as Liathmochaemog (Liathmore) in the parish of Two-Mile Borris, Thurles in the Barony of Eliogarty.
Today, as stated the site remains marked only by a church, latter the
‘stone survivor’ of a community that would have used wood, together with
wattle-and-daub, for its alas no longer evident dwelling houses.
It was believed that St. Mochoemog lived long, and died at the age of 106 years, in Liathmore, on March 13th, 656 A.D, some 1,366 years ago, just last month.
Liathmore-Mochoemog would remain an important centre of Christianity between the 7th and 11th century, serving most of south Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Several miracles are attributed to St. Mochoemog, among others, his having cured of blindness, a holy virgin Canners, latter daughter of Fintan, who is considered to have been the relative of St. Molua, of Clonfert-Molua, latter who also learnt the monastic life at the northern monastery of Bangor under the tutelage of Saint Comgall, and possibly St. Mochoemog’s personal confessor.
Young people will be participating in this event and people of all age groups are most welcome to be in attendance.
With light rain forecast, please do dress appropriately for the weather and for walking both on the fields and on boreen.
Note: Parking will be available on the road side and all are welcome to this Christian gathering.
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