Rahan, County Offaly

Rahan (Irish: Raithean)[1] is a parish and village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is associated with medieval abbot Mochuda (also known as St. Carthage). The village is located on the banks of the river Clodagh approximately 8 km from Tullamore. The parish of Rahan extends from The Island near Ballycumber in the north to Mucklagh in the south.[2]

Rahan
Raithean
Parish/Village
Rahan Churches
Rahan Churches
Rahan is located in Ireland
Rahan
Rahan
Location of Rahan within County Offaly in the Republic of Ireland
Coordinates: 53.280541°N 7.615762°W / 53.280541; -7.615762
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Offaly
Elevation
50 m (160 ft)
Irish grid referenceN256256

History

First monastery

The first monastery in Rahan was created by Camelacus in the 5th century and later re-founded in the 6th century by St Carthage. The ancient monasteries and churches located here are known as the church of St Carthage or St Carthach, and the monastery of Mochuda.[3][4] Saint Fiodhairle repaired the Rahan Abbey after a Viking raid.[5]

A mass rock (where mass was said while the Penal Laws were in effect) can be found near the Present Catholic Church in the Killina townland, approximately 1 km southeast of the ancient churches. The rock is dedicated to Saint Anthony.[6]

Rahan also has a long association with the Jesuit community who founded a seminary there in the early 19th century (1818) and with the Presentation Sisters who founded a convent and school in the early 19th century (1818 also), both Convent and School have survived to this day. The Presentation Mission to India went out from here in the past.[7]

Ancient churches and monastic site

The monastic site in Rahan contains the remains of church buildings dating from the 11th and 12th centuries and both Protestant and Catholic cemeteries.

In 1732, the Church of St Carthage at Rahan was repaired by the Church of Ireland community for use as a parish church.[4]

Mass is celebrated here once a year on Cemetery Sunday 15 August. Access can be gained through a farm gate.

Parish of Rahan

The parish of Rahan comprises 44 townlands: Agall, Aghadonagh, Aghalusky, Backsteel, Ballina, Ballincloghan, Ballincur, Ballindrinan, Ballybruncullin, Ballykeenaghan, Blackwood, Bohernagrisna, Brackagh, Cappaloughan, Castletown, Church Hill, Clonshanny, Corcush, Cornalaur, Currygurry, Deerpark, Derries, Derrinvullig, Derrooly, Derrycooly, Derryesker, Derrynanagh, Glasshouse, Goldsmiths Lot, Kilgortin, Killaranny, Killina, Kilpatrick, Loughroe, Mountarmstrong, Murragh, Newtown, Oldtown, Rabbitburrow, Rahan Demense, Roscore Demense, Tullybeg and Tullymorerahan.[8]

The parish contains three churches, a Presentation Convent, two primary schools and a secondary school.[9]

Churches
St. Carthage's Church, Killina

St. Carthage's Church Killina was built in the mid 1700s. During a reconstruction in 1966, traces of a previous church were found. Side aisles were added to the church between 1800 and 1817. The title was originally the Church of the Assumption but was later changed to that of St. Carthage.[10]

St Patrick's Church, The Island was built by a Fr. Robbins, who was curate in Rahan from 1834 to 1847. The Island was once called the 'Island of Clonkeen'.[11]

St. Colman’s Church Mucklagh was built in 1979. Very Rev. J. Mooney and Father Sean Heaney lead the project. The previous church was demolished.[12]

Education

Schools in the area include St Colman's National School (Mucklagh),[13] Scoil Charthaigh Naofa (Newtown, Rahan),[14] and Killina Presentation Secondary School (Killina).[15]

People

The most famous sporting person to come from the parish is Father Nicholas Clavin, All-Ireland winner and All-star Gaelic footballer. Rahan man Garreth O'Brien captained Offaly to the 1988 All-Ireland under 21 championship. Rahan native Nigel Dunne is one of Offaly's inter-county players. Derek Molloy hurled for Offaly and was a constant on the team between 2007 and 2012.

  • Rahan ancient church
    Rahan ancient church
  • Graveyard at monastic site
    Graveyard at monastic site
  • Graveyard at monastic site
    Graveyard at monastic site
  • Rahan ancient church
    Rahan ancient church
  • Wide view
    Wide view

References
  1. Rahan The Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 6 August 2015
  2. "Map of Rahan Parish". Rahan, Mucklagh and The Island Parish. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. "Rahan Churches, Offaly".
  4. RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - A Conservation Plan (PDF)
  5. "Saint Fidharleus", CatholicSaints.info, retrieved 31 July 2021
  6. "Killina, Holy Well, Mass Rock and Bullaun Stone, Co. Offaly".
  7. "Jesuits of Tullabeg". www.rahanparish.ie.
  8. "Raithean/Rahan". Logainm.ie.
  9. "Welcome". www.rahanparish.ie.
  10. "Killina Parish Church". www.rahanparish.ie.
  11. "St Patrick's The Island". www.rahanparish.ie.
  12. "St Colman's Mucklagh". www.rahanparish.ie.
  13. "Mucklagh NS". www.rahanparish.ie.
  14. "Rahan NS". www.rahanparish.ie.
  15. "Killina Presentation Secondary School". www.rahanparish.ie.
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