RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - Offaly County Council

APPENDICESAppendix 4New Parish of Fir Chell1400 A.D. — Petition of the People of Fir Chell‘To the bishop of Termoli, and the priors of Durriache [Durrow] and Sygyr [Seirkieran] in the dioceses of Meathand Killaloe. Mandate, at the recent petition of the majority of the inhabitants of the [towns and places of the]country (patria) of Ferceall, in the diocese of Meath – containing that by reason of the distance of their saidcountry, eight English miles, as well as of wars, access to their parish church of St. David, Achanurcayr [Horseleap,Co. Westmeath], in the said diocese, for divine offices and the sacraments, baptisms and burials, is very difficult,especially in the winter and rainy season; and that, if to the chapel of St. Colman, Lyndela [Lynally], in the saidcountry, were subjected the chapels, in the same country, of Rachayn [Rahan], Kylleacy [Killoughy], Ralyfey[Rathlihen], Athalvy [Ballyboy], Drumculynd [Drumcullen] and Eglays [Eglish], all daughter chapels of andannexed to St. David’s, it would be fit for erection into a parish church; and that its fruits and those of the saidother chapels are sufficient for a rector and a vicar, the latter to have the cure of the said inhabitants and to paythe Episcopal and other dues-to separate from St. David’s all the said chapels, to erect that of St. Colman intoa parish church, to subject thereto the others as daughter chapels, notwithstanding that they have the cure, toassign to it the said country as its parish, and to grant that St. Colman’s, even if it or any other of the said chapelsbe of lay patronage, may have font, cemetery and other parochial insignia’ (CPR 5, (1904), pp 314).Papal Reply to the Petition of the People of Fir Chell1421 – St Peter’s Rome – ‘To the prior of St. Mary’s, Deruach [Durrow], in the diocese of Meath. Mandate as below.Lately Boniface IX – at the petition of the majority of inhabitants of the country (patria) of Fercall (de Fearakycall)in the diocese of Meath, containing that by reason of the distance of their said country, six English miles, as wellas of wars etc. access to their parish church of St. David, Achanurcyr [Horseleap], in the said diocese, for divineoffices and the sacraments, baptisms, burials, was very difficult, especially in the winter and rainy season; andthat, if to the chapel of St. Colman, Lynnela [Lynally], in the said country, were subjected the chapels, in thesame country, of Rachayn [Rahan], Kylleacy [Killoughy], Raliffen [Rathlihen], Habuge [Ballyboy], Drumculynd[Drumcullen] and Eglays [Eglish], all daughter chapels of an annexed to St. David’s, it would be fit for erectioninto a parish church; and that its fruits and those of the said other chapels were sufficient for a rector and a vicar,the latter to have the cure of the said inhabitants and to pay the Episcopal and other dues – ordered the bishopof Termoli and the priors of Duruake [Durrow] and Seirkieran in the diocese of Meath and Ossory, to separate fromSt. David’s all the said chapels, to erect St. Colman into a parish church, to subject thereto the others as daughterchapels, notwithstanding that they had cure, to assign to it the said country as its parish, and to grant that St.Colman’s, even if it or any other of the said chapels were of lay patronage, might have font, cemetery and otherparochial insignia. At the recent petition of the said inhabitants the pope orders the above prior to summon therector of St. David’s and others concerned, and if he find that the statements of the inhabitants be true, and thatthe rector of St. David’s can be maintained from the rest of the fruits of that church, and pay the Episcopal duesetc., to confirm the seperation, erection etc. made by the said bishop.’ (CPR 7, (1906), pp 174).Appendix 5Explanation of historical documents referred to in the Conservation PlanThe Speckled Book (Leabhar Breac)The Speckled Book is also known as Leabhar Breac Maic Aedhagain, meaning ‘The Speckled Book of MacEgan’; andas, Leabhar Mór Dúna Doighre or ‘The Great Book of Dun Doighre’.Reference no.: RIA MS 23 P 16Probably composed in the late fourteenth century / early fifteenth century, Lebhar Breac (as it is commonlyknown) is a collection of ecclesiastic writings in both Middle Irish and Latin, compiled by the scribe MurchadhRiabhach O’Cuindlis. It documents several saints’ lives, in particular those of Sts. Patrick, Brigid, and Columba,as well as The Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee. It also contains numerous homilies, hymns, and ecclesiasticallegends, including what some think is the oldest Marian litany. It was held by the MacEgans, a brehon family, atDun Doighre in Co. Galway.86