Saint Declan's Church Dromroe
Map Grid reference - X 079 978 - Nr 81 Discovery series 1:50 000.
For map see: Lismore
SAINT DECLAN OF THE DEISE
[ "When Dobhran had heard and seen these things concerning his kinsman Erc he requested the latter and Deithin to give him the child to foster, and with this request Erc complied. The name of the locality was "Dobhran's Place" at that time, but since then it has been "Declan's Place." Dobhran presented the homestead to Declan and removed his own dwelling thence to another place. In after years, when Declan had become a bishop, he erected there a celebrated cell in honour of God, and this is the situation of the cell in question:-In the southern part of the Decies, on the east side of Magh Sgiath and not far from the city of Mochuda i.e. Lismore. For the space of seven years Declan was fostered with great care by Dobhran (his father's brother) and was much loved by him. God wrought many striking miracles through Declan's instrumentality during those years. By aid of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him he (Declan)-discreet Christian man that he was-avoided every fault and every unlawful desire during that time."] (Life of St Declan)
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Waterford otherwise known as the Deise - in memory of a Celtic tribe which inhabited this general area many hundreds of years ago. Declan is perhaps the best known member of that tribe. He was born in Dromroe, in the parish of Cappoquin, to Erc and Deithin [Mother]. His birthplace at Religin Deglain is acknowledged by the best authority on the lives of the Saints, the Bollandist's, a group of Jesuits led by Jean de Bolland. His life story is well recorded in many publications. Erc is remembered on one of the Ogham stones from Seemouchuda [Ercagnos Maqi Erc = Ercagnos son of Erc], we have St. Erc's Well - Listowel, County Kerry, another Erc mentioned is on an Ogham in Wales, and of course Erc of the Dalriada, Scotland. The connection between the Deise and Wales was strong, probably family ties. Saint Bree [Bridgid] also came to us from Wales.
In relation to this site it is appropriate to quote from Very Rev F. O'Brien, PP., V.G., M.R.I.A. [PP Cappoquin, 1881 ~ 1892] Transferred to St Peter and Paul, Clonmel.
"To better understand the subject and object of this paper which I am about to read for you, I beg to call your attention to the Ordnance Map of the County of Waterford. ~ On that map is the town land of Dromroe, between Lismore and Cappoquin, on the road between the railway crossing at Round Hill and Tourin. You will find marked in that townland a small shrubbery within which is a small plot enclosed by a fence, with the representation of a monument in the corner of it. ~ The shrubbery and the vestiges of remains are designated on the Ordnance Map " Graveyard and St. Declans Chapel in ruins" The Grass and brambles having been removed, the lower walls of the oblong structure have come to light, made up of stone piled over each other without mortar. It's dimensions are about fourteen feet long by between six and eight feet wide. From the manner in which the stones are placed in the portion of the walls that remains it is easily conjectured that this ruin belongs to that class of ancient ecclesiastical stone buildings, ~ These are admitted by archaeologists to be the most ancient specimens of Christian buildings to be found in Ireland and in point of antiquity that which is the subject of this paper may claim a place amongst the first. ~ The ruins as already stated bore the name of "St. Declan's Chapel" and the land adjoining "Graveyard" when inspections were made and measures were taken for the compilation of the Ordnance Map now more than fifty years ago. [O'Curry , O'Donovan,1834 ~ 1837] The least curious and most unconcerned about ancient local history visiting this romantic spot, situated, I may truly venture to say, in the loveliest part of Monster, may very naturally ask why was this ruin, which had all but disappeared from the notice as well as from the memory of the neighbouring inhabitants, called "St. Declan's Chaple," and why was the little field surrounding it, which a short time ago was about being incorporated with the adjoining farm and from being "God's Acre" was to become mans property called the "graveyard," or, as the people designate it at the present day religin deglain."
What year did Fr O'Brien see the site, at a guess, the railway was there, built in the 1870's, he say's that the time from the Ordnance survey to his day was more than 50 years. So, who is good at maths? Say the OS was 1841 + 50 = 1891. The railway would have been there 21 years at that time. It would also be one year before Fr O'Brien left Cappoquin. The first survey of Waterford was 1839 ~ 1841. He say's: " Which a short time ago was incorporated into the adjoining farm" Short time - say twenty years - the graveyard was destroyed about 1870 +/- 10. Roughly 1860 ~ 1880. The outline of the graveyard is very prominent on the field today.
In 1995/6 a group of us, Billy [The Banker] Walsh, RIP, Jackie Geoghegan, RIP, Paddy Geoghegan and Pa Griffen decided to clean up the graveyard. Briars and bushes towered over the graveyard, it was impossible to see anything. We started on the South side of the enclosure and worked our way bit by bit through the undergrowth, the first thing we uncovered were the lines of field stones, Grave markers, sticking up out of the ground. Next was the wall of the Cell or church of Declan, and finally we came to the Cenotaph, known as Homan's Cenotaph. Searching through Journals and anything else we could find, there are references to Religin Deglain, none describes it in any detail. Even Fr O'Brien, who obviously saw it first hand, his guess at the dimensions is surprising considering his interest in the site and also a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. In every account we found, the author expressed puzzlement as to why this ancient site had been allowed to get into such bad shape. We ask the same question, WHY ?.
Photos and drawings taken at the time were never published and as is the usual thing, they get lost or mislaid. Those that survive are presented here so that someone else can take it another stage further at some time in the future.
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Hanging the gate.
This Picture, taken from the entrance into the Religin, has all three significant features in it. The wall on the right, is fairly modern, it is mortared stone and it has an access stile built into it, just right of picture.
Another wall, narrower and un-mortared, at the base of the shovel, is in evidence. This wall has been partially built on by the newer wall.
In the middle of the scene is the remains of Saint Declans Church and in the background is the Homan Cenotaph.
The picture is out of sequence, it was taken as we prepared the Graveyard for the first Mass in 1995. The gate allowed Young Old and Infirm to gain entry safely.
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Headstone / Grave markers
Our tape measure and metre stick highlights the neat rows of Graves. Packed close together in all directions and placed prominently outside the West doorway of the Church.
When un-baptised infants died, the Catholic Church forbade their burial in Catholic Cemeteries.
These Religins [Pron: Re'ligeen] were accepted as Holy places by the poulation and it was here they brought them for burial.
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Drawing of St Declans Church
This is a drawing I did at the time of the Religin. It is as faithful to the actual ground as possible. Overall it is 18Ft X 11' 6" the wall/tumble is as shown wider to the East and it is not quite rectangular. In case anyone thinks we "Excavated the site" I should say that all the features shown were visible once we brushed off the dead leaves and clutter.
Although, to say it is strictly an antiquity would rule out the common respect owed.
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We were not Archaeologists and we leave interpretation to those who know about these things. However, the ring of stones suggest a fire place, the neat row of stones bottom right and the amount of stone top right do not suggest anything in particular, we came across some smelted iron between the wall and the row of stones. We also found pieces of flint, one lump and another worked piece, could be a scraper [Photo] Some of the Quartz is clear like glass and there is a big Quartz stone at the X in the East wall.
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West to East, where Anne is standing is roughly on the edge of the fire place, as you can plainly see the drawing is a lot more clinical than the actual site. Most of the walls must have been robbed because there is not a lot of stone tumble in evidence, were it any great height then you would expect to find way more stone. The material on the ground is mainly dead ferns and briar leaves, this was in the Summer 1995 and it was bone dry, we swept it with a broom. The tree stump, left of the entrance was loose and rotten it came out easy.
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The Ash tree back right, is stunted as are most of the trees on the site. Pa Griffen tells me that from memory, the trees never really came to anything and fell quite often. This is a potential problem for the site one or two trees in particular are growing amongst the grave markers, when they fall, possibly up rooted, they will destroy those graves under and beside them, indeed the ash in the picture would take most of the East wall with it. These could be the last pictures of this site.
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This piece of Flint was found as well as a lump over fist size. This piece seems to have been deliberately shaped
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This interpretation of the site is roughly OK, we would hope that once you have seen it, you will recognise the features on the ground should you visit. On entering the field, look to your right and you will see a clearly defined ridge describing a circle, the graveyard is on the North-East part of this circle. Billy Walsh has often ploughed this field and he tells me that on this ridge the clay is dark to black and much different than the surrounding field. Where it says, Entrance - there is a newer wall with a stile and mortared stonework. slightly inside and underneath this wall there is another narrow dry stone wall.
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We put up a gate so that people, young and old, could get access to the Religin for Mass . Fr Connie Kelleher celebrated Mass and consecrated the ground as a Christian burial ground. Mass was celebrated two years, 95 and 96 I think. Billy Walsh [The Banker] died and permission to enter the site was withdrawn by the new owner. We are lucky to have had the opportunity to do what we did for the unfortunate people who lie at rest in this ancient cemetery.
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This picture of the Homan Cenotaph was taken in 2006. The photo we took in 1995 is missing. However, after 11 years it is not as bad today as it was in 1995 - but much worse than we left it. The cross is dated 1821. There are different ideas about this "Homan" in written works. Some say he lived in the area and his name was Sir Philip E.S. Homan, Philips father was Sir William Homan of Dromana [Pigot] and Philip was described in 1831 as the Rev Philip Homan of Villierstown [Limerick Evening Post] Anyway the story is that it was erected to his son who was lost at sea. We think it was not erected to a family member but rather to the memory of the suffering of parents of the deceased children. Read the verse in English,
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DEATH DWELLS HERE IN SILENCE
NO TOMBS RECORD THE GRIEF OF PARENTS
HERE ARE NO MONUMENTS TO PARENTS THEMSELVES
NOTHING TO PROCLAIM THE VANITY OF GRIEVING
FOR THOSE WHOM WE SO SOON MUST FOLLOW
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Latin Text St Declans Dromroe
"Sunt breves mundi rosae
Sunt fugitivae flores
Frondes veluti annosae
Sunt labiles honores
Velocifsimo cursu
Fluunt anni
Sicut celeres venti
Fugiunt evolant evanescunt
Nil durat aeternum sub caelo
Rapit omnia rigida sors
Implacabili funesto telo
Ferit ominia livida mors
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Tenderness and Heartbreak at Dromroe.
My Latin is confined to the Tridentine Mass but we get the Jist of it. Life is beautiful and fleeting, nothing lasts for ever under heaven. The author compares the brief life of a Child to that of a Rose "Sunt Breves Mundi Rosae" The Child is the Rose - Blossoming - Beautiful - Fleeting.
in 1995, I wrote that this was an emotional excercise for us - 2007 as I write, I am overcome again by those words of understanding and compassion, by the Very Reverend Philip Homan. For me, these words convey the very essence of love, written by a man "Indeed without Guile".
Infant Death, a tragedy beyond compare.
Dromroe must have witnessed harrowing and heartbreaking scenes of grief and suffering in the dark of night, quite spoken men, Fathers and Grandfathers, digging as softly as they could to bury their children wrapped in cloth. We can salve our conscience by saying "O that was the Famine" not true !. Remember the Monument is earlier by 25 years at least. We, society, owe it to the memory of those people, to take this holy place out of abandonment and embrace it, and honour the suffering of those unfortunates, imposed on them by dark and secret men acting in the name of "God". Mr Homan, I salute you, your words of 1821 inspire us to do more to show our love and respect of all human life and in particular the helpless and grieving parents of Babies "Sunt Breves Mundi Rosae" The good lord have mercy and show your love to those we shunned and hid from view in our world. May they, that suffered so much, find it in their power to forgive us, for the suffering we imposed on them. Not just one Saint is represented here, each little stone and pebble represents a Saint. For us this has been a deeply emotional exercise. We did what we could - but, not enough. You, the reader must decide for yourself. If we had the willingness. If we had the funds. We could buy the property, then we would be free to visit.
This little graveyard represents the suffering of all bereaved parents, at all times in our history.
To prove our humanity we must protect this Graveyard, or else, we condemn ourselves to a baseless nothing - worthless - without soul. So much for my attempt at objectivity at this site.
The piece at the bottom with the crossed bones, has holes to hold something, which was missing. We saw similar designs on headstones in the North of Ireland but no explanation as to what the top part was of, it is not a Skull - is it a Childs head in profile?
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The drawing on the left shows Graffiti, only one dated that we could make out and that was Nr 4 M or H Dunn 1889. Nr 3 we could not make out at all, Nr 2 is ER and Nr 1 is A FITZPATRICK. the crossed bones you see are an actual rubbing of the original, done on the reverse of the page.
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Rev Philip Homan
The memorial tablet in St Carthages Church Lismore tells us that the Rev Philip Homan died in 1846. Aged 46 Years.
A Catholic Christian "Indeed without Guile"
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Left - is our best effort at measuring the angles on the Cenotaph. To look at it in profile, it strongly a resembles a ship sinking by the stern and the recess for the cross is set well back into what would be either the chainlocker or the Fo'castle. At the current rate of decay and danger from falling trees it is certain that not much more time is left if we are to preserve it. If not for Archaeological reasons, we owe it to those who are buried here.
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We found the 1995 Picture, on the left, you can see the ivy hanging from the Cenotaph. At that time the outline of the structure was completely hidden. We would ask you to note the position of the cross, as we found it, and compare it with the 2006 photo, it hasn't been moved in the slightest. The ivy and other plant roots are prising the mortar off the wall and opening gaps in the outer stonework.
It "Looks" sad and neglected.
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Round Tower Ardmore
On the left is the well known symbol of Saint Declan (5th Century) the round tower at Ardmore. These round towers (9th Century) wherever they are found, are a magnificent sight. The building of such a structure must have taxed the local labour force, working with relatively simple tools they managed to dress the stone just perfectly. It stands 97 ft tall and 52 ft at the base. This tower is a tourist attraction, that helps it and the other wells and stones about the area to get the protection and care that they need to survive.
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[Cenotaph - Greek, meaning Kenos = Empty Taphos =Tomb. Properly used in relation to a monument to honour the dead, who are buried some other place. ]
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