Another fictitious Lough Derg, Coronea, County Cavan

Another fictitious Lough Derg, Coronea, County Cavan

Lough Derg--Pilgrimage--Replication--Coronea

"A little tract, that bears the title of 'Hindooism in Ireland,' notices a Station which was some time since established at Coronea, county of Cavan..."

Philip Dixon Hardy, 1794-1875

Hardy, Philip Dixon, The Holy Wells of Ireland : Containing an Authentic Account of Those Various Places of Pilgrimage and Penance Which Are Still Annually Visited by Thousands of the Roman Catholic Peasantry. With a Minute Description of the Patterns and Stations Periodically Held in Various Districts of Ireland, pp. 49-50

Hardy & Walker, Dublin

1840

Digitised by archive.org, sponsored by Boston Public Library

Public domain

Monograph

English

Holy wells

Text

DD_0013

53.938869,-7.522218

http://archive.org/details/holywellsofirela00hard

"A little tract, that bears the title of 'Hindooism in Ireland,' notices a Station which was some time since established at Coronea, county of Cavan ; A few devotees, not satisfied with an annual pilgrimage to Loughderg, commenced similar rounds to those which are performed there, in the chapel of Coronea, county Cavan. They cut circles in the chapel floor ; and chalked figures on the walls, in imitation of the beds, crosses, altars, stones, &c. at Loughderg, giving names accordingly to each circle and to each mark on the wall, and appointing the same number of prayers, bowings, crossings, &c. to be practised at each, that were enjoined at such parts of the station at Loughderg, as each circle or mark might be designed to represent.

The plan of this station is described as follows: — A large painted wooden cross is hung on the chapel wall, to the right of the altar. Three circles are marked on the chapel floor also on the right; and as many on the left side of the same altar, with a large circle dedicated to St. Patrick, in the centre of the building. The other circles are called after Sts. Brennan, Catherine, Bridget, Columb, Avit, and Blossett. There is a stone on the right of the altar, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and pictures are hung at short distances on the walls of the chapel, representing the different stages of our Lord’s crucifixion ; at each of which a certain number of Pater Nosters, &c. must be repeated. Every pilgrim strips off his hat, shoes, and stockings, before he enters the chapel; and on entering the door must fancy that he is entering the holy island of Loughderg. After various ceremonies, he is to put his shoulder to the wooden cross, and fancying that he takes it up, he must suppose that he carries it with him while he goes seven times round the walls of the Chapel inside; in imitation of the manner in which Jericho was encompassed by the Israelites. He then goes round the different circles, some five, some seven times; inside and outside: sometimes walking, and at other times performing his circuits on his knees. He then repairs to the stone dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in approaching which, though still on the dry chapel floor, he must imagine that he is wading through the water of Loughderg, under the idea of drowning his sins in this imaginary water, as Moses did his enemies in the Red Sea. — These, with a variety of evolutions, prayers, &c. too numerous to be mentioned, complete what is termed a station: three of these stations must be performed every day of his pilgrimage, which continues for three, six, and even nine days and a night. During all this time the pilgrim takes but a single meal of bread and water each day. Here too, as at Loughderg, he must fancy that the water which he drinks is changed into wine."

Monograph