Relics Of St. Mogue

Apr 22, 2020

The Breac Maedoc and bell of St. Mogue which is over 1,500 years old are relics associated with St. Mogue and the history of Drumlane and Templeport, these will be on display at Cavan County Museum Ballyjamesduff from 12-22 October 2010. Saint Mogue gave the Breach Maedoc as a present to Drumlane, it was a shrine that is believed to contain the relics of Saints Laurence, Mark and Stephen. He had received this as a gift from Saint Molaise, Devenish, Co. Fermanagh after he had retuned from a pilgrimage to Rome. The shrine or reliquary was called “Breac Maedoc” (i.e. the Speckled of Maedoc) in which these relics were kept, was for long one of the most treasured possessions of Drumlane monastery. It was held in veneration of  very great antiquity and was preserved for many years in Drumlane Monastery.

Little is known of the history from the confiscation of the monastery until the beginning of the 18th century, this was about the time of it last custodian Pat MacGaheran transferred it to the parish priest of Drumlane. The Shrine being an object of great reverence, as the people believed that a false oath taken upon it was followed inevitably by a visible judgement it was used for the purpose of swearing persons accused of some crime. In 1846 it was borrowed from Rev. Philip Donegan, Parish Priest of Drumlane on the usual borrowing understanding but instead of returning it the borrower sold it to a Dublin jeweler Dr. Petrie purchased it. On his death it was passed with his collection to the Trustees of the National Museum, Dublin.

Legend says that the Bell of St. Mogue was given to the infant saint on his birth by St. Killian, who baptised him. The bell remained on Mogue’s Island in Cavan for centuries under the guardianship of local families until it was eventually housed in the Armagh Public Library. The casing for the bell is believed to be 10th/11th century in origin.

A lecture dealing with these priceless artefacts will be given by Dr. Brendan Scott in the museum on Thursday 21 October 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Museum open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and a special opening on Sunday 17 from 2 – 6 p.m. These relics are coming back to the county for the first time in 150 years. For more information contact the museum on 049-8544070 or email ccmuseum@eircom.net. All are welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

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Drumlane Community Website, Cavan, Ireland