Historic chalice on permanent display in Ballinahown

A 17th-century chalice has recently gone on permanent display at St Colmcille’s Church, Ballinahown, after the installation of a special glass display cabinet.

Ballinahown Community Development received funding of €7,000 from The Heritage Council for the display case, allowing the chalice to be put on permanent display. The chalice and the Sacramental oils of Baptism, Confirmation and Oil of the Sick were placed in the case during a special ceremony at Mass recently.

The Ballinahown Chalice was commissioned by Ellinor Callanan for St Ciarán’s Chapel in Clonmacnois in 1647. The same year, the Catholic Vicar-General of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Charles Coughlan, had the cathedral at Clonmacnois restored at his own expense. It is likely that Ellinor Callanan, who was a Dominican nun, was a relative of Charles Coughlan’s.

An inscription on the chalice translates to: “Ellinor Callanan had me made in the year 1647 for the Chapel of St Ciarán of Clonmacnoise.”

The inscription suggests that it was intended to be used for the celebration of Mass in the Cathedral of Clonmacnois. It was perhaps fate that kept the chalice in Ballinahown during the Penal Times, as it remained in the care of the Coughlan family, or possibly a priest within the family. The chalice was used for Mass in Ballinahown and it has now found a permanent home in St Colmcille’s Church, where it continues to be a cherished part of the heritage of the parish.

Parish priest, Fr Brendan O’Sullivan, said: “Who we are and where we come from says a lot about how we are, and to be able to acknowledge and carry forward faith traditions of our past, which are deeply rooted in our spirit and life of community, is very important.

“Having the chalice with such history reminds us of the pilgrim path – that we are all pilgrims of faith. Also in the display case, which holds the chalice, we have the holy oils which are part of the Sacramental life of the church – Oil of Baptism, Chrism used for Baptism and Confirmation, and Oil of the Sick used for healing and for people in danger of death.

“All of this signifies a deep love and presence of God supporting us on the road of life and faith, strengthening us on our pilgrim journey to be bearers of love, joy, peace, patience and kindness, as we share our common journey of faith, bringing life and love to all whom we meet,” he said.

Further details on the history of the chalice can be found in an essay by Ballinahown native Cathal Ó Háinle on the history of St Colmcille’s Church entitled ‘A Pilgrim People’ and in ‘An unrecorded seventeeth-century chalice’ in Clonmacnoise Studies vol. 2 by Cathal Ó Háinle and Conleth Manning.