Annual open-air mass in Drum

In spite of the prevailing adverse weather conditions at present, the Drum Heritage Committee are leaving no stone unturned to have the site in ship shape condition for the holding of the annual Open-Air Mass on June 19th. Patrons coming to the celebrations this year should note that the starting times have been put back to 4.30pm to allow the local clergy to take part in the final Profession of a young nun attached to the Chapel of Adoration in Athlone on the same afternoon. In the past people have come from all parts of the country to join with locals in the religious celebrations and to pray for their deceased relatives and friends all of whom will be remembered during the concelebrated Mass. The prestigious ceremony has also become a focal point for friends to meet, especially those living away from home. This year's ceremonies will have special interest for one American family mentioned in last week's issue, who are making the trip especially to mark the engagement of their young son, Steven, to an Irish girl duly named Erin. Steven's mother Patrice Larson who is an Irish citizen has also stated she is anxious to visit the gravesite of her grandmother Winifred Hynes Connaughton whose remains are interred in an unmarked grave in Drum Old Cemetery. She was a daughter to Kieran Hynes of Curraghnaboll. His son, in turn known as "Kerrs Pat", left Curraghnaboll and purchased a holding at Oldtown, Clonown, where he lived with his wife, Margaret (nee Grenham) both since deciased. When Patrice last came to Drum over twenty-five years ago, she found the place completely overgrown, with brush and all varieties of weeds including large areas completely taken over with heavy growth of nettles. She is therefore looking forward to seeing the new facelift to the cemetery duly taken on board in 1987-1989 by the Drum Heritage Voluntary Committee. St Brigid's Holy Well In recent years the members of the Drum Heritage Committee have been anxious to focus a greater degree of interest in the restored St Brigid's Well at Drum, known to have been for over 100 years ago a place of aAnnual pilgrimage. Visitors coming to Drum especially over the past twelve months have expressed delight when they have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of bygone generations when threading along the once venerated stone pathway leading to St Brigid's Holy Well. An Illustrated Information Panel located at the turnstile provides a series of folk histories relating to Pattern Days celebrations to honour patron St Brigid in various parts of Ireland. The St Brigid's Well at Drum has the unique distinction of having received a declaration by St Brigid herself, to become a Baptismal Centre for children from the Hymanny tribes. Historians tell us that Holy Wells continued to be used for baptism for over six hundred years after the coming of Christianity to Ireland by St Patrick in 432. In 1172 when Ireland was under the reign of Henry II of England a decree was issued at a Synod at Thurles, County Tipperary that henceforth all children were to be baptised in the fonts of churches. The St Brigid's Well situated close to the former Monastic site is a further indication of its importance in early Christian times when we must assume it was in continual daily use both as a source of drinking water for the Patrician Monks and for the celebration of numerous baptisms each year. Drum Heritage Week The Drum Heritage Committee has initiated a new and informal attraction to follow on during the week following the Open-Air Mass. They have now declared the week "Drum Heritage Week" and have arranged two evening coach tours to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Patrons are invited to assemble at 6.15pm at the Heritage Centre and will then proceed by coach to visit three sites on each trip. On return visitors will receive a cup of tea and then view a film, the first of which for many will take a trip down memory lane with a showing of the first Open-Air Mass in Drum in 1989. This will be followed by a documentary recording made in 1989, highlighting some important features on many of the tombstones within the Monastic enclosures. On the second evening trip the visitors will be taken on a guided tour to a further three restored heritage sites including the final stop at the restored Curraghaleen Hedge School. The Wednesday evening film will show highlights of the first Commemorative Walk - Ardkeenan to Clonmacnoise that took place in 1998. Part two of the film show will feature "The Great Millennium Walk and the official opening of the restored Wake House at Nure. A nominal charge of €5 per person to cover coach fare and refreshments will be collected before the start of each coach trip.