Photographs by John Kelly (Clare Champion 23 August 2013)

Canons’ Island in the Shannon estuary is part of the parish of Kildysart. It is the largest in a cluster of over twenty islands that occupy the expansive stretch of water formed by the confluence of the Shannon and Fergus estuaries.

The island is the site of a medieval Monastery and a traditional pilgrim site for people on both sides of the estuary. The Canons Regular of St Augustine who lived in the Abbey provided pastoral care for the nearby parishes until its suppression during the rule of Henry VIII. An article, by Michael Mac Mahon, detailing the  history of the Abbey may be found on the website of Clare Library.

While the island are no longer inhabited, several of them continue to serve as pasture for cattle.

The island has continued to serve as a place of burial up to the present.  In 1990 the late Fr Michael Hillery, PP revived the tradition of going on pilgrimage to the Canons’ Island   A large number of pilgrims travel to the island now for the annual Mass. This year due to Clare’s participation in the All Ireland Hurling semi-final, the pilgrimage will take place on a Saturday. Mass will be celebrated in the ruins of the old Monastery on Saturday 17 August 2013. Boats will leave Crovraghan Pier at 1pm.

This year the pilgrimage will involve all three parishes that form the Radharc na nOilean cluster (Kildysart, Coolmeen-Cranny, and Ballynacally-Lissycasey).

For the Clare Champion report on the 2013 celebration on Canon Island click here

Mass will be celebrated in Kildysart cemetery on Tuesday, 6 August 2013 at 8pm. All are welcome to participate in the Mass and to remember and pray for their relatives and friends who are buried there, for the deceased of the parish and for all the faithful departed.

Blessed John Henry Newman’s Prayer for the Departed

May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen

and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed,

and the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.

Then in His mercy

may He give us a safe lodging,

and a holy rest

and peace at the last.

Killaloe Diocese Autumn Pilgrimage to Lourdes:   Owing to an increased demand for accommodation in Lourdes during this Year of Faith a request has been made to the Diocese to reduce the number of nights from five to four.  Consequently the revised dates for the Autumn Pilgrimage are from Friday 27^th September to Tuesday 1^st October, with a new reduced price of €590.  This is still the cheapest pilgrimage out of Ireland.  This year the Irish Church is celebrating the Centenary of the First Irish Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1913.  Book on line at www.joewalshtours.ie and you will be entered for a draw for one free place.  Full details on the Diocesan website at www.killaloediocese.ie.

Cahercon House

Cahercon past pupils will celebrate Golden Jubilee of Salesian Education in Clare on Saturday 31 August 2103.

Mass will be celebrated at St. John Bosco Community College, Kildysart at 7:oo pm. followed by a chat and cuppa.

The Salesian sisters and the staff of St John Bosco Community College are looking forward to seeing you all at this special gathering to renew old acquaintances.