Most Rev. Dr. Comerford, in his entry for the Parish of Caragh and Downings in his historical work on the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, gives us the following information on St. Farnan of Downings:
"Here are the ruins of an old Church, measuring, according to Father O’ Hanlon (Lives I.S.S. 2, p. 564.) 42 ½ feet by 16. Tradition states that this Church occupies the site of the cell of St. Farnan, whose feast occurs in the Irish Calendar on the 15th of February. This Saint flourished in the sixth century, and was descended from King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Beside the ancient cemetery is the Well of St. Farnan; and it possesses - so the local story goes - the valuable property, imparted to it by the blessing of the Saint, that those who drank of it never afterwards have any relish for intoxicating drinks. The Dun from which this place probably takes its name (Dooneens, “the little fort,”) may still be seen a short distance from the village of Prosperous, on the left of the road to Caragh. The only doubt about its being so arises from the fact that, instead of being small, it, on the contrary, is one of considerable dimensions."
St. Farnan of Downings, pray for us!
5 hours ago
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5 comments:
I really like the posts about Saints that I've never heard of before. There's a lot of good going on that we never think about. These posts really helped me to celebrate All Saints last year. There are so many people in Heaven that we never heard of. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into this!
A very worthwhile saint for our own day. Maybe his example and his help could be invoked for the young people of Ireland who are struggling beneath the oppression of drink and drugs.
Where is the Comerford book available?
Do the ruins remain? Is there a pattern day?
I would like to visit this site the next time I come back to Ireland. I am a Farnan in the States and my birthday is the day after the feast of St.Farnan.
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