15. DHS - Doon Rock
Aug 13, 2021, 01:17 PM
Shrine Fifteen: O'Donnell Abú
Location: 55.024702, -7.822309
Speaker: Sorcha O'Donnell
Theme: gathering to hail the chief.
The O'Donnell clan ruled over most of Donegal, known as Tir Chonaill (excluding the Inishowen peninsula) from the castle, but were inaugurated as heads of the clan here at Doon Rock near Kilmacrenan in north Donegal. A straight white wand was handed to the chieftain by one of the clan's nobles with the words 'receive the sovereignty of this county and preserve equal and impartial justice in every part of its dominions'. Donegal Castle may be where they ruled, Ballyshannon where they savoured their finest victory and Rathmullan where they left the island for good, but it here that something truly sacred once occurred, where a pledge was made to the land and its people. In these parts did the last of the chieftains retain autonomy against invader and uphold ancient Irish rule, and it was in places like Dungannon and Doon, that the last great gaels promised to uphold a solemn vow.
Signs for what is what were not great when we last visited, so here is what you need to know. With your back to the public toilets, you will see the holy well in front of you. To the left going up a narrow lane is the route to the mass rock. Good footwear is advised! To the right is Doon Rock - it was not marked when we visited. You will see a grotto in honour of the Virgin Mary on your left as you make your way up. Carry on, avoiding the copious sheep poop until you get to Doon Rock itself offering a panoramic view of the area. Follow a path near Doon Rock to the mass rock, where pilgrims still come to this day; just look at the amount of Holy relics that have been placed on and around the mass rock.
This place was used during the Penal Years (1695-1741) when Catholics were not allowed to openly practice their faith. Doon was one of the secret places that Catholics could meet up and attend mass. Priests said mass under pain of death because if they were caught they faced a violent death by being placed in a barrel of nails and thrown over a cliff called 'Binn an Sagairt' (hill of the priest) near Doon. Finally, no-one can go to Doon and not go to see the Holy Well. Every home in Donegal will have a bottle of Holy water from Doon. Situated beside Doon Rock Doon Well is very accessible and is wheelchair friendly, placed in a pretty little garden beside a house the owners tend to the well and garden. Doon Well's origins are definitely pre-Christian as the natural spring water would have been used in the pagan inauguration ceremonies of the O'Donnell clan. Bronze age artefacts have been unearthed near the well and there is a 'togher', an ancient wooden road that runs underneath the bog adjacent to Doon Rock.
It is a very special place and has a holiness and peaceful stillness about it. You almost feel as though you should whisper as you would in a church. In fact, stations and rosary are still walked from St.Columba's chapel to Doon Well every New Years Eve and on the day before May 1st. Doon Well became a Holy well possibly in the 15th century when a man called Lector O'Friel blessed the well. Lector O'Friel was a powerful healer. Sufferers of all sorts of illnesses and incurable conditions came or were carried to see him in the hope of a cure. Many stories are told of the miracles that he performed. Legend says that when he was in his old age and death was upon him the people became upset at the thought of losing such a holy man into whom God had placed such a wondrous gift. On hearing the peoples lament, Lector O'Friel is reported to have said, "When i die, my powers will live on after me."
With this he blessed the well and told them that those who drank or applied the water would benefit from his prayers of intercession. The well itself is behind two little wooden doors and there is a plaque that tells you what prayers need to be recited it reads: Doon Well Prayers of Station Repeat Our Father and Hail Mary 5 times And apostles creed for your intention Repeat same for each bottle of water Our Father and Hail Mary for Father O'Friel who found it Our Father and Hail Mary for Father Gallagher who blessed it Our Father and Hail Mary for the person who put the shelter around it N.B These prayers must be recited in bare feet.
Audio taken from Donegal's Hallowed Sites on the Racontour Archive.
Spotify URL: Donegal's Hallowed Sites playlist on Spotify
Location: 55.024702, -7.822309
Speaker: Sorcha O'Donnell
Theme: gathering to hail the chief.
The O'Donnell clan ruled over most of Donegal, known as Tir Chonaill (excluding the Inishowen peninsula) from the castle, but were inaugurated as heads of the clan here at Doon Rock near Kilmacrenan in north Donegal. A straight white wand was handed to the chieftain by one of the clan's nobles with the words 'receive the sovereignty of this county and preserve equal and impartial justice in every part of its dominions'. Donegal Castle may be where they ruled, Ballyshannon where they savoured their finest victory and Rathmullan where they left the island for good, but it here that something truly sacred once occurred, where a pledge was made to the land and its people. In these parts did the last of the chieftains retain autonomy against invader and uphold ancient Irish rule, and it was in places like Dungannon and Doon, that the last great gaels promised to uphold a solemn vow.
Signs for what is what were not great when we last visited, so here is what you need to know. With your back to the public toilets, you will see the holy well in front of you. To the left going up a narrow lane is the route to the mass rock. Good footwear is advised! To the right is Doon Rock - it was not marked when we visited. You will see a grotto in honour of the Virgin Mary on your left as you make your way up. Carry on, avoiding the copious sheep poop until you get to Doon Rock itself offering a panoramic view of the area. Follow a path near Doon Rock to the mass rock, where pilgrims still come to this day; just look at the amount of Holy relics that have been placed on and around the mass rock.
This place was used during the Penal Years (1695-1741) when Catholics were not allowed to openly practice their faith. Doon was one of the secret places that Catholics could meet up and attend mass. Priests said mass under pain of death because if they were caught they faced a violent death by being placed in a barrel of nails and thrown over a cliff called 'Binn an Sagairt' (hill of the priest) near Doon. Finally, no-one can go to Doon and not go to see the Holy Well. Every home in Donegal will have a bottle of Holy water from Doon. Situated beside Doon Rock Doon Well is very accessible and is wheelchair friendly, placed in a pretty little garden beside a house the owners tend to the well and garden. Doon Well's origins are definitely pre-Christian as the natural spring water would have been used in the pagan inauguration ceremonies of the O'Donnell clan. Bronze age artefacts have been unearthed near the well and there is a 'togher', an ancient wooden road that runs underneath the bog adjacent to Doon Rock.
It is a very special place and has a holiness and peaceful stillness about it. You almost feel as though you should whisper as you would in a church. In fact, stations and rosary are still walked from St.Columba's chapel to Doon Well every New Years Eve and on the day before May 1st. Doon Well became a Holy well possibly in the 15th century when a man called Lector O'Friel blessed the well. Lector O'Friel was a powerful healer. Sufferers of all sorts of illnesses and incurable conditions came or were carried to see him in the hope of a cure. Many stories are told of the miracles that he performed. Legend says that when he was in his old age and death was upon him the people became upset at the thought of losing such a holy man into whom God had placed such a wondrous gift. On hearing the peoples lament, Lector O'Friel is reported to have said, "When i die, my powers will live on after me."
With this he blessed the well and told them that those who drank or applied the water would benefit from his prayers of intercession. The well itself is behind two little wooden doors and there is a plaque that tells you what prayers need to be recited it reads: Doon Well Prayers of Station Repeat Our Father and Hail Mary 5 times And apostles creed for your intention Repeat same for each bottle of water Our Father and Hail Mary for Father O'Friel who found it Our Father and Hail Mary for Father Gallagher who blessed it Our Father and Hail Mary for the person who put the shelter around it N.B These prayers must be recited in bare feet.
Audio taken from Donegal's Hallowed Sites on the Racontour Archive.
Spotify URL: Donegal's Hallowed Sites playlist on Spotify