Rahan () is a

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...

and village in County Offaly,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is associated with Mochuda (also known as St. Carthage). The village is located on the banks of the river Clodagh approximately 8 km from Tullamore. The parish of Rahan extends from The Island near Ballycumber in the north to

Mucklagh Mucklagh is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. Etymology The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ''Muclach'' which means 'A place where pigs feed'. The oldest surviving menti ...

in the south.

History

First monastery

The first monastery in Rahan was created by Camelacus in the 5th century and later re-founded in the 6th century by St Carthage. The ancient monasteries and churches located here are known as the church of St Carthage or St Carthach, and the monastery of Mochuda.RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - A Conservation Plan
(PDF) Saint Fiodhairle repaired the Rahan Abbey after a

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

raid. A mass rock (where mass was said while the Penal Laws were in effect) can be found near the Present Catholic Church in the Killina townland, approximately 1 km southeast of the ancient churches. The rock is dedicated to Saint Anthony. Rahan also has a long association with the Jesuit community who founded a seminary there in the early 19th century (1818) and with the

Presentation Sisters The Presentation Sisters, officially the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are a religious institute of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland, by the Venerable Honora "Nano" Nagle in 1775. The Sisters of the congre ...

who founded a convent and school in the early 19th century (1818 also), both Convent and School have survived to this day. The Presentation Mission to India went out from here in the past.

Ancient churches and monastic site

The monastic site in Rahan contains the remains of church buildings dating from the 11th and 12th centuries and both Protestant and Catholic cemeteries. In 1732, the Church of St Carthage at Rahan was repaired by the Church of Ireland community for use as a parish church. Mass is celebrated here once a year on Cemetery Sunday 15 August. Access can be gained through a farm gate.

Parish of Rahan

The parish of Rahan comprises 44 townlands: Agall, Aghadonagh, Aghalusky, Backsteel, Ballina, Ballincloghan, Ballincur, Ballindrinan, Ballybruncullin, Ballykeenaghan, Blackwood, Bohernagrisna, Brackagh, Cappaloughan, Castletown, Church Hill, Clonshanny, Corcush, Cornalaur, Currygurry, Deerpark, Derries, Derrinvullig, Derrooly, Derrycooly, Derryesker, Derrynanagh, Glasshouse, Goldsmiths Lot, Kilgortin, Killaranny, Killina, Kilpatrick, Loughroe, Mountarmstrong, Murragh, Newtown, Oldtown, Rabbitburrow, Rahan Demense, Roscore Demense, Tullybeg and Tullymorerahan. The parish contains three churches, a Presentation Convent, two primary schools and a secondary school.

Churches

St. Carthage's Church Killina was built in the mid 1700s. During a reconstruction in 1966, traces of a previous church were found. Side aisles were added to the church between 1800 and 1817. The title was originally the Church of the Assumption but was later changed to that of St. Carthage. St Patrick's Church, The Island was built by a Fr. Robbins, who was curate in Rahan from 1834 to 1847. The Island was once called the 'Island of Clonkeen'. St. Colman’s Church Mucklagh was built in 1979. Very Rev. J. Mooney and Father Sean Heaney lead the project. The previous church was demolished.

Education

Schools in the area include St Colman's National School (Mucklagh), Scoil Charthaigh Naofa (Newtown, Rahan), and Killina Presentation Secondary School (Killina).

People

The most famous sporting person to come from the parish is Father Nicholas Clavin, All-Ireland winner and All-star Gaelic footballer. Rahan man Garreth O'Brien captained Offaly to the 1988 All-Ireland under 21 championship. Rahan native Nigel Dunne is one of Offaly's inter-county players. Derek Molloy hurled for Offaly and was a constant on the team between 2007 and 2012.

Gallery

File:Rahan Old Church 2.jpg, Rahan Ancient Church File:Rahan Old Church 3.jpg, Graveyard at Monastic Site File:Rahan Old Church 4.jpg, Graveyard at Monastic Site File:Rahan Old Church 6.jpg, Rahan Ancient Church File:Rahan Old Church 7.jpg, Wide View

References

{{Authority control Towns and villages in County Offaly Civil parishes of County Offaly Mass rocks