The document announces the programme of celebrations for the Garland Weekend 2019 at Tobernalt Holy Well in Sligo, Ireland. The weekend will focus on remembering Penal Ireland and will include masses, prayers for healing, and a dawn walk recalling how ancestors traveled secretly to the holy well for mass during penal times. The holy well is an important place of pilgrimage with a long history dating back to St. Patrick, and the celebrations honor the religious heritage of the site and ancestors who preserved the Catholic faith despite penal laws.

1. Garland Weekend 2019
PROGRAMME OF CELEBRATIOnS
Theme: RemembeRing Penal iReland
- Faith, Perseverance, Commitment
Saturday 27th July:
at the Holy Well
7:00pm Confession at the
Holy Well
7:30pm Evening Mass –
The Gift of Our Faith
Sunday 28th July:
at the Holy Well
6:00am Dawn Mass – Camino
from St. Anne’s Parish in
Sligo. Starting at 4.45am
10:00am Morning Mass
Penal Mass -
Story & Journey
12:00 noon Mass with Prayers for
Healing and Anointing of
the Sick
Walk in Prayer from darkness to light
a Camino from St. anne’s Church in Sligo to
the Holy Well will take place on Sunday 27th
July beginning at 4.45am to arrive at the Holy
Well for the 6.00am dawn mass. This walk
recalls our ancestors in Penal times who
walked to the Holy Well in fear of their lives to
honour the mass and celebrate the various
Sacraments.
Tobernalt Holy Well
Tobernalt Holy Well is a sacred place of
pilgrimage throughout the year. Here we can
walk in the footsteps of St. Patrick, recall the very
origins of our faith and give thanks for all who
have helped to promote the Gospel message in
our land. On this soil we are called to walk with
a religious history, steeped in prayer, sacrifice
and love of Christ. We are called to give thanks
for our ancestors who had a passion for the
Gospel message in words and actions, especially
in penal Ireland.
Today, the Holy Well recalls the past, celebrates
the present and looks forward to the future. The
Garland Weekend celebrations are just one way
of honouring the unique religious heritage of
this site. We also have the various shrines to our
Lady, St Anne, the Holy Family and Jesus
Crucified combined with the Mysteries of the
Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. We can also
spend time at the Mass Rock, the Altar or ponder
at the Well. As we prepare for the Weekend let
us give thanks for all who visit the Holy Well
throughout the year and for all who lend a
helping hand to keep the grounds tidy and clean.
May God protect each of us, our families and
friends and all who visit the Holy Well.
TobernalT Holy Well - a SHorT HiSTory
The history of Tobernalt Holy Well predates the advent of
Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. It is a natural
spring well that established itself in a primeval forest.
Tobernalt, because of its ability to cater for rites and
rituals, quickly became the main area where the festival of
Lughanasa was celebrated. This festival was to the lord of
the harvest and consisted of a popular assembly of three
days’. Tradition is emphatic that St Patrick evangelised at
Tobernalt and probably baptized the first Celtic Christians
in the waters of Tobernalt Holy Well. He brought the
Christian dimension to the well that has been handed
down as the faith inheritance associated with Tobernalt.
Penal TimeS
Towards the end of the 17th Century the Penal Laws
were enacted with the objective of supressing Catholic
thought, faith and influence in Irish society. These laws
focused on religion, education, property and civil life.
Laws within the religious sphere dictated that: only one
priest was allowed to remain in each parish; priests
could no longer be educated or ordained in Ireland; and
all Catholic bishops and monks had to leave the country.
However, many priests remained, putting their lives in
jeopardy, in order to provide the spiritual needs for
their people through the provision of the sacramental
life: Eucharist, Confession, Baptism, Marriage and
Anointing of the Sick. To make this possible the people
worked closely with their priests, protecting them and
meeting with them in secluded places, like Tobernalt,
in order to celebrate the sacraments.
What is clear from these times is the tremendous
relationship the people of Ireland had with their
priests, their willingness to put their lives in danger in
order to encounter the Lord through the Sacraments
and their faithfulness to their Catholic faith.
Today, we are perhaps living in the most challenging
times the Catholic Church in Ireland has faced since
penal times. The number of Priests has lessened and
the regular practice of faith among the people is falling
rapidly. There are many reasons for this, both internal
to the Church, clergy and people as well as external
secular factors.
This weekend reminds us to renew our faith. It recalls
our ancestors who held true to the Catholic faith
despite the great cost. Will we support our Priests? Will
we encourage vocations? Will we protect and promote
the gift of our faith? How will we respond?
Rev. Jim Murray
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2. books and Cards
Books and Cards from the Holy Well
Tobernalt Holy Well History and Heritage
Explore the story and journey of this sacred
place in word and picture tracing many years
of faith in our country.
Tobernalt Holy Well Prayer Book
A variety of prayers and reflections based on
the Holy Well, but can be used anyplace.
Mass Cards/Bouquets
Cards with prayers and photographs from the
Holy Well.
Books and cards available from
Liber Bookshop,
or from
St. John’s Presbytery, Carraroe,
Co. Sligo.
Tel: 071-9162136
The Holy Well is featured on RTE 1
every Sunday at 6.00pm on the Angelus.
Tobernalt Holy Well, Co. Sligo
27th – 28th July
Prayer for Vocations
Heavenly Father,
You have called me to life
and gifted me in many ways.
Through Baptism You have sent me
to continue the mission of Jesus
by sharing my love with others.
Strengthen me to respond to
Your call each day.
Help me to become all You desire of me.
Inspire me to make a difference in
others' lives.
Lead me to choose the way of life
You have planned for me.
Open the hearts of all to listen
to Your call.
Fill all with Your Holy Spirit that
we may have listening hearts and
the courage to respond to You.
Enkindle in my heart
and the hearts of others the desire
to make the world a better place
by serving as Priests, Deacons,
Religious and Catholic lay leaders.
Amen.
Garland Weekend
Celebrations
Traffic Directions
Please note that
Stewarts and
Gardai will be on
duty at the Holy
Well for the
Garland Weekend.
A "one Way",
system of traffic
will be in
operation to help
traffic flow and
parking at the
Holy Well. Please
follow their
directions during
the weekend.
reviewed 24 april 2019 nature at its best
The Holy Well in Sligo is so pure and beautiful,
it’s so peaceful and kept so tidy. Really a
beautiful place to take a few minutes out from
the hustle and bustle of life
reviewed 18 april 2019
Holy Shrine in nature
Arriving first thing in the morning, my group of
14 Americans got the whole place to ourselves.
We wandered around in silence, taking in the
deep history and mythology through prayer.
We gathered around the "Mass Stone" where
it's said St. Patrick conducted mass. We placed
our hands on the stone and listened to Rita
Connolly sing "I Arise Today," known as the
Breastplate of St Patrick or the Deer's Cry. Holy,
holy time.
www.holywellsligo.com
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