by Linda McGrory and Eamonn MacDermott
THE BISHOP of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty is to
celebrate an open air mass on the banks of Lough
Swilly to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of
a martyr priest. Dr Hegarty will be principal
concelebrant at the 4pm mass on Sunday, May 29, at
Fr Hegarty's Rock, a much-loved local landmark
between Porthaw and Stragill. Fr James Hegarty was a
Catholic friar who was beheaded during penal times
by British crown forces at the spot that now bears
his name. He was born at Ballynally, Moville, and
was ordained in Dundalk in 1672 by primate of
Ireland, Oliver Plunkett.
The cleric was killed by English redcoats after an
informer told them he was conducting secret masses.
The crevices in the rock face, from a distance,
appear to form the shape of a cross. Local legend
also has it that the friar's head bounced several
times following his slaying, leaving indents said to
be visible in the ground to this day.
Dr Hegarty's spokesman, Fr Michael Canny, yesterday
said that despite their name, there was no ancestral
connection between the bishop and the 18th century
martyr.
"After the bishop was invited to say the anniversary
mass, he made a private visit to Fr Hegarty's Rock
to refresh his memory about the history of the
friar. He then decided he would like to take part in
the 300th celebrations," said Fr Canny.
The landmark rock and the slain friar’s grave lie on
the path of a popular shore walk between Porthaw
beach and Stragill beach, about 2km from Buncrana.
Local historian Sean Beattie said: “Fr. Hegarty is
an iconic figure in the history of the Penal Laws in
Ireland.
“The Penal Laws were at their most oppressive in his
time and instructions were coming from Dublin for
local military commanders to take action.
“Reports from Inishowen to Dublin sometimes
exaggerated the dangers posed by Catholics to the
state and often accused local commanders of not
doing enough to make the laws effective.
“Fr Hegarty was a prime example of a cleric caught
up in the maelstrom of national and local politics
at the time. Inishowen suffered greatly from the
Penal Laws and the number of Mass rocks is an
indicator of the level of persecution.
“We are fortunate to know the location of Fr
Hegarty's burial place but there are other locations
where priests were executed but these are not in the
official records.”
Fr Hegarty managed to escape but while swimming in
the Swilly he was convinced by the Redcoats to come
ashore. However, when he stepped on dry land, they
beheaded him. |
