29.05.2017
Ashford Parishes Get Back to their Roots in Killiskey
Parishioners of Killiskey and Ashford united on Sunday afternoon (May 28) for a wonderful ecumenical walk to retrace their roots. Both parishes are currently celebrating milestone anniversaries with the bicentenary of the Church of Ireland Nun’s Cross Church, Killiskey, and the centenary of the Catholic Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Ashford. The walk was organised by the Revd Ken Rue of Nun’s Cross and Fr Eamon Crosson of Ashford and the participants all enjoyed the good weather and fellowship.
The walk began at the old Killiskey church and graveyard which was the original church of Killiskey Parish. Killiskey Church was established by the Augustinian Order so the walkers were joined by Canon Kieran O’Mahony, an Augustinian Friar. Those who built the church were likely to have had links to St Kevin and it was on the pilgrim route to Glendalough.
Ashford man, Tony Dunne, was responsible for getting a group together to wrestle the ruined church and its graveyard back from the undergrowth. Their work began in 2004 and continues today. Tony gave a history of the church from its establishment in early Christian times to its decline which began in the 12th century. However, people from across the community, both Anglican and Catholic, continued to bury their dead in the graveyard and Tony’s great grandmother was the last person to be interred there in 1970.
Following prayers led by Canon O’Mahony, the large group walked the three kilometre journey to Nun’s Cross Church. There the Revd Ken Rue outlined the history of Nun’s Cross Church. He also gave details of their bicentenary celebrations which include a flower festival in the church from September 1 to 3 and a Bicentenary Service which will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin on October 28, the exact anniversary of the consecration of the church.
The walkers then made their way to the Church of the Most Holy Rosary in Ashford where they were greeted by Fr Eamon Crosson. Maurice Corr outlined details of their parish celebrations which include a special Mass on June 30 concelebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin with Fr Eamon and former priests of the parish, a pilgrim walk on July 29 and a parish mission in October. Local historian Dick Fitzpatrick gave a brief outline of the history of the church.
As this year is also the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Canon Kieran gave a talk in the parish centre on Reformation and the links between Martin Luther and the Augustinian order.
