Pattern Day
St. Kieran's Day 5th. March
Over 1600 years since St. Kieran's
birth the people of Clareen parish proudly celebrate St. Kieran's day
on the 5th. March each year.The bishop comes from Kilkenny to join with
the parish in it's celebration. Mass is usually said at 11am. when the
bishop has an opportunity to address the people of the parish.
Immediately after mass many parishioners
join the Parish priest and the bishop at the well. Most people travel by
car and few walk. After the bishop blesses the well two decades of the
rosary are recited. Then the people go to the bush where two more decades
are said. Finally everyone gathers to say the last decade at the old graveyard
.-the site of the ancient monastery at Seir Kieran.
The people then go home and many
return several times during the Octave. The Octave is the eight days during
which the well remains open for veneration
St. Kierans bush
The people of Seir Kieran's Parish
have a great attachment to this bush and tie medals, strings, twines, sections
of rosary beads etc. on it even though they have been remonstrated with
for such a practice. The bush fell about 1884 but a young one was growing
at the time which now occupies the site.
There is a story told of a gentleman
who wanted to remove this bush but his workmen refused to have
anything to do with it. They only consented on condition that the gentleman
himself would strike the first stroke. Accordingly the gentleman did and
was stricken with facial paralysis.
He died shortly after thay
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