Ladywell Shrine picture unearthed ahead of August 15th
A stunning and rare picture of the ‘Ladywell Dundalk Parish Committee and Guard of Honour’ thought to date from the turn of the last century has been published for the first time, ahead of the 2016 celebration at the Ladywell Shrine on the Dublin Road.
The picture was part of a lot that was bought at auction in Belfast by a Dundalk man who kindly loaned it to the Argus for publication this week. The photograph, which was remains in remarkably good condition, shows the committee at the shrine, and also lists the names of those involved, some of whom were not pictured, who were part of the Guard of Honour, instituted by Rev. Eugene Clarke CC and part of the committee, which was ‘appointed by Dundalk Urban District Council on 3rd December 1901’.
The Guard of Honour names include James J. Dillon, UDC Prefect, James Gosling, UDC, Patrick Brennan, Patrick McDermott, Patrick Murphy, Patrick Gaynor, Michael Sharkey, Peter McGuinness, Michael Garvey, Edward Kindlon, John Kirk, B. Quigley, Patrick Grimes, John Durnin, Marks Murphy, Thomas Murphy, Thomas Gosling, Patrick Reilly, John Garvey, John Conlon, Patrick Callaghan, Michael O’Neill and Thomas Hughes.
The committee included Rev. Eugene Clarke, Henry O’Connell, chairman, M.C.C., C.A. Duffy, J.P. M.C.C., B. Hamill, M.C.C., H.C. U.D.C., Joseph M. Johnson U.D.C., H.C., Robert Henry U.D.C., James Gosling U.D.C., Patrick McGahon U.D.C., James J. Dillon U.D.C. and James Gaskin M.I.C.E.
The photo is signed by the company who mounted it - H. Allison and Co. ‘Armagh, Newry, Dundalk, Warren Point’.
The picture is sure to generate discussion ahead of this year’s annual celebration, which takes place on Sunday August 14, ahead of the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mass will be celebrated at Ladywell shrine at 11pm, commencing with the Rosary. At midnight the water will be blessed. Devotions will continue throughout the day on Monday, 15 August. All are welcome to attend.
Ladywell shrine has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, and the shrine is marked on maps printed in the 1600s as a holy well.
Today, a regular stream of pilgrims come to the shrine from throughout Louth, Armagh, Cavan, Meath, Monaghan and further afield to honour Our Lady on 15 August.
Like their forefathers, a committee made up of local people looks after the shrine all year round, painting, carrying out repairs and trimming hedges; as well as planning the celebration itself.