In common with most other Co. Wexford parishes, Tomhaggard
has practically no pre-Norman records or history. It is known
that St. Patrick visited this part of southern Wexford on
his missionary journeying in the fifth century. St. Mosacer
may have built the original Celtic church, which stood in
the churchyard and the ruins of which are still traceable.
They are not, of course, to be confused with the remains of
the 13th-century church
which crown the churchyard hillock.
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We come across the first reference
to Tomhaggard parish during the Norman period in 1244,
when the monks of Tintern Abbey acquired it, together
with Kilmore and Kilturk. A Charter of the Convent of
Tintern of the Year 1245, gave the rent of church lands
in "Thamasre" to Geoffrey de St. John, Bishop
of Ferns, who succeeded to the See in 1243. The St. Johns
were still in possession of Tomhaggard in the 14th century.
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Another mention of Tomhaggard is found in an agreement relating
to Tintern, also dated 1245. In 1308, we find a letter of
the Bishop of Ferns, Robert Waltand, to the Prior of Christ
Church, Canterbury, and an agreement between Canterbury and
the Chapter of Ferns, confirming to Canterbury the Church
of Tomhaggard.
The present church was built in 1813. Fr James Hore was the
first curate of Kilmore parish, according the existing records.
He was a very active man in the few years he was in the parish
as he built the churches in Tomhaggard (1813) and Mulrankin
(1816). Some years later he became parish priest of Oulart
(1823).
Prior to this Mass was celebrated for a few hundred years
in the Penal Chapel. This in turn served the Kilmore area
in succession to the Mass-rock nearby. It seems both may have
segments of the window arch from the medieval church nearby.
The new church was a typical nineteenth century barn church,
seating a few hundred people.
Two blessed wells are close to the church - these were traditionally
associated with St Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and
St James. The new church was dedicated to these saints.
In the early 1900s the chapel bell gave up, so the local
curate, Fr John Rowe, managed, through the generosity of some
parishioners, to install a new bell in the belfry. However,
as the new bell was many times larger that the old one a new
belfry had to be built.
For more details of the medieval or Norman church - see
Monasteries.
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St Anne's Grotto.
| Every year, hundreds
of people visit the historic little village of Tomhaggard
to admire its lovely garden-grotto in honour of St. Anne,
and to drink the pure spring water from the blessed well
beneath the shrine. Many take home containers of the water,
which is said to have curative powers, particularly for
sore eyes. There was a tradition that the water rose in
the well to overflowing on the feast of St. Anne, 26th
July. |
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Down the years, the local people, and many from other parts,
have had a great devotion to St. Anne, and the blessed well
in Tomhaggard was always a place of pilgrimage. When the late
Father John Cullen was curate (1926-47), a committee headed
by Mattie Devereux (chairman) and Tom Ennis (secretary) raised
the money to acquire and erect the statue above the well.
On St. Anne's Day, Sunday, 26th July 1930, the statue was
unveiled by Very Rev. Thomas O'Byrne, the scholarly Parish
Priest of Piercestown, who gave a talk on the ancient history
of the place. The usual large crowd had assembled in the village
for the patron, which, traditionally, was the most popular
patron in South Wexford. Following the unveiling ceremony,
Fr. Cullen officiated at benediction in the church, and the
Parish Priest of Kilmore, Very Rev. James Furlong, was also
present.
A substantial contribution towards the cost of the statue
came from the proceeds of a concert and dramatic entertainment,
attended by 500 patrons, in a large marquee in a field owned
by Mr. W. R. Devereux. Bridgetown Dramatic Class staged "Love's
Sacrifice", which was followed by the farce, "My
Turn Next".On that special Patron
Day in 1930, the annual sports were held with the Bridgetown
Fife and Drum Band in attendance.
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St Anne's grotto underwent a major development during
the curacy of Fr Paddy Doyle (1947-60). The patch of
ground between it and the road was transformed into
attractive garden, with a floral decked islet in a pond,
fed by a stream from St James' well.
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Water from St Anne's well (under the statue) meets the water
from St James' well, which fills the pool on the right, and
travels in a small stream out to the sea. Above the grotto
is the Penal Mass house.
| St James' well is on the side
of the street. The stream flows down the street passed
the church and into St Anne's Garden. |
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The Sailor's Home
Opposite the Grotto is the cemetery of Tomhaggard where for
many centuries the local people were laid to rest. This surrounds
the remains of the medieval church.
| This cemetery also includes an area known
as "The Sailors' Home", where sailors shipwrecked
off the coast of Wexford and washed ashore, who were never
identified, were buried. This was established when the
cemetery was being cleaned up in 2001. It had been a dumping
ground for years, but underneath lay the graves of many
who were shipwrecked off the coast of south Wexford. The
sailors who were buried there have never been identified,
their nationality is unknown ad their number never recorded.
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With the help of various people,
local nursery and landscaping contractors and the Department
of the Marine and Natural Resources the area became a
place of peace and quiet for reflection and remembering. |
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