Tenth Earl of Antrim to follow in ancestor’s footsteps with Roscommon visit
A plaque, dated 1625, bearing the Earl of Antrim's coat of arms at the Holy Well in Brideswell.
The tenth Earl of Antrim, Randall Mac Donnell, will follow in his ancestor’s footsteps this weekend when he visits Brideswell in South Roscommon.
The Earl will be among the attendance at the open air Brideswell Pattern Mass on Sunday, July 27th, at 12.30 p.m..
His attendance will mark the 400th anniversary of the erection of the gateway leading to the local Holy Well, which was erected by the First Earl of Antrim, also named Randall McDonnell.
The first Earl also erected a plaque at the location which bears the family coat of arms and the date,1625.
Apparently, the first Earl and his wife, Ailsis, daughter of the Great Hugh O'Neill, were childless for a while. They made the pilgrimage to Brideswell and had the gateway and plaque erected in gratitude for "answered prayers".
The Pattern Mass on Sunday will be celebrated by Very Rev. Michael Mc Manus, PP, Kiltoom and Cam. The traditional stations will also be recited at 4 p.m. on the day.
The annual Pattern Weekend in South Roscommon will play host to a range of activities this weekend, including a Camino walk, a GAA blitz and the Sean Gately Memorial Cup soccer game.
