On Saturday 24th of August the community of Newtown, Clogher (F12 PF99) will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Marian Grotto which was erected as part of the Marian Year of 1954. The event will consist of Mass at the Grotto celebrated by Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam and Killala, followed by musical entertainment from the children of the Clogher Primary School. There will be tours of the traditional Heritage Cottage and Forge and refreshments will be served.

Most of all we look forward to connecting with those we may not have seen for a long time, and meeting our new neighbours who have come to the area in the last few years. There are only a handful of people still with us who were there in 1954 but this will be an inter-generational day where generations of families will create memories for the future. As well as remembering our past traditions the event will embrace the latest technology to reach out through livestream to the diaspora of Clogher .

The Community gathering will encompass history, heritage, and traditions of the past. The heritage cottage is traditionally decorated with an open fire and many old style housewares and the table will be set for the Stations breakfast. The Forge too will have a fire and an opportunity for young and old to see a bellows at work.
Grottos and Crossroads - The Cleary’s Clock of Rural Ireland.
The Marian Year occurred in 1954 and in many towns and villages throughout Ireland Marian Shrines were erected to honour and commemorate this important year in the life of the Catholic Church.

In Newtown , Clogher, Claremorris, Co Mayo the community rose to the challenge and erected a Marian Shrine. In true ‘Meitheal’ spirit a local farmer donated a corner of his field and local tradesmen designed and erected the Grotto in June 1954. The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Joseph Walsh came to Newtown on the day to perform the blessing and dedication.

Traditionally crossroads were a meeting place and in Newtown the fork in the road led three ways: South to the Big House, the School and Carnacon church. North to the bog, an annual meeting place where families harvested the peat for the winter. This peat (turf) warmed their homes, cooked food for families and animals and heated water for washing. The road West pointed towards Castlebar the capital of Mayo , where the people of Newtown went to sell their farm produce and animals and to buy provisions especially at Christmas. These roads are used in exactly the same way in 2024.

Over the past seven decades the Grotto has served as a meeting point for reciting rosary, for crossroads dancing and in the pre phone era as a meeting point for outings and adventures. We will remember all these traditions at our Community Gathering.

Address
Clogher Heritage Complex Eircode F12 PF99, Co. Mayo