The Little Ark
'I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.'
Fr. Michael Meehan
In the early to mid 1800s, the Landlords in the then Carrigaholt
parish would not permit the building of a church on their land.
Mass was said in tents which were unsuitable in bad weather.
In 1852, Fr. Michael Meehan announced a plan to build a wooden
box with four wheels in which he planned to say Mass. When 'The
Little Ark' was completed, it was brought down to the beach in
Kilbaha, the beach being a 'no-mans land'.
Mass was celebrated and religious instruction given. People were
married there and children baptised. People gathered around 'The
Little Ark' on Sundays, in mud and soaking rain, in the burning
heat of summer and through the frost of winter.
A site was finally granted for a church in late 1856 but Fr.
Meehan refused it because it was on a bog. Pressure was put on the
landlord and a site was granted. The first stone was laid on the
12th of July 1857 at Moneen, a mile from the site where the ark
stood.
The church of “Our Lady, Star of the Sea” was dedicated on the
10th of October 1858. At first the ark was brought to the site and
was used until the church was ready. On the day of the dedication
of the church, Mass was celebrated in the Ark and a crowd of three
thousand people attended the ceremony. It was later placed inside
the church doors to the left, until the present room was added.
Fr. Meehan died on the 24th of January 1878 after spending his
last remaining years working in the parish. On Saturday the 26th
his remains were brought from Kilrush to Carrigaholt and to Kilbaha
by horsedrawn hearse. The coffin was taken out and brought to the
spot where the ark had stood on the shore. On Tuesday February 1st
1878 his body was interred where it remains today, within feet of
the ark.
The Little Ark is preserved in the church at Moneen today.
The Cache
The initial coordinates are those of the Church at Moneen.
The Ark is located in its own room in the church to the left.
You need to visit the Ark and find out how many wheels now support
the Ark. This number is X
The final coordinates are... N52 34.6(9-X)(6+X) W009
52.0(2+X)(8-X)
Cache is a 35mm container and contains a logbook and pencil
Consideration
The Little Ark is housed in an active church. It is in a small
rural community, and whilst not the busiest of churches, you could
find a ceremony in progress, which may prevent you from completing
the cache.
Opening hours are 9am to 10pm. Fixed Mass is Sun 11am, Wed 10am,
Sometimes Sat 12pm, but you could find any ceremony at any
time.
Please exercise courtesy and respect.
