Rahan, County Offaly
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Rahan Raithean
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| Parish/Village | |
Rahan Churches
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 Rahan
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| Coordinates: 53°16′50″N 7°36′57″W / 53.280541°N 7.615762°WCoordinates: 53°16′50″N 7°36′57″W / 53.280541°N 7.615762°W | |
| Country |
 Republic of Ireland
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| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Offaly |
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Irish grid reference | N256256 |
Rahan (Irish: Raithean) is a parish and village associated with Mochuda (also known as St. Carthage).
The village is located on the banks of the river Clodagh approximately 8 km from Tullamore in County Offaly, Ireland.
The parish of Rahan extends from The Island near Ballycumber in the north to Mucklagh in the south.
The first monastery in Rahan was created by Camelacus in the 5th century and later re-founded in the 6th century by St Carthage. The ancient monasteries and churches located here are known as the church of St Carthage or St Carthach, and the monastery of Mochuda.
A mass rock (where mass was said while the Penal Laws were in effect) can be found near the Present Catholic Church in the Killina townland, approximately 1 km southeast of the ancient churches. The rock is dedicated to Saint Anthony.
Rahan also has a long association with the Jesuit community who founded a seminary there in the early 19th century (1818) and with the Presentation Sisters who founded a convent and school in the early 19th century (1818 also), both Convent and School have survived to this day. The Presentation Mission to India went out from here in the past.
The monastic site in Rahan contains the remains of church buildings dating from the 11th and 12th centuries and both Protestant and Catholic cemeteries.
In 1732, the Church of St Carthage at Rahan was repaired by the Church of Ireland community for use as a parish church.
Mass is celebrated here once a year on Cemetery Sunday August 15. Access can be gained through a farm gate.
The parish of Rahan comprises 44 townlands: Agall, Aghadonagh, Aghalusky, Backsteel, Ballina, Ballincloghan, Ballincur, Ballindrinan, Ballybruncullin, Ballykeenaghan, Blackwood, Bohernagrisna, Brackagh, Cappaloughan, Castletown, Church Hill, Clonshanny, Corcush, Cornalaur, Currygurry, Deerpark, Derries, Derrinvullig, Derrooly, Derrycooly, Derryesker, Derrynanagh, Glasshouse, Goldsmithslot, Kilgortin, Killaranny, Killina, Kilpatrick, Loughroe, Mountarmstrong, Murragh, Newtown, Oldtown, Rabbitburrow, Rahan Demense, Roscore Demense, Tullybeg and Tullymorerahan.
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Wikipedia