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| Mary McNally, South County Scrap Book |
Mary McNally (buried in Saggart) lived in Rathcoole for many years, as did her people before her. Her South County Scrap Book (1999) covers a range of local history topics, including the story of Rathcoole House (see pp.92-96 of the digitized edition which can be downloaded here ). The photo shows the Penal Cross and chalice which were discovered there in 1933, belonging to Fr James Harold, PP of Saggart following the death in 1794 of Fr Simon Barlow (buried in Saggart). He found himself caught up in the 1798 Rebellion and was deported on a convict ship to Australia, arriving in Sydney's Botany Bay on 11 January 1800 -- 225 years ago today. He endured great hardship, especially when transferred to the notorious penal settlement of Norfolk Island (1800-07). In 1810 he was finally granted leave and, in March 1811, went to join his nephew William Vincent Harold O.P. in the cathedral parish of St Mary's in Philadelphia (see their parish newsletter for tomorrow here ). Unfortunately, things did not go very smoothly there for either of them for various reasons despite, no doubt, their best efforts (taking a heavy toll on the already sorely tried 67-year-old Fr James). In the end, in 1815, they both resigned and returned to Ireland. Having served in Kilcullen, Clontarf and Coolock, James resigned due to illness in 1819. He died in 1830 and is buried in Goldenbridge cemetery. (See the Dictionary of Irish Biography and parishioner Mervyn Ennis's article for an Irish-Australian magazine.)
So, a plunge there into the murky waters of Irish history more than two centuries ago. Joyce's phrase, "the nightmare of history" (Ulysses, 1922), must come to mind as we read about people's lives. The American Catholic writer Flannery O'Connor's phrase, "the mystery of our position on earth" can be put into the balance too. The third phrase I'll throw in is that of the French theologian, Yves Congar (1904-1995): "God has a plan for the world. I'm convinced that our ways are guided" (Autumn Conversations, 1987). In the end, it all comes down (does it not?) to this: whether there really is a Divine Providence walking with humanity along the dark road of history towards the final dawning of an all-justifying, all-consoling truth.
