Penitential station

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in the SE part of a graveyard (MA088-063002-).
This penitential station is named ‘Labba Patrick’ [Patrick’s bed] on the 1838 and 1929 OS 6-inch maps. The stone paving and walling now visible were constructed in the modern era. The original form of the monument is uncertain; it appears to have encompassed a roughly rectangular area (3.4m N−S; 2.85m E−W) containing stones or bedrock, traditionally thought to have been the resting place of St. Patrick. It was the first station in the traditional ‘pattern’, a ritual of prayers and devotions, which was undertaken at Aghagower. In the 1838 OS Letters, John O’Donovan recorded that ‘at the base of an aged ash tree is Leaba Phatraig or the Bed of Saint Patrick, at which pilgrims commence the Station of Aghagower. I saw an old woman pray at this sacred spot, and I can never forget the enthusiastic glow of devotion to which her eyes gave expression…’ (O’ Flanagan, 457 (225)).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 December 2020

References

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1927 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Mayo collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838. Bray.