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St.
Farnan's Shrine, Dunaltan |
| St. Farnan's Altar, Penitential Bed and Grave are in Dunaltan, a detached |
| townland of the parish of Templeboy. This was a noted place of pilgrimage in the |
| 7th century and in the 13th century "Life" records that many pious persons made |
| pilgrimages to Alt Fharannain. The woods surrounding the Cave, or St. Farnan's |
| Bed, as it was called was held in great reverences. On the mound on which the |
| statue of Farnan stands there is a huge pile of same stones carried there from |
| the riverbed by pilgrims as part of the traditional "Station". The statue |
| on the site, which is said to mark the Saint's burial place, was blessed in 1960. |
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Methods of Performing Station |
| You start the Station facing the sea and do it from left to right. Go three times |
| round the mound on bare knees and say a Rosary each time, then three times |
| walking with a Rosary each time. Go then to the rock where Farnan prayed and |
| slept and say any prayers you wish for your intentions and in honour of the saint. |
| Then go up the slope to the wells and at the foot of the first well say three Hail |
| Marys' and drink from the well, at the second three Hail Mary's and wash your |
| eyes and at the third wash your knees and say three Hail Mary's. Go then to |
| the rock where Farnan said mass and say the Rosary aloud with others. Then |
| go along the cliff and down the river, get three pebbles and for each say a |
| Hail Mary. Take the pebbles to the Saint's grave; throw them on the mound |
| with a Hail Mary for each, asking for your intention. |
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