Pilgrims set sail

TWENTY years after what became an annual mass was celebrated on Canon Island, on the Shannon Estuary off Kildysart, pilgrims made their yearly journey to the island last Sunday afternoon.
The mass was celebrated by outgoing parish priest Fr Neil Dargan, who has been moved to O’Callaghan’s Mills recently.
Dozens of pilgrims made the journey to the island last weekend. Canon Island is about 1½miles east of Kildysart situated at the confluence of the Shannon and Fergus. It was anciently called Elanagranoch and in the 12th century Donald O’Brien, king of Limerick, founded or rebuilt a priory here for Canons Regular of the order of St Augustine.
The ruins, which are situated at the north-eastern extremity of the island, consist of a square tower and a considerable portion of the body of the building, which is said to have covered a quarter of an acre.