Day to remember in Granlahan – launch later this month
Sunday, May 28th was a day to remember in Granlahan.
High up on Kiltullagh Hill, beneath a smiling blue sky, a community came together, old and new friends embraced, and children played.
The day kicked off with filming for Granlahan Tidy Village’s upcoming short film about Kiltullagh Church. Earlier this year, the group were awarded funding to produce a film about the ruined church atop Kiltullagh Hill, the history of the site and its importance to the local community.
Entitled ‘Church on the Hill’, the film aims to provide a visual depiction of the beauty of the site and its significance to the community and its diaspora. Kiltullagh itself is named after the first parish church built on a hill, known as Cill Tulach, which translates literally from Irish to ‘church on the hill’, but before that, the hill began as a pagan worship/burial site. Most historical texts suggest the parish was actually founded by St. Patrick while he was on his way to Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. Kiltullagh Church, which is now in ruins, was erected in 1432 before being destroyed in 1645 by Cromwellian troops.
Over 100 people participated in the filming for ‘Church on the Hill’ on Sunday, May 28th, which is to be released at an official launch night in the local community centre in Granlahan at the end of July. The film is being produced by Western Front Studios and is supported by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2023.
Following morning filming, a beautiful Mass was celebrated by Fr Stephen Farragher (PP, Ballyhaunis). Music and singing was provided by the children of Granlahan National School.
After the ceremony, an official opening of the Granlahan Looped Walk took place. Granlahan Tidy Village have been extremely busy in the last year, undertaking enormous work to encourage walking in the local area, but in particular walking to and from Kiltullagh Church and graveyard.
The group are also hoping to secure funding to carry out conservation works on the Kiltullagh Church structure in 2024. An iDonate page has been set up to aid fundraising efforts, and can be found at idonate.ie/cause/killtulaghhillproject.
To keep up to date with Granlahan Tidy Village and all their projects, follow the group on Facebook.
