Date: 09 Apr 2025
Official Opening of Father Hegarty Shore Walk Public Artwork and Refurbishment Project - Friday 4th April 2025
There was a large attendance at the official unveiling and blessing of the Father Hegarty Public Artwork and shore path refurbishment project at Father Hegarty’s Rock, Buncrana, Co Donegal on Friday 4th April, 2025.
Mr Bryan Cannon, designated Director for the Inishowen Municipal District, Donegal County Council, as Master of Ceremonies, said that it was a very special day for the local community, the Clergy, and the Elected Members and Staff of Donegal County Council. He said that Donegal County Council and the Community were honoured by the presence of His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry.
The €80,000 project delivered through Donegal County Council’s Community Development and Planning directorate working with Buncrana Tidy Towns was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Community Recognition Fund. Our Rural Future 2021-2025. The core objective of the fund is to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities, in recognition of the contribution made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting families arriving from other countries.
In addition to the Public Artwork, the refurbishment investment project included the following capital works.
Works included the restoration of Porthaw Holy Well including the stone wall, improved accessibility, an information panel with a digitalised image of the statutorily-protected archaeological early-centuries wheeled cross, refurbishment of Father Hegarty’s Memorial, the installation of seating and picnic benches and drainage improvements, and the installation of interpretation panels.
The figurative artwork by the talented Artist Rory Harron was commissioned by Donegal County Council responding to the truth and legend around Father Séamus (James) Hegarty OP, a Dominican Friar, Dean of the Diocese of Derry, and Parish Priest of Fahan and Desertegney in Inishowen, Co Donegal.
Father Séamus Hegarty was ordained a Dominican Friar by Saint Oliver Plunkett in Dundalk in 1672 and became Parish Priest of Fahan in 1704. In the same year, the Irish Parliament passed its ‘Irish Penal Laws Poperty Act’, a set of edicts and penalties designed to suppress the practice of Roman Catholicism in Ireland.
Father Hegarty was a Martyr for the Catholic Faith in Inishowen during Penal times. While ministering to his people, he had to hide in a cave. His violent death came about when he was firstly betrayed by a family member, secondly captured when, after an attempted escape by swimming Lough Swilly, he returned to the shore on the Red Coats’ assurance that he would be safe but was then finally beheaded by the same British Red Coats at a location which has become known locally as Father Hegarty’s Rock.
The Artwork was unveiled by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy and His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
Charlie McConalogue TD said that he was delighted to have been invited to the wonderful coastal walkway around Father Hegarty’s Rock looking out onto Lough Swilly in Co Donegal.
He said “This project promotes inclusion, wellness and equality for all. It will ensure that Fr Hegarty’s Shore Walk will continue to provide a save, tranquil special place with breath-taking views which he said has a special place in the hearts of many locals and indeed for all visitors to the area”.
He said that the improvements have created an even more enjoyable and welcoming space for the whole community and surrounding areas to engage. He added that the project will improve accessibility, increase visitor enjoyment and enhance the overall appeal of the area, with the provision of a historic piece of artwork, improved access to Fr Hegarty’s memorial, the installation of picnic benches, seating and drainage improvements.
The Minister stated that to date County Donegal has been allocated funding of over €6.5 million under the Community Recognition Fund administered within the Department of Rural and Community Development under Minister Dara Calleary. He added that €80,000 was allocated for the overall project, including the installation of the historical piece of artwork and capital refurbishment improvements.
Minister McConologue congratulated Donegal County Council staff and all parties involved for the tremendous efforts in delivering this project. He said that the collaboration, dedication, and drive is truly admirable and the people of Buncrana and beyond are already enjoying the benefits the funding has brought.
The Minister said that the project at Fr Hegarty’s Shore Walk is a testament to what can be achieved when all sectors of the community work together and he looked forward to seeing the impact of the funding will have on the ground here in County Donegal for locals and visitors . We also heard words from some of the other dignitaries who were in attendance: Councillor Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach, Inishowen Municipal District; The Most Reverend Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry; The Very Reverend Francis Bradley, Parish Priest; and Father Damian Polly, OP, Dominican Friar and Prior of the Black Abbey, Kilkenny. Also on the platform were Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, Diocesan Administrator in the neighbouring Diocese of Raphoe, and Superintendent Shaun Grant of the local district of An Garda Síochána.
Cllr Jack Murray stated that the new figurative statue is an incredible addition to the iconic and beloved Father Hegarty’s Walk. He stated, "It is an extremely proud day for me as Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen MD, and it is also an extremely proud day for the community of Buncrana. This new installation will undoubtedly become synonymous with this area, telling the story of the Friar and will be enjoyed by thousands of people for many years to come." He praised the talented Artist Rory Harron from Inishowen, Co. Donegal and stated that his “amazing talent as an artist will be recognised at this location for generations to come.”
The Cathaoirleach paid tribute to the dedication and hard work of Donegal County Council, Community Development staff who made this project possible.
The Most Reverend Donal McKeown, the Bishop of Derry, then addressed all present. He mentioned how, “This island has known many conflicts where religious identities – among other things – have been used (and allowed themselves to be used) in confrontations between powerful people.
In this country we have had to learn to look on the past, not to fuel fires of resentment but to nourish hope for the future; and the encouragement comes from remembering generous figures in the middle of the mess and murder of conflict. It is important to remember not mainly those who shed the blood of others but those who were prepared to shed their own blood. … It was in an effort to build God’s kingdom that the Dominican Priest and Friar Séamus Hegarty gave his ultimate witness to hope.”
A blessing and dedication ceremony then ensued. A passage from the Epistles of Saint Paul was read by Eva Graham, a grand-niece of the landowner, Terry Gallagher. The setting of the piece, “I am the Vine, you are the branches” was led by Ms Andrea Long and the members of the Scoil Naomh Iósaf Community Choir and then Father Damian Polly read a very poignant passage from the Sermon on the Mount listing The Eight Beatitudes, so apt for the time and the place, the message and the moment.
Bishop McKeown blessed a stoup of water which had earlier been taken from the Porthaw Holy Well by the Apostolic Nuncio as he made his way on foot to the ceremony. This was then used to bless and dedicate the statue itself. The Choir sang A Mhuire Mhathair.
Father Francis Bradley, the present-day successor to Father Hegarty as Parish Priest, then introduced the laying of the wreath portion of the ceremony, reflecting on the different types of martyrdom which has dotted the history of the Church and still inspire people today. A beautiful laurel wreath, the symbol of Martyrdom, was then laid by Father Damian Polly, Dominican Friar and Prior of the Black Abbey, Kilkenny and local school children Sarah McLaughlin and PJ McDaid from Scoil Naomh Iósaf, the Illies, and Andrew Porter from Scoil Íosagáin in Buncrana, all to the strains of a lament played by the Uillean piper Chris McMullan.
Father Francis Bradley continued his remarks; he mentioned how Padraig Pearse had chided his listeners with the words, “Tír gan teanga, Tír gan anam” – that a country without a language is a country without a soul. And so, he concluded by quoting from John Millington Synge’s famous Riders to the Sea where Moírr or Moya, the mother says of the deaths of her children, “No man at all can be living for ever, agus caithfidh muid a bheidh sásta le Toil Dé – and we must be satisfied with the will of God.”
In his closing remarks, the Apostolic Nuncio and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor said, “It is true that memory sometimes breeds bitterness and the desire for retribution. This, however, can poison a human life entirely and make it sterile. It is when we look to the past with forgiveness in our hearts that we find the exhilarating energy to move beyond it and build together a new and better world. The landscape around us has not changed very greatly, we can suppose, since the days of Father Séamus. It remains largely immutable. What has changed, I am confident, is the inner landscape of our minds and hearts. Even as Fr. Seamus closed his eyes in dying agony to this world, his vision, which was that of a man of strong faith in the Risen Christ, was set on that new and better world to which we are invited, and not just in the afterlife but beginning in this life as well.
My own fervent wish and my prayer is that our commemoration on this day may stretch dynamically beyond a past moment that saddens us and may embrace, today, the joyful opportunities we have to create, with God's help, the new reality that Father Séamus envisioned as he drew his final breath among us.” This drew to a close the formal addresses of the day.
Mr Bryan Cannon, Director of Service expressed a special word of gratitude to the property owner, Mr Terry Gallagher, who resides in Chicago and whose family have been associated with the area of Porthaw and Father Hegarty’s Rock going back to the time before Penal Laws. Mr Gallagher’s brother Liam and sister Una were in attendance and Terry sent his best wishes stating that, “It is incredibly rewarding to me to see this project completed. It will serve as an Educational Tool to remind the present-day generations of the oppression, difficulties and struggles our ancestors endured so that future generations could become successful. It will awaken in the young a sense of pride in their history and in the place they come from.”
Cllr Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach Inishowen Municipal District expressed his gratitude to the Buncrana Tidy Towns and a very special recognition to the Chairperson Mr Gerard Porter. Two former Councillors, Rena Donaghy and Nicholas Crossan, were acknowledged for their support for the project.
He also thanked Owen and Michael Doherty from North West Memorials for their complimentary pro bono restoration of the plaque marking the spot where Father Hegarty was martyred.
“This project will help sustain and preserve the natural, beautiful, seascape and landscape, telling the story of the history and heritage associated with Buncrana’s magical, well-loved Father Hegarty’s Walk and treasure located on the banks of the majestic Lough Swilly fjord and the Lake of Shadows. We are all creating a legacy here today for future generations”
The beautiful singing and music was performed by Ms Andrea Long and the child and adult members of the Scoil Naomh Iósaf Community Choir; the reading by Eva Graham; the pipe music from Chris McMullan, Uillean Piper, and the Harpist was local lady and renowned musician, Tracey McRory.
Mr Bryan Cannon, designated Director for the Inishowen Municipal District, thanked everyone for attending the ceremony. He gave a special thanks to The Very Reverend Francis Bradley, Parish Priest, for all his great work and assistance in the preparation for the blessing ceremony and event.
The event was drawn to a close by the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann.
