Threemilehouse

Drumsnat Monastic Site & Lake

"St.Molua came, accompanied by some brethren, accompanied by some brethren, from the famous monastery of Comhgall, and reached a certain place called Drumsnat. There he dwelt for some time and performed many miracles"

Bearnard O'Dubthaigh, MA, Clogher Record 1966

The year 2005 was the 1500th Anniversary of the founding of Drumsnat Church and Monastery, the site of which is now a graveyard and a monument. The historians tell us that the monastery was a wooden structure and closely linked with St.Tighearnach's Clones. It was founded by St.Molua, in the early sixth century, who also founded other monasteries like Clonfert and had connections with Selloe and Magheracloone.

The name Drumsnat derived from the fact that St.Molua approached St.Tighearnach about a site for a church and monastery, and was advised to pray and fast and a sign would be given. Following this a hill in Mullanacross was covered in snow in summertime and Molua took this as his sign, and built his church and monastery. Thus the name Drumsnat, with St.Molua's feast day being on the 4th August. St.Cuimmein, an abbot of Drumsnat, is commerated on the 4th of September.

There was a farm of land attached to the monastery and the work day was divided into prayer, study which included writing and translation and manual labour. The lake was also used by them and in recent times archaeologists tell us that there is eveidence of a water mill being used in it, in days gone by.

Eamonn Mulligan
Threemilehouse

• Introduction

Threemilehouse was formerly known as Drumguill (Goll mac Moirn) according to Roddy the Rover. On entering Threemilehouse now a Village - You are greeted with cleanliness and tidiness as they are annual participants in the Tidy Towns Competition and score very well.
Whether you pass through or stop you can't help noticing the changes that have taken place over the years.

The Threemilehouse parochial hall is now a Day Care Centre and gives endless comfort and enjoyment to the Senior citizens who use it every Tuesday and the Alzheimer's group who use it on Fridays. It is also the home of the Threemilehouse women's education and training group where all learning and training takes place.

The Sean McDermott's G.A.C. Complex and sports grounds are the centre of attraction in the village for young and old alike where a variety of sports including badminton, bowls and bingo sessions take place.

Threemilehouse has one of the oldest graveyards in the country called Drumsnat dating back to 600 AD.

Oscar Wilde was associated with the parish and has two sisters buried in a churchyard in the area.

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