Statues of the Saints

Designed by local artist Bernie O'Mara, and funded by Mayo County Council, the statues of the two saints, Cormac and Daria, welcome visitors to our village with open arms.

Cormac was a Munster missionary, who came to Connacht in the seventh century. A contrary and awkward man, he found no welcome until he came to Daria, abbess of a monastery by the banks of the Owenmore river. She received him hospitably, providing the weary cleric with milk rather than the water he had become used to receiving. With gratitude, Cormac blessed the abbess and her lands, so that they would abound in Milch cows (fertile cows in their first year of calving). Thus, Magh Gamhnach or the plain of the milch cows became the name of these lands and church, and later the parish thereafter.

Behind the saints is Carn National School, the only school now in the parish, and across the road is the GAA stadium and Community Centre of Moygownagh GAA club. The landscaping of the village with trees, flowers and shrubs was carried out in 2019, by the Community Council, funded by the Irish Department of Rural and Community Development, through the 2018-9 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and in partnership with Mayo County Council.