Donaghmore Catholic Churches
Barr Hill, St. Mary’s Church in Townland of Carrickrovaddy
There are two Roman Catholic churches in ‘the Glen’, one in the townland of Carrickrovaddy, and the other in that of Ballyblaugh.
The former is situated on Barr hill, and is generally known as Barr Chapel. It is dedicated to St. Mary-the Blessed Virgin. The present church edifice was built in 1835, and renovated in 1908, at considerable cost. Mrs. William Walmsley (Rachel-sister of James Savage), of the Mount Mills, bequeathed the handsome sum of 1000 pounds towards the work of restoration. (She died February 8, 1910.) The church is a fairly handsome and substantial structure. A graceful spire would add much to its comely proportions. The interior possesses a finer ecclesiastical aspect than the exterior, while the beautiful window erected by James Savage, in memory of his parents, adds considerably to the effect.
The Parochial House stands close to St. Mary’s. It was erected when Father Felix Magennis was Parish Priest (1900-5), and owes much to his tireless energy and perseverance. It is impossible to compute the cost of erection (which must have been very considerable), as the parishoners, apart from their generous contributions, did much in the way of carting material, and so forth. The House is a fine and fairly commodious structure, and commands a magnificent view of the Mourne Mountains and other beautiful scenery-being situated on one of the highest elevations in the parish-viz. ‘Barr’ hill= (‘Barr’ signifies in Irish ‘the hill-to,’ and is equivalent to the English, ‘hill-head’). The following item occurs in Griffith’s or the Government valuation of 1839, under the head of exemptions:-‘Carrickrovaddy-Roman Catholic chapel yard, 12 pounds 16s. 4d.
Church of St. John the Evangelist ‘Glen Chapel’ in Townland of Ballyblaugh
The church in Ballyblaugh is known locally as ‘Glen Chapel.’ The present church edifice, which was erected in 1863, is a neat and solidly built structure-without any ecclesiastical pretensions in the way of architecture. The panel on the front gable (surmounted by a Celtic Cross) bears the following inscription; ‘Church of St. John the Evangelist, erected and dedicated A.D. 1868.’
The old stone cross which was erected on the former building is still preserved, and stands on a granite pedestal in the churchyard.
Two handsome mural tablets adorn the walls of the interior, erected to the memory of two faithful and devoted priests. These bear, respectively, the inscriptions;
(1)
SACERDOS IN AETERNUM.
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
REV. JOHN MCDONNEL, P.P.,
DONAGHMORE,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 21ST DAY OF
APRIL 1870,
AGED 65 YEARS,
HAVING FAITHFULLY DISCHARGED
THE SACRED DUTIES OF THE PRIESTHOOD
FOR THE PERIOD OF 30 YEARS
AND AS P. PRIEST OF THIS PARISH
FOR 19 YEARS.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
This tablet, of marble, is placed inside the altar rails (north side), and surmounted by a Roman cross of the same material, bearing the monogram I.H.S. in the centre.
(2)
DONAGHMORE
In
Memory of
The Rev.
Felix McLaughlin,
P.P. Glenn,
Born in 1827,
Ordained August 15th, 1850,
Appointed P.P. Glenn in 1870,
Died 30th January 1901.
Requiescat in Pace.
Amen.
This marble tablet, which is placed outside the altar rails (south side), is surmounted by a Celtic cross, and projects about six inches from the wall.
We have no official list of the succession of the parish priests, but the following are among those who held the position on or about the dates mentioned:
1704, July 11. The Rev. Cormack O’Huyre. Father O’Huyre received Orders in the year 1672 from Archbishop Oliver Plunkett (Armagh). He was aged fifty-five years in 1704. This priest belonged to the family of O'’are-a name, as we have seen, which still figures prominently in Glen. Cormack, which has been Anglicised ‘Charles,’ is a favourite Christian name among the O’Hares.
1704.-The Rev. James MacDonnell.
At this date Father MacDonnell was parish priest of Aghaderg and part of Donaghmore. He was then aged thirty-six years, and resided in Dromentian (Dromantine) townland. He received Orders in the year 1692 from Bishop Patrick Russell (Dublin).
1790.-The Rev. John O’Hagan.
Father O’Haggan was the father of Felix O’Hagan, J.P., and old and much respected merchant of Newry, who still survives.
He was educated in France, but at the period of the French Revolution (when Christianity was declared abolished) he and other Seminarists fled to Ireland and landed in Cork. John O’Hagan, though once more in his native land, was ‘stranded’ in the city of Cork, still wearing his French costume. The good citizens of Cork, however, came to his help with money and a ‘new suit,’ when he embarked for Kilkeel, and from thence made his way (probably on foot) through the Mourne Mountains (vid. The Deer’s Meadow) to his native parish of Clonduff. He was subsequently admitted to Orders by the Bishop of Dromore, and shortly afterwards became parish priest in Glen.
He died about 1810, aged (about) 70 years.
1824.-The rev. John Carter. He died in 1844.
1844.-The Rev. Martin Ryan.
Father Ryan was a member of the first Dispensary Committee (1848), and took a keen interest in the medical relief of the sick poor.
1855. The Rev. John McDonnell.
Father McDonnell was a very popular parish priest, and took a warm interest in all that concerned the welfare of his own and other parishoners. He was a member of the Dispensary Committee in 1858.
1869.-The Rev. Felix McLaughlin, appointed by the Most Reverend Dr. Leahy. Father McLaughlin (the family spell the name McLoughlin, but we adopt that on his tablet) was educated at St. Colman’s Seminary (Newry) and at Maynooth. He was ordained priest by the Most Reverend Dr. Blake, Bishop of Dromore in 1850, and was subsequently curate (at least) in Dromore, Tullylish, and Cargory. Father McLaughlin was a most kind, good-natured priest of the old school, from whom the writer received many tokens of friendship.
1901.-The Rev. Felix Magennis.
His work in Glen is well worthy of record, for during the few years he was parish priest, not only was the
Parochial House erected (as we have seen), but the restoration of St. Mary’s Church was successfully accomplished.
1906.-The Rev. Patrick McConville is the present respected parish priest, and is assisted by his nephew, as curate, the Rev. Edward McConville.
There are 145 families in connection with the two churches.
Glen has given the Church some well-known and distinguished priests.
Monsignor O’Hare, L.L.D., Rector of St. Anthony’s Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, was born on Barr Hill about sixty-three years ago. St. Anthony’s is one of the finest churches in Brooklyn, and Glen may feel proud of the distinguished Monsignor who is its rector.
Another Glen man is the Rev. John O’Hare, son of the late James O’Hare, of The Rock, Knockanarney.
Father O’Hare was born in 1854, and is still in the prime of life. He had successful college career, and having been admitted to Orders by the Bishop of Dromore, he held in succession the following important curacies, viz. Loughbrickland, Barnmeen, and (in 1891) the Newry Cathedral. In 1908 he was appointed parish priest of Dromara, and in 1907 he was promoted to the important position of parish priest of Dromore, Co. Down, succeeding Monsignor McCartan, a most excellent priest, and a warm friend of the writer, when he was curate of the Dromore Cathedral.
Another deservedly popular and successful priest (a native of Glen) is the Rev. Hugh McEvoy, a brother of Arthur McEvoy, J.P., of Drumiller. Father McEvoy held in succession the curacies of Loughbrickland, Warrenpoint, and Lurgain, and , quite recently, has been appointed parish priest of Maralin, where his superior talents and good qualities will be much appreciated.
From J. Davison Cowan book titled "Donaghmore, An Ancient Irish Parish, Past & Present" published in 1914.
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