Drumballyroney Church of Ireland; St. John's

Drumballyroney parish church is a plain rectangular building with a square tower and is situated on the Hill of the O'Rooneys in Aughnavallog townland, two miles north north east of Rathfriland .This land was once the property of the O'Roney Clan who were bards for the Clan Magennis of nearby Rathfriland; Drumballyroney graveyard was the burial place of the Rathfriland Magennises. Their coronation site was the nearby hill of Knockiveagh.

Ballyroney Presbyterian Church in Ballyroney village

The meeting house of Ballyroney, is situated in the village of Ballyroney, in the townland of Lackan, on the road between Rathfriland and Dromara.

The old church was built in 1708 when the Presbytery of Armagh formed a new congregation outside of Rathfriland. The first minister was Rev James Moor who was ordained 25 Aug 1709 til his death in 1738 . Then Rev. Robert Thompson 1782- 1743; Rev. Samuel Thompson 1749-1751; Rev. Alexander Neilson 1751- 1782; Rev. William Fletcher 1783- 1824; Rev. Alexander Heron 1826- 1865. The church was described in 1836 as a plain, slated roofed rectangular building with two galleries inside, capable of holding 500 people. Its dimensions were 77 feet by 52 feet in a T shape. A stone tablet on the eastern wall reads; " A Neilson, 1769 ". Another says,"Rebuilt by subscriptions in the year 1832, Alexander Heron, Pastor. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, Ecclesiastics V 1." The Rev. Heron lived in Ballybrick townland and had an income of £100 per year.
The next minister was Rev William Wylie 1866- 1879 then Rev. William Shepherd from 1880 then Rev. Ernest H. Williamson from 1917 then Rev. Robert T. Rutherdale from 1923 then Rev. S. Rushton Jamison from 1926 then Rev. D. McCay Lyttle from 1930.
The new church was built in 1928 on the same site.

Brookvale Presbyterian Church- Convenanters
in Grallagh Greenan townland, on the Loughbrickland to Rathfriland road

This meeting house was built in 1833 and paid for by subscription. It was capable of holding 400 people. It was rebuilt in 1894.

Records are available-Baptisms, 1891-1968; marriages, 1867-1936 ; no graveyard

Magheral Catholic- Church of Mary Immaculate

in Lisnavahrog townland
4km north of Rathfriland on Katesbridge Rd

This chapel was built in 1807 by Rev. James McKey and paid for by subscription. It was capable of holding 500 people. It was replaced in 1857 and renovated in 1930 & 1965.
Graveyard attached; graves from 1807

Newspaper article from Newry Commerical Telegraph:
Very Rev. John Sproull Keenan riotously & unlawfully assembled outside Magheral Chapel with 63 men 1 Jul 1845

This photo was taken 1999 and is the view from Drumballyroney Hill looking east with Tirkelly townland in the middle distance.

Katesbridge

The scattered village is 7km N of Rathfriland and was named after Kate McKay who was born in Ballyroney in 1691 then went to live here with her grandmother and fed the men working on the bridge nearby.

Mill Street developed around McMasters Mill which drew its water from Widows Dam on Orange Hill . There is a Presbyterian church in the village and an ancient motte 17ft high by 30 ft across signifying it was a strategic position.The Hawthorn Inn is at the junction of Ardbrin Road and Tanvally Road. The Post Office is on Manse Road. Katesbridge National School ,opened in 1886, was unique innot being attahed to a church. but administered by the Ministry of Education. Click here for a photo of Katesbridge Railway Station on the Banbridge- Ballyroney line .

There's an ancient motte 17ft high by 30 ft across here.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
fatal affray, Daniel McArdle stabbed 7 Apr 1866;