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History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Shrine | Bicentenial Plaque | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
Brief Parish History & Geographical Location
The village of Croagh is situated on the N20, roughly midway between Adare and Rathkeale. The population of the parish is around of 1,100.
The Irish for Croagh is Cruach, which means 'a rounded hill'. In the past Croagh was called Mayncroo. By 1109, Croagh had an abbey and two castles. After the defeat of James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, Lewis says that James stayed one night at Amigan castle, which is now in ruins. According to Begley, in 1678, the then bishop of the diocese, Dr. James Dowley ordained priests from the famous school in Croagh.
Kilfinny is from the Irish Cill na Fionaí
or Cill Finche, which means "the church of the wood". However,
it is more commonly translated as "the church of St. Finneach".
There were two women saints called St. Finneach. One founded a church in Knocktopher
in Co. Kilkenny and the other came from what is now Co. Down. To confuse the
issue further, the patron saint of Kilfinny is St. Ciarán. This St.
Ciarán is from Clonmacnois and his feastday is on September 9th.
The original church in Kilfinny was built in 1790. When it was first built
the roof was thatched and the church has been rebuilt three times since 1790.
It is dedicated to St Kieran.
As you enter the church, the doors contain stained glass windows of St Ciarán on the right and St Finneach on the left. This is a large church with a high ceiling. To the left of the altar there is a statue to the Sacred Heart and on the right, there is a statue to Blessed Virgin.
Over the altar, which is wooden, there is a depiction of the
crucifixion that includes the Irish phrase "I líontaibh dé
go gcastar sinn" which means, "May we be caught up in the net
of the Lord". Painted on the wall behind the altar are shoals of fish
swimming into the tabernacle.
The church in Croagh was built in 1830, and is dedicated to St John the Baptist. On the left wall of the nave of the church, there is a wooden carving, which depicts the baptism of Jesus by John. There is a statue of Our Lady in the grounds of the church.
To the left of the altar there is a statue of the Sacred Heart.
There is a statue of the Virgin Mary on the right. The stained glass window
behind the altar depicts the Blessed Virgin, the Sacred Heart and John the
Baptist. The stained glass window in the porch depicts John the Baptist baptising
Jesus. On the floor in front of the altar, there is a crest of the Lamb of
God.
Buried in the grounds of the church are:
Canon John Kennedy
P. P. 1962-1985
Died March 28 1985
William J. Mulcahy
P. P. 1892-1927
Died December 7 1927
Canon Timothy Murphy
P. P. 1929-1961
Died December 22 1961
There are church ruins in Kilfinny in the townland of Ballynakill. Westropp measured the church ruins, which consists of a nave and choir as 40 feet by 18 feet and 15 feet by 14 feet. The walls are 12 feet by 3 feet and in 1810 the choir was rebuilt and used as a burial place for the Pigott family. The ruins are now surrounded by a graveyard.
There is a church ruin in Croagh in the townland of Adamswood. This church was a collegiate church but prior to that, this was the site of an Augustinian abbey. According to a plaque on the abbey wall, this abbey was used as a seminary for a number of centuries. The abbey was founded around the 10th century and was used by a religious order called the Augustinians Canons. The chancel was still in use when Westropp visited the site in the early 20th century. The church was cruciform in shape and had been used as a Protestant church from the 18th century until the 1830s.
Begley mentions a chapel in Lismuck (now called Lisnamuck)
but neither Begley nor Westropp give any details or site of this chapel.
There is a new graveyard at the back of the church in Croagh.
The old graveyard in Croagh is in the grounds of the abbey.
The oldest headstone that we found was from 1802 and it was in memory of Denis
Smith who died on January 1st of that year at the age of 28.
In the graveyard in Ballynakill, the oldest headstone that
we found was to Michael Foley who died on April 23rd 1794, aged 26. However
inside the church ruin we found a headstone that was broken in a number of
pieces. This headstone was in memory to Anne Pigott who died May 28th 1683.
It appeared that this headstone was originally on a pedestal near the wall
of the church.
Holy Wells
According to Danaher, there are three wells in the parish. In the Croagh division
of the parish there are two wells. In the townland of Ballinvira the well
is called Toberreendoney. This well is in a field and is just besides a stream.
In the past visits were made before sunrise on Sundays. The well was famous
for the cure of sore eyes and is said to be connected in some way with St
Ita. According to local tradition, a woman was cured of blindness at the well.
The other Holy Well in Croagh is in the townland of Ballymacave and is called St James' Well. The feastday of the well was the 25th of July and crowds came to the well at dawn on the eve of the feastday.
The well is believed to have been on the bank of a stream but has disappeared due to the water from the well being incorporated into to a drainage scheme. Rags were hung on nearby bushes. The water cured St James' Evil, which Danaher tells us is scrofula, if applied by someone called James between sunset and sunrise. Scrofula is the development of glandular swellings and consumption, which is also called the king's evil.
The well in the Kilfinny part of the parish is in Ballynakill townland and is called St Ciarán's well. This well is besides the church ruin in Ballynakill. The well has steps leading down to the water level.
The rounds were mainly made on September 9th, the feast of St. Ciarán. The rounds took place partly in the graveyard and partly around the well. The water is believed to cure sore eyes and St. Ciarán's footprints are said to be visible on one of the stones at the well.
Shrine
In the Marian Year 1988, the Costello family erected a shrine to
the Virgin Mary. This shrine is near the abbey in Croagh, facing towards the
N20.
Bicentenial Plaque
This plaque was unveiled on 9th September 1990, the feast of St Ciaran to
commemorate the bicentenary of Kilfinny church.
| Irish Name | Meaning | |
| Adamswood | Coill Adaim | The wood of Adam |
| Amogambeg | Áth Mhongáin Beag | The ford of Mongán |
| Amogammore | as above | |
| Ardnapreaghaun | Ard na bPréachán | The high place of the crows |
| Ballincurra | Baile an Churraigh | The town of the wet land |
| Ballinvira | Baile an Mheidhrigh | The town of An Meidhreach |
| Ballycannon | Baile Uí Chanainn | The town of Ó Canann |
| Ballyfoleen North | Baile Phóilín | The town of Póilín |
| Ballyfoleen South | as above | |
| Ballyea | Baile Uí Aodha | The town of Ó hAodha |
| Ballylin | Baile Uí Fhloinn | The town of Ó Floinn |
| Ballymacave | Baile Mhic Ádhaimh | The town of Mac Ádhaimh |
| Ballymackeamore | Baile Mac Aodha Mhóir | The town of big Mac Aodha |
| Ballynakill | Baile na Cille | The town of the church |
| Ballynagool | Baile na gCúil | The town of the corners |
| Ballynaguila | Bealach na Gaibhle | The way of the fork |
| Clogh East | An Chloch | The stone structure |
| Clogh West | as above | |
| Cloonoul | Cluain Abhall | Meadow of the apple trees |
| Commons | An Coimín | |
| Croagh | Cróch | Meaning uncertain |
| Fihidy | Na Fichidí | The twenties |
| Gortfadda | An Gort Fada | The long field |
| Gortreagh | An Gort Riabhach | The streaked field |
| Kilfinny | Cill na Fíonaí | The church of the wood |
| Killea | Cill Liath | Grey place |
| Kiltenan North | Cill tSeanáin | The church of Seanán |
| Kiltenan South | as above | |
| Knockdromin | Cnoc Dromann | Hill of the ridge |
| Lisnamuck | Lios na Muice | The enclosure of the pig |
| Milltown | Baile an Mhuilinn | The town of the mill |
| Newpark | An Pháirc Nua | |
| Old Court | An tSeanachúirt | The old court |
| Raheen | An Ráithín | The small rath |
| Year | Parish Priest | Curate(s) |
| 1704 -? | William Huonhy | |
| ? -? | Ambrose O’Connor | |
| ? - 1757 | George Browne | |
| 1757 - 1772 | Sylvester Mulcair | |
| 1772 - 1806 | Michael Kiely | |
| 1806 – 1848 | Maurice Hogan | |
| 1837 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1838 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1839 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1840 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1841 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1842 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1843 | Maurice Hogan | Patrick Benson |
| 1844 | Maurice Hogan | James McMahon |
| 1845 | Maurice Hogan | |
| 1846 | Maurice Hogan | Timothy Corkery |
| 1847 | Maurice Hogan | Timothy Corkery |
| 1848 | Maurice Hogan | Timothy Corkery |
| 1849 | John Meehan | James McCarthy |
| 1850 | John Meehan | Thomas Walsh |
| 1851 | John Meehan | Thomas Walsh |
| 1852 | John Meehan | |
| 1853 | John Meehan | |
| 1854 | John Meehan | John O’Neil |
| 1855 | John Meehan | John O’Neil |
| 1856 | John Meehan | John O’Neil |
| 1857 | John Meehan | John O’Neil |
| 1858 | John Meehan | James Moran |
| 1859 | John Meehan | James Moran |
| 1860 | John Meehan | John Fitzgibbon |
| 1861 | John Meehan | John Reeves |
| 1862 | John Meehan | John Reeves |
| 1863 | John Meehan | C. McCarthy |
| 1864 | John Meehan | Thomas Duggan |
| 1865 | John Meehan | Daniel Ryan |
| 1866 | John Meehan | ? Clifford |
| 1867 | John Meehan | Thomas Benson |
| 1868 | John Meehan | Eugene Sheehy |
| 1869 | John Meehan | Eugene Sheehy |
| 1870 | John Meehan | Stephen Danaher |
| 1871 | John Meehan | Stephen Danaher |
| 1872 | John Meehan | Stephen Danaher |
| 1873 | John Meehan | Stephen Danaher |
| 1874 | John Meehan | Stephen Danaher |
| 1875 | John Meehan | Timothy Kelly |
| 1876 | John Meehan | Timothy Kelly |
| 1877 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1878 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1879 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1880 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1881 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1882 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1883 | John Meehan | John Hallinan |
| 1884 | Patrick Carroll | Daniel Crotty |
| 1885 | Patrick Carroll | Daniel Crotty |
| 1886 | Patrick Carroll | Daniel Crotty |
| 1887 | Patrick Carroll | Daniel Crotty |
| 1888 | Stephen Danaher | Daniel Crotty |
| 1889 | Stephen Danaher | |
| 1890 | Stephen Danaher | |
| 1891 | Stephen Danaher | |
| 1892 | Stephen Danaher | |
| 1893 | William Mulcahy | |
| 1894 | William Mulcahy | |
| 1895 | William Mulcahy | |
| 1896 | William Mulcahy | |
| 1897 | William Mulcahy | |
| 1898 | William Mulcahy | John Conway |
| 1899 | William Mulcahy | Martin Carroll |
| 1900 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Carroll |
| 1901 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Carroll |
| 1902 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Carroll |
| 1903 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Carroll |
| 1904 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Carroll |
| 1905 | William Mulcahy | John Conway |
| 1906 | William Mulcahy | John Conway |
| 1907 | William Mulcahy | John Conway |
| 1908 | William Mulcahy | John Conway |
| 1909 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1910 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1911 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1912 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1913 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1914 | William Mulcahy | Michael Leahy |
| 1915 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1916 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1917 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1918 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1919 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1920 | William Mulcahy | Patrick Ryan |
| 1921 | William Mulcahy | Thomas Mortell |
| 1922 | William Mulcahy | Thomas Mortell |
| 1923 | William Mulcahy | H. O’Connor |
| 1924 | William Mulcahy | H. O’Connor |
| 1925 | William Mulcahy | W. Boyce |
| 1926 | William Mulcahy | W. Boyce |
| 1927 | William Mulcahy | W. Boyce |
| 1928 | W. Boyce | |
| 1929 | Timothy Murphy | William O’Grady |
| 1930 | Timothy Murphy | William O’Grady |
| 1931 | Timothy Murphy | Michael Minahan |
| 1932 | Timothy Murphy | Michael Minahan |
| 1933 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1934 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1935 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1936 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1937 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1938 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1939 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1940 | Timothy Murphy | James O’Byrne |
| 1941 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1942 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1943 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1944 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1945 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1946 | Timothy Murphy | Gerard Enright |
| 1947 | Timothy Murphy | Patrick O’Dea |
| 1948 | Timothy Murphy | Patrick O’Dea |
| 1949 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Patrick O’Dea |
| 1950 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John Fitzgibbon |
| 1951 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John Fitzgibbon |
| 1952 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John Fitzgibbon |
| 1953 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Thomas O’Donnell |
| 1954 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Thomas O’Donnell |
| 1955 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Thomas O’Donnell |
| 1956 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Thomas O’Donnell |
| 1957 | Canon Timothy Murphy | Thomas O’Donnell |
| 1958 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John McCarthy |
| 1959 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John McCarthy |
| 1960 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John McCarthy |
| 1961 | Canon Timothy Murphy | John McCarthy |
| 1962 | John McCarthy | |
| 1963 | John O’Kennedy | John McCarthy |
| 1964 | John O’Kennedy | T. O’Donnell |
| 1965 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1966 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1967 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1968 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1969 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1970 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1971 | John O’Kennedy | |
| 1972 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1973 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1974 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1975 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1976 | John O'Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1977 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1978 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1979 | John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1980 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1981 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1982 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1983 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1984 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1985 | Canon John O’Kennedy | Gerard McNamara |
| 1986 | Liam Kelly | |
| 1987 | Liam Kelly | |
| 1988 | Liam Kelly | |
| 1989 | Liam Kelly | |
| 1990 | Liam Kelly | |
| 1991 | David Kennedy | |
| 1992 | David Kennedy | |
| 1993 | David Kennedy | |
| 1994 | David Kennedy | |
| 1995 | David Kennedy | |
| 1996 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 1997 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 1998 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 1999 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2000 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2001 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2002 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2003 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2004 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2005 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2006 | Anthony Mulvihill | |
| 2007 | Anthony Mulvihill |
The list of Priests from 1704 to 1836 is compiled from information gained
in Begley's History of the Diocese of Limerick Vol. III page 598. The remaining
years are compiled from the Catholic Directories. Information contained in
a directory of any given year refers to what happened the previous year. For example
if a priest is recorded in the 1954 directory as being in a particular parish,
this would mean that he was actually there in 1953.
History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Shrine | Bicentenial Plaque | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
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