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Diocesan Heritage Project
Rathkeale Parish

History | Churches | Graveyards | Holy Wells | Shrine | Famous People | Townlands | Priests of the Parish

Brief Parish History & Geographical Location

The town of Rathkeale is situated about 14 miles from Limerick City, on the N21 that runs from Limerick to Tralee. Together with the town of Newcastlewest, it is one of the two main centres in the west of the diocese. The importance of Rathkeale as a centre can be traced back to the foundation of an Augustinian priory in the town in 1289. Its location on the river Deel added to its influence in the area. The arrival of the Palatines also contributed to the development of Rathkeale.

The Palatines were Lutheran refugees who fled from the Rhenish Palatinate of Germany due to an invasion by the French. They came to the area in 1708-09 under the patronage of Lord Southwell. Approximately twelve hundred Palatines came to settle in the area and their new ideas in farming were a large contributing factor to the development of the town. Rathkeale was also a major market town for the area and held seven fairs throughout the year.

The name Rathkeale comes from the Irish 'Ráth Caola' and it is believed to be derived from Ráth gCaeli, which means "the fort of the Caeli" or "the Rath of Caola". The Caeli were a Celtic tribe who came from this area of Limerick. The parish of Rathkeale is made up of the old parishes of Rathnasaire and Kilcoleman.

The Earls of Desmond used Rathkeale as a base. Castle Matrix was the principal stronghold of the Desmonds in the area and was built in or around 1410 by the Fitzgeralds of Desmond. In October 1580, two famous visitors came to stay at Castle Matrix. They were the poets Edmund Spenser and Walter Raleigh.

Sir Nicholas Malby burned the town of Rathkeale in 1579 after he defeated the forces of John, Earl of Desmond. John and his forces fled to Rathkeale from Manister where Malby had earlier defeated the Irish.

Captain Walter Raleigh ambushed the Irish, who were about to plunder what was left of the English camp once the troops had left. He received the freedom of the town in 1580, as a reward. Raleigh also repaired the castles at Rathkeale (Desmond's) and Matrix. The lands of the Munster Geraldines were in the main divided up amongst Spenser, Raleigh and Edmund Southwell. Raleigh gave some 'Virginia Tubers' as a present to Southwell. Southwell planted the tubers in the land around Castle Matrix and, in 1610, the crop was distributed throughout the province of Munster.

In 1654 Cromwell fixed the town as the place for the election of the counties of Limerick, Cork and Kerry for his parliament. However, Cromwell changed his mind on this point when the town refused to supply his army with sufficient provisions of food.

In the past church appointments were sometimes challenged by the local gentry. In 1748 the parish priest Fr. James Moore died. Henry Southwell lead opposition to the appointment of a number of priests by Dr. Lacy and finally the position of parish priest was successfully held by David Bourke who lived in the parish until his death in 1762.

In 1846 a hoard of coin was discovered in Rathkeale. These coins were minted during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). It is believed that the coins may have been part of the spoils of the O'Briens victory at Monasteranenagh in 1370.


Churches

The present church in the town is dedicated to St Mary. J.J. McCarthy of Dublin designed the church in a Gothic-revival style during James O'Shea's term as parish priest from 1864 to 1877. However, Fr O'Shea died in 1877 and did not get to see the spire. The tower and spire of the church were completed in 1881 by Archdeacon Halpin, who dedicated them to the memory of his predecessor James O'Shea. The church bell was installed in 1882. The architect of the church, J. J. McCarthy, was also the architect of the church of SS Peter and Paul in Kilmallock, which was built in 1878.

A large marble plaque by the right side door mentions all the donors and their donations to the church. The Magnor family donated the site of the church and the graveyard. Patrick Hartigan and his family donated the Stations of the Cross to the church in 1874.

There are three plaques in the church, one of which commemorates Dean Costello's 70 years as a priest, while the other two are in memory of two former parish priests of Rathkeale; William Molony who died on November 7th 1901 and Archdeacon Halpin who was parish priest from 1877 until his death in 1884, aged 74. At the back of the church on the right there is a mosaic of the Angel Gabriel that was given to the church by General and Mrs. Lloyd of Beechmount. The mosaic was given in memory of their only child T. H. Eyre who was a Captain of the Coldstream Guards. Eyre was killed at Brakeenlaagte; Transvaal, South Africa during the Boer War on October 31st 1901, aged 30.

Inside the church on the left there is a shrine to Jesus on the Cross. A three-sectioned stained glass window was erected in 1973 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Rathkeale church. The three sections depict (from left to right) the keys of Heaven, the Holy Spirit and the Body and Bread.

The next stained glass window is also in three sections and depicts the Queen of Heaven, Jesus and an Apostle, and the dove of peace/the Holy Spirit. Underneath the window a plaque asks people to pray for Nora McMahon and her family.

Another stained glass window shows scenes from the Rosary, which shows the Assumption of Mary into Heaven and the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb in the left panel. The middle panel depicts Jesus on the mountain with Elijah and Moses and Pentecost Sunday. The right panel shows Mary, Queen of Heaven and the Ascension into Heaven. The inscription under the window asks that people pray for Minnie Madigan and her relatives.

Over the Confessional on the left-hand side, there is a large stained glass window that was the gift of a number of families in the parish. Again the stained glass window is divided into three sections. The left section has three levels which depict (from the top) St Matthew and St Mark, St John the Baptist and St Augustine and St Ambrose. The middle section shows St Dominic, St Patrick and St Liguori while the right section depicts St Luke and St John, St Helen and St Jerome and St Gregory.

Near this stained glass window, there are two plaques. The first plaque tells us that Patrick Hartigan and family gave the Stations of the Cross in 1874. There is also a plaque to Dean Canon Costello PP who was a Dean from 1964 until 1989 when he resigned both titles. The plaque also states that Dean Canon Costello celebrated 70 years as a priest on June 20 1995. Dean Costello died on June 17 1996. Over the plaque there is a picture of the Sacred Heart.

There is an altar to Sacred Heart at the top left of the church. Over the altar of the Sacred Heart, there is a stained glass window of Mary, Jesus and Joseph. To the left of the altar there is a stained glass window of the Annunciation and the Sacred Heart appearing to St Margaret Mary.

At the top of the church on the right there is an altar to the Virgin Mary. Also in the church there is an Adoration chapel. At the back of this small chapel there is a stained glass window of the Lamb of God that is to the memory of Dean Thomas Costello PP.

The High Altar depicts the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary, the crowning of Mary and the Nativity. There are a number of stained glass windows in the apse which are (from left to right) St Paula, St Jeanne de Chantal, St Marcella, St Charles Borromeo, the Immaculate Conception, St Thomas Aquinas, St Winifred, St Francis Xavier and St Margaret. Viscount Southwell donated this window

Murals underneath these stained glass windows depict a number of saints: St James the Great, St Francis, St Philip Nero, St Maria of Pisa, St John, St Anne, St Catherine, the Lamb of God with a flag, St David, St Susanna, St Thomas, St Mary Magdalene, St Robert, St Elizabeth and St Charles Borroma. This mosaic work was at the bequest of W. J. Hayes.

There are small stained glass windows to the right of the altar. They depict the Virgin Mary, St James the Greater, St Munchin and St George. Fr James O'Shea PP of Rathkeale donated these windows. There is a small stained glass window of an angel on either side of the altar.

The stained glass windows above the choir gallery show Christ the King in the small centre window with underneath (from left to right) St Patrick, St Bridget, St Bertha the Abbess and St William the abbot. Lord Emly, William Maunsell, donated the window in 1873.

On the right hand side of the church there is a stained glass window showing three scenes from Moses' life: Moses being found as a baby, the burning bush and the Ten Commandments. The inscription on the window is to Patrick Slattery and his family.

There is also a stained glass window in memory of Garda Peter Macauley and his wife Mary Josephine. The window shows the Sermon on the Mount. The parishioners erected a stained glass window of the Parable of the Farmer sowing seed to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Dean Thomas Costello who celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination in 1985.

James J. McCarthy, the architect of the church, also donated a stained glass window. On the left, this window depicts the Last Supper and Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus. The middle panel shows the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The right window depicts Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss and the cutting off of the servant's ear. Underneath this scene there is a depiction of the Washing of the Feet at the Last Supper.

The large stained glass window in the right transept is divided in three sections with three levels to each section. The middle level shows St Brigid, the Blessed Virgin and St Timothy. The rest of the window shows the Twelve Apostles with the words of the Apostles Creed throughout the window.

Buried in the grounds of the church are:
Dean Michael A. O'Donnell
P.P. Rathkeale 1901-1937
Died 1937, aged 82

Canon Cornelius Mangan
P.P. Rathkeale 1937 - 1948
Died June 26th 1948

Archdeacon W.J. Carroll
P.P. Rathkeale 1948 - 1964
Died June 2nd 1964


There are some older church sites in the parish. Ballyallinan church is better known as the church of Beinid or St Bernard's church. The site of this small church is near St. Bernard's well. The church is in good condition and an altar has been erected in the body of the church. Large crowds attend Mass when it is said here each year on August 20th, the feast day of St Bernard.

Rathnaseer church is about two miles south of Rathkeale. This ruin is overgrown by trees and bushes but it is still visible from the roadside. Westropp measured the nave and chancel in 1905 as 37 feet by 23 1/2 feet and 19 feet by 16 1/2 feet. In the past Rathnasser was a parish.

Robert Waspayl reputedly gave the church of Rathkeale to the abbey of Keynsham in Somersetshire between the years of 1212 and 1228. This church was burned by the English lead by Malby in 1579. The Protestant church was built in 1831 near the site of the former church.

Westropp also mentions a church called Kilcolman Superior in the parish of Rathkeale. The townlands of Kilcolman East and West are also in the parish of Knockaderry/Cloncagh. There was also a church in Kilsmattyre, which according to Westropp, the Rev. J. Dowd said might have been 'Castlematrix' near Rathkeale. However, no such church is now known.

Abbey

The abbey is situated at the upper end of the Main St. and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the instructions of its founder Gilbert Harvey and his descendant Eleanor Purcell. It was founded in 1289. Augustinians from the Order of St Aroasia officiated at the Abbey. It was claimed that in 1436, St. Mary the Virgin worked several miracles here. The abbey was granted to Sir H. Wallop after the death of the prior of the abbey Gerot Baluff in the Desmond Rebellion. The monastery was officially suppressed in 1542 but it is thought that a small community of canons may have remained there until 1581. The abbey is in good condition and Muintir na Tire renovated it in 1970.

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Graveyards

There is a large graveyard beside the church in Rathkeale. The oldest headstone that we came across dated from 1877. This headstone is dedicated to Fr James O'Shea who was a former parish priest of Rathkeale from 1864 until his death. The headstone is written in Latin and the date is written in roman numerals.

In the centre of the graveyard in Rathkeale there is a large cross. This Jubilee cross commemorates the mission that was given by the Passionist father in October 1875. The inscription on the cross also mentions the fact that it was the 30th year of the reign of Pope Pius IX.

There were two others headstones of interest that we came across in Rathkeale. One headstone recalls the short life of Sean Finn, Brigadier Commandant who was killed at Ballyhahill on the 30th of March 1921 at the age of 22. There is a headstone that shows the resting-place of the late Dean Costello, who was parish priest in Rathkeale from 1964 until his death in 1989.

On the road to Cappagh, there is a new graveyard that has been opened in the last few years. It is noted for the elaborate headstones erected by the travelling community. There was also a graveyard in Kilcolman still in use in 1840. Westropp mentions a burial place in the townland of Bealduvroga.


Both Catholics and Protestants are buried in the graveyard of the Anglican Church.

The oldest Catholic headstone that we found was dated from 1759 and was erected by John Clancy in memory of his father Richard Clancy, who died aged 40 on the 4th of August of that year.


There is a graveyard around the church in Rathnasser. The graveyard, like the church, is in a state of disrepair and is overgrown. However, there are still a number of headstones standing in the graveyard. The oldest headstone that we could read was from 1825 and it was to the memory of Joseph Ginnan who died on September 18 of that year aged 20.

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Holy Wells

In the parish of Rathkeale lies St Beinid's well. This well is sometimes called St Benedict's well, and according to Danaher it may be one and the same well as St Bernard's.

St Bernard's well is a large clear pool of water that is surrounded by ash trees. There are many different springs in the well that bubble up visibly into the pool, and locals say that the well has never dried up 'even in the warmest of summers'. The well is on the land of the Keating family and John Keating donated the altar that stands in the church ruin of St Beinid. Large crowds still visit the well on August 20th, the feast day of St Bernard, and on Good Friday.

It is claimed that water from the well can cure rheumatism, lameness and sore eyes. Rags can still be seen tied to the trees behind the well. Danaher also tells us that sometimes nails were driven into the trees as an offering. As with a large majority of wells in Limerick, legend says that the well moved when clothes were washed in it.

In the townland of Cloghanarold, there was a Holy Well called Tobernawatha. This well used to be in the parish of Doondonnell. It was situated about 400 yards from the ruins of Doondonnell church. Begley believed that the well was dedicated to St Molua. The location of the well is now unknown.

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Shrine

As you leave the town of Rathkeale, there is a shrine to the Virgin Mary that was erected in the Marian year of 1954.

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Famous People

Sean O'Driscoll came to live in Ireland in 1962 and restored Castle Matrix. The castle now has a library containing a collection of original documents relating to the "Wild Geese", who left these shores during the 17th and 18th centuries to serve in the armies of Europe. Castle Matrix's name may be derived from Caisleán Bhun Traísce but Sean O'Driscoll attributed the name to an association with the Matres or Matrone. The Matres were triple mother-goddesses of the Pagan Celts, a type of pre-Christian Trinity.

Sean O'Driscoll served in the U.S. Air Forces during WWII. In 1945 he engineered the first defection from behind the Iron Curtain, the escape of Theodore Wilhelm Schmidt. He served for a short time as aide to Brigadier-General Charles Lindbergh. O'Driscoll also worked with John Wheeler, who was the first to discover black holes and was the co-discoverer of Uranium 235 with Niels Bohr.

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Townlands

English Name Irish Name Meaning
Abbeylands Cluain na mBráthar The meadow of the friars
Ardbohill Ard Bhuachaill High place of the herdsman
Ardnanean Ard na n-Éan The high place of the birds
Ardnaveagh Ard na bhFiadh The high place of the ravens
Ballyallinan North Baile Uí Áilíonáin The town of Ó hÁilíonáin
Ballyallinan South as above  
Ballybrown Baile an Bhrúnaigh The town of An Brúnach
Ballyea Baile Uí Aodha The town of Ó hAodha
Ballyea Wood as above
Ballynamucky Baile na Muicí The town of the swineherds
Ballywilliam North Baile Liaim The town of Liam
Ballywilliam South as above  
Ballywilliam Demesne as above  
Ballywinterrourke Baile Mhuintir Ruairc The town of Muintir Ruairc
Ballywinterrourke Wood as above  
Bealduvroga Béal Átha Dobhróige The fordmouth of Dobhróg
Beechmount Demesne Cnoc Feá  
Blossomhill Cnoc Bláithche Hill of buttermilk
Castlematrix Caisleán Bhun Tráisce The castle of Bun Tráisce
Cloghanarold Cloch an Araltaigh The stone structure of An tAraltach
Cloghatrida Cloch an Choitréadaigh The stone structure of An Coitréadach
Courtmatrix Cúirt Bun Tráisce The court of Bun Tráisce
Curraghnadeely Currach na Daoile The wet land of An Daoil
Doonbeirne Dún Beirn The fort of Bearn
Dromard Demesne An Drom Ard The high ridge
Duckstown Baile na Lathach The town of the muddy place
Englishtenements Tithe na Sasanach  
Enniscouch Inis Cuais Island of the hollow
Graigue An Ghráig The hamlet
Islandboy An tOileán Buí The yellow island
Kilcoleman East Cill Cholmáin The church of Colmán
Kilcoleman West as above  
Kilcool Coill Chúl Meaning uncertain
Killeheen Cill Eichín The church of Eichín
Knockaunavad Cnoc Bhan an Bháid The hill of the lea-ground of the boat
Kyletuan Coill tSeán The wood of Seán
Loghill Leamhchoill Elmwood
Moanwing An Mhóin Bhán The white bogland
Parklewis Páirc Lobhaois  
Ranahan Raithneachán Place of bracken
Rathkeale Ráth Caola The rath of Caola
Rathkeale Commons as above  
Rathnaseer Ráth na Saor The rath of the craftsmen
Reens East Roighne Thoir Meaning uncertain
Riddlestown Baile an Ridéalaigh The town of An Ridéalach
Rylanes Na Réileáin The level tracts
Stoneville Fearann Rí Meaning uncertain
Wolfesburgess East Burgáiste an Bhulbhaigh  
Wolfesburgess West as above  

 

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List of Priests

Year Parish Priest Curate(s)
1704 – c.1719 James Stritch  
c.1719 - 1748 James Moor  
1748 - ? Nicholas Molony  
? - 1762 David Bourke  
1762 - 1771 Laurence Nihill  
1771 - 1779 Denis Conway  
1780 - 1800 Thomas H. O’Sullivan  
1800 - 1808 Denis Cronin  
1808 - 1814 Charles Tuohy  
1814 - 1822 John Lee  
1822 - 1836 Thomas Hogan  
1837 Thomas Hogan Daniel McCoy
1838 Thomas Hogan Daniel McCoy
1839 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
1840 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
1841 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
1842 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
1843 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
    John Clarke
1844 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
    Richard Noonan
1845 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
    Richard Noonan
1846 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
    Richard Noonan
1847 Thomas Hogan Daniel Synan
    Richard Noonan
1848 Thomas Hogan Richard Noonan
    James O’Shea
1849 Richard Walsh Richard Noonan
    James O’Shea
1850 Richard Walsh Richard Nunan
    Patrick Duhigg
1851 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Patrick Duhigg
    Timothy Keane
1852 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Patrick Duhigg
    Timothy Keane
1853 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Patrick Duhigg
    Timothy Keane
1854 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Timothy Keane
1855 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Timothy Keane
1856 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Timothy Keane
    James Moran
1857 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Timothy Keane
    William Toumy
1858 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    John Quaid
1859 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    John Quaid
1860 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    Michael Walsh
1861 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    John Kelly
1862 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    John Clifford
1863 Archdeacon Michael Fitzgerald Luke Glesson
    J. L. Roche
1864 James Raleigh James Moran
    John O’Sullivan
1865 James O’Shea John O’Sullivan
    John Carrick
1866 James O’Shea John O’Sullivan
    J. L. Roche
1867 James O’Shea J. L. Roche
    Thomas Nolan
1868 James O'Shea James L. Roche
    Joseph Keating
1869 James O’Shea James Molony
    Joseph Bourke
1870 James O’Shea James Molony
    Thomas Nolan
1871 James O’Shea James Molony
    James Potter
1872 James O’Shea James Potter
    John Canty
1873 James O’Shea James Potter
    John Canty
1874 James O’Shea James O’Shea
    Edmond Tracey
1875 James O’Shea James O’Shea
    James Moran
1876 James O’Shea James O’Shea
    Edward Russell
1877 James O’Shea James O’Shea
    Edward Russell
1878 John Halpin Edward Russell
    Michael Potter
1879 John Halpin Edward Russell
    Michael Potter
1880 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1881 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1882 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1883 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1884 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1885 John Halpin Michael Potter
    Thomas Liston
1886 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1887 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1888 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1889 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1890 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1891 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
    G. O’Connor
1892 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
    G. O’Connor
1893 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
    G. O’Connor
1894 Archdeacon John Halpin Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
    G. O’Connor
1895 William Molony Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1896 William Molony Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1897 William Molony Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1898 William Molony Thomas Liston
    Jeremiah Murphy
1899 William Molony Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1900 William Molony Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1901 William Molony Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1902 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1903 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1904 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1905 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1906 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1907 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
1908 Michael O’Donnell Jeremiah Murphy
    John Connolly
    Patrick Thornhill
1909 Michael O’Donnell John Connolly
    Patrick Thornhill
    John Kelly
1910 Michael O’Donnell John Connolly
    Patrick Thornhill
    Arthur O’Leary
1911 Michael O’Donnell John Connolly
    Patrick Thornhill
    Arthur O’Leary
1912 Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1913 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1914 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1915 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1916 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1917 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1918 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1919 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1920 Canon Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1921 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William O’Dwyer
1922 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Arthur O’Leary
    William P. Harty
1923 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell William P. Harty
    Timothy Murphy
1924 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell William P. Harty
    Timothy Murphy
1925 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Timothy Murphy
1926 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Timothy Murphy
    J. J. Lane
1927 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Timothy Murphy
    J. J. Lane
1928 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Timothy Murphy
    J. J. Lane
1929 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell J. J. Lane
    Michael O’Brien
1930 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell J. J. Lane
    Michael O’Brien
1931 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell J. J. Lane
    Michael O’Brien
1932 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell J. J. Lane
    Michael O’Brien
1933 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell J. J. Lane
    Michael O’Brien
1934 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Michael O’Brien
    James Moloney
1935 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Michael O’Brien
    James Moloney
1936 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Michael O’Brien
    James Moloney
1937 Mgr. Michael O’Donnell Michael O’Brien
    Patrick Lynch
1938 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Thomas Costello
1939 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Thomas Costello
1940 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Thomas Costello
1941 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Thomas Costello
1942 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Thomas Costello
1943 Canon Cornelius Mangan Patrick Lynch
    Timothy Culhane
1944 Canon Cornelius Mangan Timothy Culhane
    Daniel O’Callaghan
1945 Canon Cornelius Mangan Timothy Culhane
    Daniel O’Callaghan
1946 Canon Cornelius Mangan Daniel O’Callaghan
    Thomas Costelloe
1947 Canon Cornelius Mangan Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1948 Canon Cornelius Mangan Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1949 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1950 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1951 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1952 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1953 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1954 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1955 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1956 Canon William J. Carroll Thomas Costelloe
    Gerard Enright
1957 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
1958 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Michael Purtill
1959 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Michael Purtill
1960 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Michael Purtill
1961 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Michael Purtill
1962 Canon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Patrick Fitzgerald
1963 Archdeacon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Patrick Fitzgerald
1964 Archdeacon William J. Carroll Gerard Enright
    Patrick Fitzgerald
1965 Thomas Costelloe Patrick Fitzgerald
    David Wall
1966 Canon Thomas Costelloe Patrick Fitzgerald
    David Wall
1967 Canon Thomas Costelloe Patrick Fitzgerald
    David Wall
1968 Canon Thomas Costelloe Patrick Fitzgerald
    David Wall
1969 Canon Thomas Costelloe Patrick Fitzgerald
    David Wall
1970 Canon Thomas Costelloe David Wall
    John Irwin
1971 Canon Thomas Costelloe David Wall
    John Irwin
1972 Canon Thomas Costelloe David Wall
    John Irwin
1973 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
1974 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
    Anthony Elliott
1975 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
    Anthony Elliott
1976 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
    Anthony Elliott
1977 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
    Anthony Elliott
1978 Canon Thomas Costelloe John Irwin
    Anthony Elliott
1979 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    David Kennedy
1980 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    David Kennedy
1981 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    David Kennedy
1982 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    David Kennedy
1983 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    David Kennedy
1984 Canon Thomas Costelloe Anthony Elliott
    Maurice Costello
1985 Canon Thomas Costelloe Maurice Costello
    Anthony O’Keeffe
1986 Dean Thomas Costelloe Maurice Costello
    Anthony O’Keeffe
1987 Dean Thomas Costelloe Maurice Costello
    Anthony O’Keeffe
1988    Dean Thomas Costelloe Maurice Costello
    Anthony O'Keeffe
1989 Dean Thomas Costelloe Maurice Costello
    Anthony Elliott
1990 David MacNamee Maurice Costello
    Muiris O’Connor
1991 Canon David MacNamee Maurice Costello
    Muiris O’Connor
1992 Canon David MacNamee Maurice Costello
    Muiris O’Connor
1993 Canon David MacNamee Maurice Costello
    Muiris O’Connor
1994 Canon David MacNamee Muiris O’Connor
1995 Canon David MacNamee Patrick O’Sullivan
1996 Canon David MacNamee Patrick O’Sullivan
1997 Canon David MacNamee Patrick O’Sullivan
1998 Canon David MacNamee Patrick O’Sullivan
1999 Joseph Dempsey Patrick O’Sullivan
2000 Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2001 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2002 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2003 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2004 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2005 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2006 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell
2007 Canon Joseph Dempsey William Russell

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.

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