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The Late Canon Michael Erwin
| The Late Canon Michael Erwin was the late parish priest for forty years in
Castlemahon. He was born in 1835, and he was ordained a priest .By far the greater
part of his missionary life was spent in the parish of Mahoonagh. His charity
to the poor knew no bounds, he died on the 30th January 1919, and his remains
were laid at St. Nicholas Church. |
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Old
Abbey and Graveyard
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The old Abbey is situated at the centre of the
parish graveyard. It is built in 1499, but as records weren't kept until 1811,
it is difficult to establish the true facts of what took place at the Abbey. According
to local historians, the old Abbey at Mahoonagh was attacked in 1579, by Queen
Elizabeth's fleet. Monks and soldier's mistakenly believed they would be safe
in the Abbey, as it was holy ground. This was Mahoonagh's darkest hour in history.
A plaque was recently erected in memory of those who died in the raid.
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The Old Church
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The old Church in the graveyard are the ruins
of the Ancient Church. In 1851 the Queen's fleet reached the coast of Ireland
and made no delay in commiting several henious atrocities up and down the country.
In 1837 the Church on the site of the school was described as a modern building.
According to tradition a thatched building existed in the same site.
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The New Church
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On Thursday 26th of May 1960 Rev. Dr. Murphy
laid the foundation stone for a new Church in Castlemahon. The old Church which
it replaced was built over a hundred years ago. The foundation must have been
faulty, and pins were inserted to keep the walls straight. Experts who examined
the building considered that it was unlikely to hold up anymore than a few years.
They ordered that the transept galleries should be closed and the gallery should
be supported by additional props. The new Church was blessed and opened by the
Bishop of Limerick Rev.Dr.Murphy on Sunday the 3rd of September1961. The new Church
is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and to St. Nicholas.
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