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The
Church of the Immaculate Conception The First church at the end of the Penal times was sited approximately where the entrance to the Parish Priests house now stands. It faced Boherbee and had the usual East-west axis that churches possessed where it was possible. The Parish Clerk inhabited nearby. An active supporter of Daniel O'Connell, William Fitzgerald was the last pastor. The present church was built by public subscription in 1828 by Fr. Thomas Coll P.P. and friend of Daniel O'Connell. The original church consisted of a nave and two transepts.
The Earl of Devon donated the site along with £1,400(About half of the cost) on the condition that that the towns people gave voluntary labour and the farmers would give time and stones. The church had three galleries one each transept, one of the nave. It was built on a North-South axis with the front of the church facing the river. On Fr. Coll's death in 1857, he was buried in the church. A marble mural commemorates his involvement in the construction of the church. His successor Dr. Brahan died in 1861 so Dr. O'Brien succeeded him and it was he who decided that the church was to be extended and altered. It was during his term that the Gothic Style facade with it's impressive rose window was erected.
A lady's chapel and a new sanctuary were also added, after Dean O' Briens death in 1885, another storey was added to the bell tower and a bell was erected. In 1894 stained glass windows depicting the sacred heart of Jesus,, St. Brigid, St. Ita, St. Patrick and St. Munchin were put into a gothic window behind the high altar in memory of him.
Canon Patrick Lee restyled the
church during his term as Parish Priest between 1918 and 1931, this
included the addition of separate sacristies one for nuns and the other
for priests. Canon Daniel O'Brien P.P. 1964 - 1979, and Canon Edmond O'Dea
P.P. both contributed to the up keep and modernisation of the church. A
holy water fountain inside the main door of the church is dedicated to Patrick Sheehy
and his wife Bridget. |
