CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ARDATTIN
GOLDEN JUBILEE 1956 - 2006 11th June 2006
First wedding Margaret Fitzpatrick married Michael O'Byrne on 27th June 1956
Priests of the Parish of Ardattin 1956 to 2006
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ADMINISTRATORS |
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James Doyle 1956-1958 |
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Michael Kaye 1958-1972 |
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Edward Dowling
1972-1976 |
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Patrick Kehoe
1976-1984 |
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Peter Dunne 1984-1989
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PARISH
PRIEST |
Brendan Byrne
1989 to date |
CURATES |
Joseph Flemming 1957-1958 |
Sean Kelly 1962-1971 |
Thomas O'Malley 1971-1978 |
William Murphy 1978-1983 |
Brian Maguire S.PS. 1983-1988 |
Thomas Little 1988-19996 |
William Byrne 1996-2003 |
Rory Nolan 2003-2005 |
Andy Leahy 2005 to date |
SACRISTANS |
Mrs. Christine Storey |
Mrs Kathleen Doyle |
Mrs Gretta Gorman |
Mrs Mary Browne |
Mrs Ellen O'Neill since
2001 to date |
Fr Joe Flemming, Fr. Eddie Kelly, Ellen O'Neill and Fr Lar Flemming
Church
of The Immaculate Conception
Ardattin, County Carlow.
The site for the new church was donated by Mr. Matthew Murphy of Ardoyne, Tullow, with the first sod being cut in April 1954.
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Keogh, laid the foundation stone on the 22nd August 1954, the Feast of The Immaculate Heart of Mary. This was an appropriate choice, given that 1954 was the Marian Year.
The new church replaced the old Chapel of Ease nearby, built in or about 1750 and dedicated to Saint Patrick. This is now the Community Centre.
The church is built in the Romanesque style and comprises a six bay single cell, with paired round-headed window openings. There is a three-bay gabled projecting open porch, buttresses and chancel. The interior features a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Charles Powell, Architect, designed the church and the builders were Messrs. D. & J. Carberry of Carlow and Athy.
The church was blessed and opened by Dr. Keogh on Sunday 13th May 1956 at a ceremony attended by very large
crowds, who came from all over the area. It seats c. 300 persons and featured an altar donated by Michael Murphy of Newstown, Stations of the Cross donated by Kilbride GAA Club in memory of Edward Butler of Ballinastraw (a former player) and the fine marble altar rails donated by Edward and Michael Donohoe of Thomhill.
Of particular interest are the three stained glass windows, showing the Sacred Heart, Mary Mother of God and Saint Joseph. These were originally presented to the old church by Brother Boniface Carroll of Ballinastraw in memory of Eugene and Honoria O'Neill, his uncle and aunt, and were subsequently incorporated into the present church. They therefore form what is probably the only visible tangible link between the old and new buildings. Brother Boniface went on to become Superior General of the Order. The church also contains a priedieu, once owned by the late Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801 to 1890) and donated by Major & Mrs. Stanley Barrett of Ballynoe.
A new marble altar and ambo were installed in the church to mark the Great Jubilee 2000, together with the Millennium Candle erected in the grounds.
Today, Trinity Sunday, 11th June 2006, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered in memory of all of the parishioners and their families, both past and present, who have graced this church over the past fifty years. The chief celebrant is Bishop Jim Moriarty.
Three of the four brought out from Tullow for the opening of the new church
The four original servers with Bishop Moriarty
The Gorman/Kelly Family
Lily O'Neill cycled here today and fifty years ago
