Much
of the details that follow are taken from the book :
"THE CHURCHES OF KILDARE & LEIGHLIN 2000 A.D.
(Drawings
and Research John Duffy, Tullow,
and Edited
by Fr. John McEvoy St. Patrick's College, Carlow)
CHURCH
OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY, TULLOW
The
present Church in Tullow dates back to 1805. Its original shape was Cruciform,
however its current shape is Square.
The
word Tullow (Tullowphelim) contracted from Tullow-offelimy, The Tulach,
or Hill of Felimy, Son of a fourth century king of Leinster.
The
Place was also called Tulach Fortchern, after St. Fortchern who established
schools at Killoughterane and Tullow. His pupil, St. Finian of Myshall, founded
Munny, Aghowle, and Clonard monasteries.
Bishop
Daniel Delaney, (1788-1814) founded the present church having obtained a lease
from Mr. Doyne, the local landlord. As Bishop Dr. Delaney resided in Tullow.
The Rebellion of 1798 caused much turbulence in the Diocese and particularly
in the Tullow area. On the 2nd July, 1798, Fr. John Murphy, the Wexford rebel
leader, and his companion James Gallagher were arrested near Tullow and executed
in the town. In February 1806 Bishop Delaney founded the Brigidine Sisters,
one year later he founded the Patrician Brothers.
Originally
the church title was The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Tower and
steeple were added by Fr. Thomas Nolan in 1833 at a cost of £1,030.
In 1847 the organ which was in use until the 1970's was built, while two stain
glass windows and two side altar were added in 1857. In 1872 Dr. Lynch, coadjutor
Bishop of the Diocese, who lived in Tullow at that time laid the foundation
stone for the convent, and while the chapel was being built the parish church
was redecorated. A joint dedication ceremony was performed by Cardinal Cullen
on Rosary Sunday, October 3rd 1875. The parish church building was dedicated
Our Lady of the Rosary.
The
next major work on the building took place at the end of the 19th century
when the church was again redecorated and a High Altar of alabaster and marble
was erected as a memorial to Dr. Lynch. The altar was consecrated by Bishop
Foley on 1st July 1900. In 1905 the original wooden altar rails were
replaced by a marble rail.
In
1940 when Fr. Foyne was administrator it was found that the building was too
small to accommodate those using it and it was decided to extend the church
by building two flat roofed side aisles. These transformed the building from
a cruciform shape to its present almost square shape. Mr. C. Powell was the
architect and Mr. J. flynn the builder.
In
the 1970's the sanctuary was rearranged under the direction of Mr. Richard
Hurley, Fr. Edward Dowling the Administrator and Mr Jack Halpin the Builder.
The Church was redecorated and rewired at this time. But unfortunately the
roof was gradually deteriorating and in the 1980's it became obvious that
major renovation was necessary. The central roof which may have been the much
patched original roof of 1805 and the flat roofs of 1940 were all leaking
badly. It was decided after much thought and consultation to replace the roof
with one structure. Mr Patrick Campbell was the architect and Mr. James Bolger
the builder. The result of the work is now to be seen in the new building
which incorporates walls from 1805 and the 1940-41 extensions. Fr. Peter Dunne
and Fr. Brendan Byrne led the parish during this time of sacrifice and renovation.
To
Mark Jubilee Year 2000 and the tenth anniversary of the renovation of the
church, a new oak altar, ambo, and chair were installed. The altar was blessed
by Bishop Laurence Ryan in June 2000.
In
preperation for the celebration of the Bicentenary the Church was refurbished
in the Spring of 2005. The interior walls and cealing were repainted, a new
and more efficient lighting system was installed and new carpets were placed
in the main body of the Church. Tiles replaced the carpets in the centre aisle
and aroud the sanctuary and the heating system was improved. A new Baptismal
Font was placed ina new open space beneath the gallery. The rails around Bishop
Delaney'stomb were removed and a plaque in his honour was placed on the side
wall. The plaque in honour of Bishop Corcoran was brought back into the Church.
Two
new stain glass windows were installed, one dedicated to Bishop Delaney and
the two Congregations he founded, the Patrician Brothers and the Brigidine
Sisters, the other depicts the 'Mysteries of Light' and Pope John Paul II.
IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION, ARDATTIN
(Drawing by John Duffy
from The Churches of Kildare & Leighlin 2000AD.)
Ardattin
also (Ard aitinn - Hill of the Furze)
The
present Church in Ardattin dates back to 1956, its style is Romanesque.
The old Chapel of St Patrick which dated back to Penal Times was closed
in 1955 and was converted into a community hall. Bishop Thomas Keogh D.D.
turned the first sod for The Immaculate Conception Church in April 1954
on a site donated to the parish by Mr. Matthew Murphy of Ardoyne, Tullow.
The
Architect for the new Church was Charles Powell and the builders were
D.&J. Carbury from Athy. The building cost £24,000 and all phases
of construction was closely observed by Fr. James Doyle Administrator
of Tullow Parish. Building progressed well and the new Church was opened
and dedicated in 1955 as the Church of the Immaculate Conception Ardattin.
A
new marble altar and ambo were installed to mark The Great Jubilee Year
2000 at a cost of £10, 577.
As you enter the Church grounds through the left hand gate there is a
monument in the form of a large granite and marble candle celebrating
Jubilee 2000 which was put in place by the Ardattin Jubilee committee
and funded by the Taoiseach's National Millennium Fund 2000.
In
2000 also permission was granted by Carlow Council to open the green area
to the right of the Church as a Cemetery, which is now in use.
ST.
JOHN THE BAPTIST, GRANGE
(Drawing by John Duffy from
The Churches of Kildare & Leighlin 2000AD.)
Grange
(Grainseach, a Monastic Granary - Irish word borrowed from Latin "Granaria")
The
present Church in Grange dates back to 1822 its style is Barn Type- Rectangular,
when the Church was renovated by Fr. Patrick Keogh, Administrator Tullow
Parish, in the 1980's the work cost £80,000 while the original Church
cost £100.
In
1148 the Cistercians founded Baltinglass Abbey. The estate headquarters
in Baltinglass was known as the Abbey Demesne, and out-farms were known
as "Granges"
The
Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem staffed the churches of Killerig
and Friarstown from the end of the 12th Century.
The
site for the present church was secured in 1821, and a thatched church 57'x25'
was constructed. Below is an extract from the Carlow Post of November/December
1822
"On
Sunday (22d instant) the first mass was celebrated by the Rev. Mr. CLANCY,
in New Chapel of Upper Grange, on the extremity of the Parish of Tullow.
It stands on that part of the Earl of Besborough's estate usually termed
Slaney quarter, adjoining Killerig; that Nobleman having granted; by free
gift, with that generosity and beneficence, which has always distinguished
him, an acre of ground free for the site of the building, and a School-house;
this is intended as a Chapel of Ease for the accommodation of the extreme
Districts of the Parishes of Tullow, Rathvilly, and Bennekerry, which,
from their remote situation, being very distant from their respective
Parish Chapels, laboured under very great inconveniences with respect
to the hearing of Mass on Sundays and Holy days. It was to remedy this
inconvenience that the Right Rev. Dr. DOYLE granted his special license
and approval to the erection of the present building.--Carlow Post 1822."
Granges
most renowned pastor was Fr. John Patrick Clancy whose initials "J.P.C."
are carved above the main entrance door of the church. Fr Clancy was born
near Wexford c1770 and in 1811 joined the newly formed Patrician Brothers
in Tullow taking the name Brother Patrick. He combined chaplaincy to the
Brothers with pastoral work at Grange, he was the one who was instrumental
in building the church. Fr Clancy died in 1847, there is a pack to his
memory on the inner left hand wall of the church.
During
the years that followed the church was enlarged and the thatched roof replaced
by a slate room.
In
1983 the original church was renovated, re-ordered ,extended and re-dedicated
by Dr Patrick Lennon D.D. Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.
The
cemetery which is part of the church grounds dates back to 1700's.
