Churches in the Parish of Dungannon

Church of St Patrick, Dungannon (1876)

Part of the site presently occupied by St Patrick’s was leased, in 1799, from Lord Ranfurly (the local Landlord) at a cost of just over £2 per year. 

 

The parish priest at the time was  Rev. Henry Conwell who later became Bishop of Philadelphia in the United States.

 

In 1865 Dean Felix Slane leased a further 31 perches from Ranfurly to build a larger and more permanent structure to accommodate the growing Catholic population.  Among the conditions of the lease there was a stipulation that no part of the property was to be used as a burial ground nor was any dwelling house to be built of stone unless for the use of the Master or Mistress of a school.

 

The architect employed for the project was the outstanding J.J. McCarthy who was responsible for the completion of cathedrals and churches all over Ireland including those in Armagh, Monaghan, Dublin, Maynooth, and Derry.  The builder was Thomas Byrne, Belfast and the cost excluding the tower, spire and furnishings was £7,720.   The work began in 1867 and the church was dedicated and opened on ... Read More

Church of St Malachy, Edendork (1814)

The first Chapel, built by voluntary labour in 1814, was a simple structure with a thatched roof.  According to  a strong local tradition the roof was blown off in a storm and for a number of years Mass continued to be said in the roofless building.  Extensive renovations were carried out in 1850 under the direction of Dean Slane.  The stone came from local quarries.  The contractor was Thomas Byrne and many local men worked on the Chapel.  The new Chapel was dedicated in the Spring of 1851.  Originally there were two main doors to the chapel, but one was later built up.  

In 1931 the Chapel underwent an extensive renovation and for a period of time the parishioners attended Mass in the old school at the gate.  The Chapel was reopened on the first Sunday of Advent in 1931.

In 1953 the Chapel again underwent extensive renovations under the direction of Dean John Quinn.  Further smaller renovations continued in 1970 when the sactuary was reconstructed in accordance with the Second Vatican Council.  

The Chapel was again refurbished in 2015 under the direction of Dean Colum Curry and reopened to parishioners on 13 September 2015.

Church of St Brigid, Killyman (1786)

The Church of St Brigid Killyman built in 1786 is the oldest church in the parish of Dungannon.

The name Killyman comes from the Irish "Cill na mBan", which means "The Church of the Women".  The four townlands of Laghey, Kinnego, Moyrow and Moybeg were church lands and it is probable that they were attached to a Convent of Nuns, possibly the ancient Abbey of Na Fearta in Armagh.

When the parishes of Ireland were marked out in the 12th century, Killyman emerged as a little parish in its own right.  Originally the parish of Dungannon was known as the parish of Killyman, Drumglass and Tullyniskin.

The first church built on the site was most likely of stone with at thatched roof, however, records from a Topographical Dictionary of Ireland in 1837 note that the R C Chapel is a neat stone building roofed with slate.

The chapel was reconstructed and renovated in 1930 under the guidance of Dean Michael Quinn.  The cost of the work came to £1845-00.

As a result of a bomb explosion on Sunday 29 July 1973 the chapel suffered severe structural damage to the roof and walls.  All the windows and doors were destroyed and the altar and gallery were demolished.  All of the fixtures and fittings such as seats, stations of the cross and statues were seriously damaged.  The Chapel was rebuilt and was officially reopened in July 1975 by His Eminence Cardinal Conway and Monsignor Dean John Quinn.

The Chapel was updated once again in 1986 and on Sunday 28 September 1986 the Bi centenary (200th anniversary)of this little chapel was marked by a special concelebrated Mass with His Eminence Cardinal Tomás O'Fiaich as princiapl celebrant.

Church of Sacred Heart, Clonmore (1837)

The Chapel in Clonmore was built in 1837.  The exact circumstances of the building of Clonmore chapel are not certain, but it appears the old Church was at Mulnakill, in or about the present old graveyard which is still there.  It is said that the Verner family who owned the estate at Mulinakill, known as Churchhill, wanted all the land there for their own use - for a fish pond! - they gave permission for a Church or Chapel to be build on their lands in Clonmore.

The following extract appeared in the 1838 Ordinance Survey Memoirs of the Parish of Killyman, in the Barony of Oneiland West (Clonmore):

“ Clonmore Roman Catholic Chapel situated in the townland of Clonmore is a neat stone building, slated.  It is 44 feet long and 25 feet broad.  It was built in 1834 and cost £180-00 (Approx £9,000-00 today), which sum was raised by subscription.  The interior is neat and has a large gallery neatly fitted up with pews, the lower part only has forms.  The whole accommodates 500 persons, the average attendance is 400.  The windows in the Chapel are plain, rectangular.  The Rev John Montague is the officiating Priest.  He resides in the town of Dungannon, Co Tyrone.”

The Chapel was renovated in 1938, when the plain windows were replaced with ornate stained glass donated by local families.  The Chapel originally had a gallery on three sides which appears to have been removed at this time and the altar was repositioned to its current position.

The Chapel was originally dedicated to St Columba (St Columbkill).  It was briefly known as St Mary’s from 1940 until 1943 but was rededicated to the Sacred Heart in the mid 1940’s.

In 1996 the Chapel was slightly damaged in an attack where many of the windows were broken and an attempt was made to set the Chapel alight.  Sadly, in 1998 the Chapel was seriously damaged in an arson attack.  Most of the interior was destroyed and the building suffered considerable smoke and water damage.  The Chapel was painstakingly restored under the careful instruction of Father Joe McKeever, CC, Dungannon, and it was rededicated and reopened for use on 25 July 1999.