St. Joseph’s Church Carrickmacross
Deus Vobiscum...May God Be With You
Memorable Day in Carrickmacross
On Sunday last the splendid new Church of St. Joseph in Carrickmacross was opened for Divine Service. As may be supposed, the event was regarded in the parish as one of great interest and importance, nothing of the kind having been witnessed in the town by even the oldest inhabitant.
The church, as we have frequently stated, is one of the handsomest in Ireland, and will long exist as a monument of the zeal and spirit of the clergy and the people of the parish. No one was more anxious for its erection than the late Bishop of Clogher, the Most Rev. Dr. McNally, and in July 1861, His Lordship laid the first stone, surrounded by his clergy and a large concourse of the faithful.
The plans were the work of Mr. McCarthy, the eminent architect, and the building was proceeded with rapidly, Mr. Burnett ably carrying out the design in the most correct manner. The clergy and the people met with some difficulties in providing funds after much of the structure was completed, but these were surmounted, and at length the good work of closing in the roof was brought to a close.
Shortly after ten o’clock on last Sunday the people commenced to crowd around the building, and at eleven o clock admission to the nave commenced. The day, being Sunday, many of the clergy were prevented from attending.
Among those present were the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Lord Bishop of Clogher; the Very Rev. Dean McMahon, P.P., Carrickmacross; Rev. Mr. Hughes, C.C., do.; Rev. Mr. McCulloch, C.C., do.; Rev. Dr. Birmingham, P.P., Castleblaney; Rev. Mr. Murphy, P.P., Killanny; Rev. Mr. Hoey, P.P., Maghercloone; Rev. Mr. Callan, C.C., do.; Rev. Mr. Smollen, P.P., Donaghmoyne; Rev. Mr. Levins, P.P., Ardee; Rev. Mr. Rooney, P.P., Inniskeen; Rev. Mr. O’Neill, Adm., Monaghan; Rev. Mr. Nugent, C.C., do.; Rev. Mr. Goodwin, C.C., Ballybay; Rev. Mr. Gillan, P.P.,Newbliss; Rev. Mr.McLoughlin, Diocesan Seminary; Rev. P. O’Carroll,P.P., Clenish; Rev. C. McShane, C.C., Crossmaglen; Rev. Mr. McQuaid, C.C., Inniskeen; Rev. Mr. Smith, C.C., Killanny; Rev. Mr. Ford, C.C., Donaghmoyne, and Rev.Mr. Connolly, C.C., Clontibret.
Amongst the laity in attendance were: Mr. T.McEvoy Gartlan, Mr. George Gartlan, Mr. T.A. Gartlan and the misses Gartlan; Mr. C. McMahon, Dundalk, and Miss McMahon; Mrs. Hubert Kernan, Capra; Mr. C. Kenney, Rocksavage; Mr. And Mrs. Peter McCaul, Mr. Michael Duffy, Mr. Michael Byrne, Mr. Bernard Connolly, Miss Carroll, Dundalk; Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Finnegan, do.; Mr. Peter Duffy, do.; Mr. Peter McCulloch, Monaghan; Mr. J. Byrne, Mrs. Keelan, Mr. MacEnteggart, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Michael Finnegan, Mrs. Brennan, Mr. McCabe, Mr. O’Neill, Mrs. Smith., etc.
High mass commenced at 12 o’clock, the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, Bishop celebrant and the Very Rev. Dr. Bermingham, P.P., and the Rev. Mr. P. McCulloch, C.C., deacon and sub-deacon; Very Rev. Dean McMahon was assistant priest with the Rev. E. Gillan, and the Rev. T. Smollen was master of ceremonies.
At the conclusion of the First Gospel, the Very Rev. Dean Kieran, P.P., V.G., Dundalk, ascended a temporary pulpit erected within the sanctuary and amidst complete silence delivered a most magnificent sermon, and afterwards read the announcement of the usual indulgence of forty days, by the authority of the Bishop.
A collection was then made, after which High Mass was concluded, and then His Lordship, on the part of Dean MacMahon and on his own behalf, returned thanks for the liberality displayed on that day; he understood that the sum contributed, including the proceeds from the sale of tickets, amounted to more than £400; such generosity deserved their warmest acknowledgments. He had also to thank the Very Rev. Dean Kieran for his magnificent sermon, and the choir, which had done its part so well. He prayed that God might bless them all. His Lordship and the clergy then retired and the large congregation slowly dispersed.
The choir, which belongs to St. Patrick’s Church, Dundalk, under the direction of Mr. Rogers, performed the sacred music in splendid style, particularly the Creed, Sanctus and Laudate.
About four o’clock, the Bishop, clergy and a number of laymen were hospitably entertained by Dean McMahon at O’Neill’s Hotel. The dinner was served in a most superior style. When the cloth was removed, several toasts were proposed and responded to, and thus terminated a day which shall be long memorable in the annals of Farney.