St. Joseph’s Church Carrickmacross
Deus Vobiscum...May God Be With You
Petition Granted
The petition was granted and in 1782, an indenture was signed and witnessed between Lord Weymouth and certain prominent local men, namely James Plunkett, Rocksavage, James Carolan of Carrickmacross, Owen Callaghan of Culloville and John Green of Carrickmacross, granting “that piece and parcel of ground situate, lying and being on the north end of Dawson Street (now O’Neill Street) containing in length and fronting the said street 120 feet and in depth 90 feet for 999 years upon trust at a yearly rent of one pepper corn, if demanded”.
The building named St. Mary’s chapel was completed in 1786 at a total cost of £643. It is interesting to note the names of a committee appointed to provide material, finance and supervision of work: Patrick Carolan, James Carolan, John Carolan, Henry Byrne, Bartholomew Clinton, John Green, Patrick Gartlan, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hugh O’Reilly, Bishop of Clogher, who lived in Rock House, Tirogarven.
The Carolans were noted Carrick businessman and patriots whose burial place is in Magheross old Cemetery, the inscription ending with “ Ar dheis De go raibh said”. In 1872 a residence for the Bishop and Curate was erected near the site of the present new Curates’ house.
St. Mary´s
In spite of the fact that bells on Catholic places of worship were forbidden by law, we know that St. Mary’s was provided with a bell for we are told that in 1817 “McCabe, the smith, was paid for a bell-spring and a strong rope”.
This chapel, although less than half the floor area of St. Joseph’s, served the congregation for 80 years until St. Joseph’s was completed in 1866.