St Lazerian's Church Ballinkillen

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP ^TM)

Ballinkillen
St Lazerian's Church,
Ballinkillen. Co Carlow


St Lazerian's Church Ballinkillen
Source: Google Street Maps

Ballinkillen, officially Ballinkillin (Irish: Baile an Chillín, meaning "settlement of the cillín"), is a small village between Borris and Muine Bheag in County Carlow, Ireland. The village itself has 20 homes and about 74 people. It includes a national school, a local shop and a hurling pitch known as Mc Donnell Park.

Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballinkillen

St Lazerian's Church Ballinkillen


St Lazerian's Church Ballinkillen

The church in Ballinkillen is dedicated to St. Lazerian and there is a beautiful stained glass window by Wilson of Youghal in the church. There are four other fine examples of stained glass windows in honour of St. Joseph, St. Patrick, Our Lady and Christ also in the church. It is generally believed that the church was built in c.1793 by Fr. Michael Brophy and is one of the oldest churches in the diocese. It is likely it was a "barn church". The church at Lorum was more than likely the place of worship before this time and tradition says that there was a "Mass" house near Ballinkillen Cross. There was a "Mass path" opposite the local school extending across to the Borris Road.

In 1798 the church escaped plunder by the Crown forces as, being then thatched, it looked like a farm building and, consequently, the soldiers passed by. The chapel yard started as a burial ground in about 1817 and was consecrated by Bishop Doyle on Thursday, 26th September 1821. The long aisle was added to the church at this time, making it cross shaped. The Calvery was erected in 1935, the statue to Our Lady in 1955 and the cement paths around the church were completed in 1989 by voluntary labour with all the materials being donated. The Lourdes Grotto was officially opened in October 1998.

It was built by voluntary labour, the site and statues were donated. There are some stone ruins in the church grounds which served as a stable and dry lavatory for the visiting clergyman, but it is in need of repair. It is generally believed that this building may have been a "watch house" for the graves. There is also some old graves dating from the 16th and 17th Century to the present day.

Source: http://www.ballinkillenschool.net/ballinkillen_church.html

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