1817 The Church in Dunleckney was closed
and the Church in Bagenalstown was opened for Christmas Day 1820. The entrance
was from where the window is on the Men's side. It probably went as far as
altar. Some say that part of this was rebuild later.
Phase 2.
Fr. Dowling renovated the Sanctuary c.1978.
(Cobden never mentioned, people were only
interested in the local people. The Land for the Church was given by the Newton
Family, the successors to the Bagenals. They also gave the land for Newtown
Church.)
|
1784-1798: Rev. Michael Brophy |
Dean of Leighlin and parish priest of Dunleckney. He died 6 February
1798, aged 66, and is buried in Dunleckney. His uncle, Rev. Malachy
Brophy, was parish priest of Dunleckney from 1738 to 1758. |
|
1798-1836: Rev. Michael Prendergast,
V.G. |
There is a tradition that he was born near Borris. He was appointed V.F.
in 1819 and V.G.in 1826. He built St. Andrew's Church, Bagenalstown, and
is buried there. By his will he left his house and property for
education. Through this bequest, the Presentation Convent, Regent
Street, Bagenalstown, and school were founded. He was a nephew of Rev.
M. Brophy. He died 7 September 1836 after ministering in the parish for
44 years. |
|
1836-1855: Rev. Denis Lawlor, V.G. |
Was curate in Edenderry and parish priest in Hacketstown and finally
parish priest in Bagenalstown. He died on 10 February 1855, aged 64, and
is buried in the Parish Church Bagenalstown. |
|
1855-1881: Rev. Patrick Morrin, V.F. |
Was curate in Edenderry and parish priest in Hacketstown before being
appointed to Bagenalstown. He died 19 October 1881. |
|
1881-1890: Rev. Bernard O'Neill, V.F. |
Was born in Rathvilly and ministered as curate in Edenderry and Clane. He
was Administrator in Carlow between 1865 and 1869,and parish priest in
Graiguenamanagh before his appointment to Bagenalstown in 1881. He died
on 27 January 1892. |
|
1890-1915 Rev. Edward Burke |
was born in Clane and studied for the priesthood in St. Patrick's
College, Carlow and Maynooth. He was ordained in Maynooth in 1869. After
a year at the Dunboyne Institute he was appointed professor in St.
Patrick's College, Carlow, where he was president from 1880 tol 892.
During his presidency the College Chapel was built. He was appointed
parish priest of Bagenalstown in 1890. He died in November 1915 |
|
1915 -1927 Rev. Matthew Cullen |
Was born in Hacketstown and studied for the priesthood at Maynooth where
he was ordained in 1889. He was curate in Killeigh and Tinryland before
being appointed rector of Knockbeg. He was appointed parish priest in
Tinryland in 1914 and transferred to Bagenalstown 1915 where he remained
until be was elected bishop of the diocese in 1927. He died on 2 January
1936. |
|
1927-1948 Rev. Ambrose Lynam |
Studied for the priesthood in St.Patrick's College, Carlow, where he was
ordained in 1894. He was curate in Hacketstown, Paulstown, Goresbridge
and Carlow before being appointed parish priest of Bagenalstown in 1927.
He died on 23 November 1948. |
|
1948-1977 Rev. Mgr. James J. Conway,
V.G. |
He was a native of Farnans, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. He was educated at
Knockbeg College, Carlow, studied for the priesthood at Maynooth College
and was ordained in 1916. After some time at the Dunboyne Establishment
in Maynooth he joined the Maynooth Mission to China, and served in
China, Argentina, Spain and North & South America. He joined the staff
of St. Patrick's College, Carlow, 1921, became Vice President in 1937
and President 1941, a position he held until 1948. He was made a
Domestic Prelate in 1944 and Vicar General of Kildare & Leighlin in
1947. The following year he was appointed parish priest of Bagenalstown
and served in that capacity for 27 years until his retirement in 1977.
He was made a Protonotary Apostolic in 1966 on his Golden Jubilee. He
died on 10 January 1977 and is buried in the grounds of St. Andrew's
Church, Bagenalstown. |
|
1977- 1996. Rev. Edward Dowling, V.F. |
Was born in 1921 and attended Skeoughvosteen N.S., St. Kieran's College,
Kilkenny and Knockbeg College. He studied for the priesthood in St.
Patrick's College, Carlow, where he was ordained in June 1946. He spent
two years at the Dunboyne Institute in Maynooth studying Canon Law. He
was appointed Dean of Discipline at St. Patrick's College, Carlow, in
August 1948 and remained there until 1973 when he was appointed
Administrator of Tullow. In November 1976 be came to Bagenalstown as
parish priest and Vicar Forane. Died 2nd November, 2002 and is buried in
Skeoughvosteen |
|
1996 to 2006 Rev. Pierce Murphy, V.F. |
A native of Dublin. Educated in Knockbeg and Maynooth College. Ordained
for the Diocese 1966. Curate in SnowHill, Wolverhampton 1966-1968,
Clonegal 1968 - 1974. Further studies in Mount Oliver, Dundalk 1970-1971
and Diocesan Advisor for Religious Education in Primary Schools from
1971-1988. On Staff of St. Patrick's College, Carlow 1974-1983. Lived in
Monastereven 1983-1992. Curate there from 1988-1992. Transferred to
Prosperous from 1992-1996.Appointed to Muinebheag July 1996. |
|
2006. Fr. Declan Foley |
A native of Knockananna in Co Wicklow. Eldest of 13 children of Seán and
Catherine Foley. Educated in Knockbeg and Carlow College. Ordained for
the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin in 1980. Curate in Rathangan in Co
Kildare 1980 - 86. Worked in London as an Emigrant Chaplain specializing
in the Nursing Apostolate from 1986 - 90. Returned to Ireland as a
curate to the parish of Daingean in Co Offaly from 1990 - 93. Appointed
to the Defence Forces Training Centre on the Curragh as military
chaplain where he served for the next 11 years. He did three tours of
duty overseas with the United Nations Peace Keeping Missions, serving
with the 76th and 81st Irish Infantry Battalions on the Lebanese -
Israeli border in 1994 and 1997 and also with the No 2 Irish Guards in
Eritrea/Ethiopia in 2002. Appointed to the parish of Bagenalstown in
2002 and made Parish Priest in 2004. |
