Succession of Pastors who served in Knockavilla and Donaskeigh from 1704-Date. Please pray for them.
Date Name Native Parish
1704 Fr. William Dwyer
1730 Fr. Philip Dwyer
1752 Fr. Timothy McCarthy
1782-1790 Fr. William Hackett Donaskeigh
1790-1838 Fr. Roger Hayes Doon
1838-1863 Fr. Edmond Mockler Lived in Farrell’s house, Garrane
1863-1875 Fr. Richard Cahill Drangan
1875-1886 Fr. William Keane Hospital
1886-1889 Fr. James Callanan Dovea, Inch
1889-1897 Fr. Edmond Doheny Fethard
1897-1937 Fr. Matthew Ryan Pallasgreen
1937-1947 Fr. Edmond Mackey Barnalisheen, Templetuohy
1947-1962 Fr. Patrick O’Neill Tipperary Town
1962-1971 Fr. Michael Quinlan Borrisoleigh
1971-1991 Fr. John O’Mahony Ballingarry
1991-1998 Fr. Patrick O’Gorman Thurles
1998 Fr. James Egan Lisheen, Moyne
Succession of Curates who served in Knockavilla and Donaskeigh from 1818-2006 A.D. Please pray for them.
1818-1820 Fr. Edmond Prendergast
1820-1824 Fr. William Heffernan
1824-1837 Fr. Edmond Mockler
1836-1837 Fr. James McCormack (2nd C.C)
1837-1839 Fr. John Fogarty
1839-1843 Fr. Patrick O-Brien-Davern
1843-1845 Fr. Paul Heney
1845-1847 Fr. John Power
1847-1852 Fr. Michael McDonnell
1852-1853 Fr. Patrick Ryan
1853-1860 Fr. John Hackett
1860-1861 Fr. Michael Quinlan
1861-1862 Fr. John O’Connor
1861-1862 Fr. John Ryan (2nd C.C)
1862 Fr. Daniel Ryan
1862-1865 Fr. William Corcoran
1865-1867 Fr. James Lanigan
1867-1868 Fr. Michael McGrath
1868-1874 Fr. Michael McDonnell
1874-1877 Fr. Michael Fitzgerald
1877-1880 Fr. John Clancy
1881-1882 Fr. John Cahill
1882-1883 Fr. Edmond Doheny
1883-1886 Fr. Patrick O’Neill
1886-1888 Fr. John Cleary
1888-1890 Fr. John Hennessy
1890-1894 Fr. William Kinane
1894-1899 Fr. Thomas O’Meara
1899-1908 Fr. John Walsh
1908-1910 Fr. Denis J. Duggan
1910-1915 Fr. Laurence Hayes
1915-1922 Fr. Edmond Ryan
1922-1924 Fr. John Ryan
1924-1928 Fr. Nicholas Ryan
1928-1929 Fr. Stephen Kinkead
1929-1946 Fr. Michael Quinlan
1946-1960 Fr. James Moynihan
1960-1972 Fr. Michael Meagher
1972-1975 Fr. John McGrath
1975-1977 Fr. Tom Morris
1977-1990 Fr. John O’Connell
1990-1992 Fr. James Purcell
1992-1995 Fr. Gerard Hennessy
1995-1998 Fr. James Irwin
1998-2003 Fr. Patrick O’Gorman (A.P)
2003-2006 Fr. Liam Holmes
Notes on Clergy of our parish
Very little is known of our parish prior to the appointment of Fr. William Dwyer in 1704. At that time, the parish was known as ‘Ballintemple, Rathlynan, Oughterleague and Kilfeacle’.
1704: Fr. William Dwyer. Registered as Parish Priest in 1704, though he may have been Parish Priest before that date. Little is known of Fr. William, except that he was active in the worst days of penal times. The presence of Mass houses and hedge schools in his time is noted and is attributed to his diligent and courageous work over many years. Born in 1654, Fr. William was ordained at Lisheen by Dr. William Burgatt, Archbishop of Cashel in 1673. He died sometime before 1730.
1730: Fr. Philip Dwyer. In his day the chapel was in Killenure and there is a record of Fr. Philip Dwyer who baptised Thomas Farrell of Killenure in 1730. Fr. Dwyer designed a holy water font which is presently in St. Brigid’s Church, Donaskeigh and is presumed to have been brought there from the old church in Ruan when St. Brigid’s was built in 1901. It is not known where or when Father Philip was born and there is no record of when he died.
1752: Fr. Timothy McCarthy. Recorded as Parish Priest of Donaskeigh in 1752, when he was granted faculties to absolve pilgrims of reserved sins who visited the holy well of St. Lachtnan in Donaskeigh. He may have been Parish Priest before that date. Fr. McCarthy had a small chapel with mud walls, a thatched roof, unglazed windows and one door built in Knockavilla by public subscription. This church was most likely located across the road from the present church, which is in Killenure. A Protestant report of 1766 stated that ‘Rev. Timothy McCarthy is pastor of Donaskeigh and there is no priest’s name for Ballintemple and Kilpatrick’. Fr. McCarthy’s other chapel was at Ruan.
1776: Fr. William Hackett. Born in 1719, Fr. Hackett wasordained in Thurles by Archbishop Butler in 1748. He was transferred to Donaskeigh from Golden, where he is listed as Parish Priest in 1759 and again in 1766. In a list of clergy registered in Cashel in 1782, he is recorded as born in Donaskeigh, living in Donaskeigh, pastor of Donaskeigh and aged 63 years. Fr. Hackett died in 1790. His death was noted in the ‘The Freeman’s Journal’ of 7th September 1790 as follows, ‘A few days ago the Rev. Mr. Hackett, a Roman Catholic Priest, was found dead in a field near Dundrum in County Tipperary. He was a gentleman, much esteemed by his parishioners’.
1790-1838: Fr. Roger Hayes. In the official list of 1792, Rev. Roger Hayes in listed as Parish Priest of Donaskeigh. He had no curate at that time. There is a tradition that he was born in Maude territory around Dundrum and that he was 7 years old when he was baptised as no priest could appear in Maude’s territory at that time. By chance one day a stranger came to the house - a priest - who baptised him and prophesied that Roger would one day become a priest and perform his ministry in the Maude’s own stronghold of Dundrum.
In Battersby’s Catholic Register of 1839, Fr. Hayes’s age is given as 94 years, which, if true, meant he was born in 1744. His tombstone states that he was a native of Farrane (Murroe), though it is likely that, due to the turmoil of the time, his family may have had to live in different parishes of East Limerick and West Tipperary.
Fr Hayes lived in Ballintemple where he had a lease of thirty acres of land from Lord Hawarden (Maude), whose friendship he enjoyed. ‘Flogger Fitzgerald’ would have flogged Fr. Hayes in 1798. He refrained from doing so because he knew that such an act would displease Maude. The friendship, however, was not to last.
The year 1793 was a year of great hope and joy for Irish Catholics and of course for Fr. Hayes. The Repeal Bill of that year repealed nearly all of the barbarous and hated penal laws. What a change this was from the time, still remembered, when a priest was hunted with a price on his head. As a young zealous priest, Fr. Hayes was actively involved in promoting the repeal of those unjust laws. In 1828 he was again active, with Daniel O’Connell and Richard Lalor Shiel, in furthering the cause of full Catholic emancipation which was granted in 1829. As a consequence of his public commitment to the Catholic cause, Fr. Hayes lost the thirty acres of land in Ballintemple, out of which he was evicted in 1834 with £45.00 paid in compensation.
The principal chapel in the parish at that time was in Ruan, about 1 miles NNE of Donaskeigh (Ryan’s of the chapel). The two holy water fonts in St. Brigid’s Church, Donakskeigh, came from the chapel of Ruan. One is inscribed P.D, apparently referring to Fr. Philip Dwyer, Parish Priest in 1730. In 1806, Fr. Roger Hayes leased the site of Knockavilla Church from Mr. Sam Cooper of Killenure at one shilling per annum, the chapel to be ‘well built and slated’. The chapel in Ruan continued to serve the needs of the people until 1901 and there is a record of Archbishop Laffan celebrating the sacrament of confirmation in the parishes grouped as Donaskeigh and Knockavilla in 1824 in the chapel of Ruan.
Fr. Hayes was a fluent French speaker as he received his classical and theological education at Nantes in France. He was forty-eight years Parish Priest of Donaskeigh and Knockavilla as the parish was then called. He lived through stirring, troubled and dangerous times; through the rebellion of 1798, through O’Connell’s fight for emancipation and in between through periods of agrarian disturbances, faction-fighting and other outrages that were rampant in the country and indeed the parish at that time. We can imagine the intense activity and excitement of 1806. What a labour of love it must have been for Fr. Hayes and his parishioners when their new parish church was blessed and opened for worship. For them, 1806 was a historic year indeed.
Fr. Roger Hayes died on 8th October 1838 and is buried in Doon.
1838-1863: Fr. Edmond Mockler. Fr. Mockler was curate/administrator in the parish from 1834-1838, when he became Parish Priest. Father Edmond lived in Garrane, in a house now the home of the Farrell family. Born in 1782, he was ordained in 1816.
A letter to the editor of the ‘Tipperary Free Press’ dated 30th December 1835 speaks eloquently of Fr. Mockler and the people to whom he ministered,
‘Sir,
The well known liberality and generosity of the Protestant nobility and gentry of the county, towards the Roman Catholic clergy, gave me to hope that the days of religious intolerance and bigotry had passed away, and that the old game of Priest hunting was at least out of fashion and quite exploded. But it appears, in some Protestant families this unholy and unchristian feeling cannot be eradicated. Now as to facts.
The Rev. Mr. Mockler, C.C of the parish of Donaskeigh, has been lodging, since he came to the parish, at the house of a person named Ryan, in the village of Maudstown (Dundrum), the estate of Lord Hawarden. Not long since, a man who had been drinking in Ryan’s house, went into the street, and being in a state of intoxication, made use of some words, which to Lord Hawarden’s very sensitive feelings seemed unpleasant, (he being in the street at the same time) Lord Hawarden made use of some very nasty and unbecoming expressions, pointed more against the respectable and worthy Clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Mockler, (who was only a lodger in the house) than against either the owner of it or the drunken man. The Rev. Mr. Mockler retorted in a mild yet independent tone. This, it appears, offended this high aristocrat, for on the following day he sent for Ryan and told him if he continued to accommodate the Rev. Mr. Mockler, in future with board and lodging, that he would cause his land agent to serve him with a notice of surrender – Ryan being only a tenant at will. In consequence of this threat, and fearing that Ryan may be injured by his landlord, the Rev. Mr. Mockler has made arrangements to quit the village of Maudstown, and he has at considerable inconvenience to himself and his parishioners, taken lodgings in a remote part of the parish, at the house of Mr. Edmond Dwyer, of Grovestown. The Rev. Mr. Mockler leaves this village to the regret of all who had the pleasure of his society and acquaintance, and carries with him their best feelings and warmest wishes for his future happiness and welfare; and although forced out of it by Lord Hawarden, it will be the means of riveting the affections of the people more closely and more warmly towards him. It is rumoured here that Lord Hawarden intents to serve ejectments for the ground on which the Chapel and school house of Donsakeigh are built, (being his estate). Let him do so, but there is still a spirit of independence in this parish, when properly excited, that will legally resist this puny bigotry, and may serve to reform at least one Lord, though not one of the 170.
I remain, Mr. Editor, your obedient servant, Paul Pry’.
Father Mockler died on 27th November 1863 aged 81 years and he is interred in the grounds of Knockavilla Church.
1839-1843: Fr. Pat O’Brien Davern (curate). Fr. Pat was curate in the parish from 1839 until his unexpected death on 31st August 1843, aged 35 years, during Fr. Edmond Mockler’s time as Parish Priest. Fr. Davern was born in Ballinure in the parish of Killenaule and was ordained by Dr. Leahy in 1833.
An extract from the ‘Tipperary Free Press’ dated 27th November 1839 gives us an insight into Fr. O’Brien Davern’s life and the parish he served at that time,
‘The hitherto turbulent parish of Donaskeigh within 4 miles of this town – the former scene of many an outrage and murder – yes, Donaskeigh; so memorable as being the spot where Messrs. Cooper and Wayland fell by the hands of Assasins – this parish where not long since, riot, disorder and crime reigned, singular to say has been the first of rural parishes in this neighbourhood to establish within it a branch of The Temperance Society (Fr. Matthew’s). The best and most happy results are anticipated. It was formed by the highly talented and much esteemed Curate Rev. P.O’B. Davern and called ‘The Donaskeigh and Knockavilla Temperance Society’, with Fr. Davern as its first president. There will be the first meeting on 22nd December and several hundred additional members are expected to have then taken the pledge’.
Another concern of Fr. O’Brien Davern while in Knockavilla was the wretched conditions of life endured by the tenants of the Maude estate and their summary eviction from their holdings. Fr. Pat created a sensation by publicly charging Lord Hawarden (Maude) in ‘The Nation’ with the deliberate extermination of his Catholic tenantry, giving names and addresses of some hundreds of tenants driven out of their holdings to perish. Hawarden was a court official and flatly denied the charge but Sir Robert Peel requested that he vindicate himself by the prosecution of the libeller. Daniel O’Connell wrote to Fr. Davern asking if he was sure of his facts and, if he was, the Repeal Association would undertake his defence.
Fr. Davern replied in the affirmative and preparations were made for the trial. Richard Lalor Shiel was leading counsel for the defence, but before the trial could begin, Fr. Davern died. The Irish Catholic Register paid him a high tribute, saying he was talented, eloquent and ever ready to exercise his great faculties positively and unflinchingly on behalf of suffering humanity.
The following epitaph is written on Fr. Pat O’Brien Davern’s altar tomb in the churchyard at Killenaule:
‘Herein reposeth the mortal remains of Rev. P. O’Brien Davern
R.C.C of Knockavilla who died on 31st August 1843
in the 9th year of his ministry and the 35th of his age.
May he rest with you unto eternity, Amen.
His brief mission was distinguished by many virtues, rare abilities and earnest piety. To soothe the sores of the heart and make large the joys of the poor was the great aim of his pious labours. If he turned from this sphere for a brief, bright time, it was but to extend his benevolence to his country – to embrace her many sufferings with his comprehensive charity and lend to her aid the influence of those high attributes of mind and fervent purpose of heart which that country owned with pride and will remember with affectionate sorrow. His letters on landlordism in Tipperary will live and be cherished. They will ever be the proud man’s scourge and the poor man’s protection. The hitherto licensed vice of the great will shrink abashed from their kindling fervours. Death caught him in his duty’s fulfilment and coming as the sanctifier of his life, struck him down, young in years but mature in learning, patriotism and virtue’.
1863-1875: Fr. Richard Cahill. Canon Cahill built the parochial house in Knockavilla during his time as Parish Priest. He ministered in Knockavilla until 1875 when he was transferred to Murroe, then to Lattin and finally Tipperary Town, where he died as Parish Priest in 1803. A native of Drangan, Canon Cahill was ordained on 2nd June 1849. An active and zealous priest, the Canon was a sterling patriot and was associated with all the political movements of his day, particularly tenants’ rights and the New Tipperary agitation.
1875-1886: Fr. William Keane. Born in 1823 in Hospital, Co. Limerick, Fr. Keane was an enemy of the landlords and known as the patriot priest of Knockavilla. He died in June 1886 and is buried in Knockavilla church.
1886-1889: Fr. James Callanan. Fr. Callanan was born in Dovea, Inch. He was Parish Priest for just three years, during which time his firm and constant attachment to the interests of nationality and religion won him the respect and admiration of all who knew him. A man of ill health, he died in 1889 aged 52 years. Fr. James had two brothers who were also priests, Fr. Michael (P.P Cappawhite) and Fr. Pat, who died in the U.S.A.
1889-1897: Fr. Edmond Doheny. Ordained in Thurles by Archbishop Leahy on 22nd September 1867, Fr. Doheny was a native of Fethard. Knockavilla school, now the Community Centre, and Donaskeigh (Curraghpoor) school were built during his time in the parish. He died in 1897 in his mid fifties. Fr. Edmond was much loved by the people and his passing was deeply regretted. He is buried in Knockavilla Church.
1897-1937: Fr. Matthew Ryan. Even before he became Parish Priest of Knockavilla and Donaskeigh in 1897, Fr. Matt Ryan was a national figure because of his involvement in the fight for the land. As a curate in Herbertstown he had been jailed for contempt of court, having refused to divulge information about Plan of Campaign funds. He was accompanied to his cell by Archbishop Croke and the Lord Mayor of Dublin. On his release he was greeted by cheering crowds at every railway station on his way home, and bonfires blazed as far away as Belmullet. Within the year ‘The General’, as he was called, was in jail again, this time in Limerick, on foot of a speech made in Caherconlish. The prosecuting counsel was Sir Edward Carson. ‘The General’ was released after a fortnight.
Fr. Matt Ryan was born in 1844 in Ballyluddy or Kilduff, Pallasgreen. Educated locally and in Emly, he proceeded to St. Patrick’s college, Thurles, and then to the Irish College, Paris, where he was ordained in 1871. He taught Physics there for a while and then was recalled for fundraising duties. From 1874 to 1885 he was curate in Lattin-Cullen and then was transferred to Hospital-Herbertstown. In 1890 he was transferred to Solohead-Oola, where he remained until his promotion to Knockavilla-Donaskeigh in 1897.
One of his first actions was surprisingly modern – the formation of a parish committee, with two laymen as joint treasurers with Fr. Matt. Detailed accounts were kept and submitted to the committee. Fr. Matt made an eloquent speech at the first meeting and the secretary, Richard Merrick, recorded that, “the members dispersed to their respective homes, each feeling proud in having a voice in the making of their parish laws – a privilege they enjoyed for the first time, and confident in the assurance that in their new Pastor they had a Priest whom they could confide in, respect and admire”.
The members of that committee were:
President & Joint Treasurer: Rev. Matthew Ryan, P.P.
Vice-President: Rev. T.E. O’Meara, C.C.
Secretary: Richard Merrick, Ballinahinch.
Joint Treasurer: Michael Browne, Knockavilla.
Joint Treasurer: Denis Kelly, Ballinahinch.
Ballinahinch: Denis Kelly, Richard Merrick, James Cleary, Andrew Dwyer, Matthew Quillinan.
Ballinamona: Matthew Hayes, James Ryan.
Ballinlough: John McGrath, Thomas Fahey.
Ballygarrane: Edmond Duggan, Martin Connolly.
Ballygriffin: John Scanlan, John Kelly.
Ballywalter: Michael Murphy.
Bishopswood: Cornelius O’Brien, James Landers, James Madden, Jeremiah Muan.
Clonaspoe & Grenepark: Clement Grene, esq; J.P. John Kennedy, Michael O’Brien.
Clonkelly: Denis Ryan, Jeremiah Carmody.
Dundrum: Names not listed.
Garrane: John Dwyer (Carew).
Killenure: Thomas Beevan.
Kilmore: Michael Carew, Timothy Fahey, John O’Keeffe.
Kilshenane: William Dwyer, Denis Guilfoyle.
Knockavilla: Michael Browne.
Lisheen: William Hayes.
Lisloran: William Dwyer, Patrick Grady, Michael Taylor.
Pubblehill: Thomas Quirke.
On St. Stephen’s Day, 1897, a meeting of the committee asked Fr. Matt to provide an extra, earlier Mass. Fr. Matt readily agreed and so began the 8.30 Mass in the parish. The hon. Secretary recorded. “In view of the hitherto inadequate incomes of the priests (more especially of the curate) all present pledged themselves to secure them an increased income commensurate with the more onerous duties the two Masses would impose on them”. As a result, all collections were increased by a half.
Fr. Matt was an ardent nationalist. He was elected to the National Executive of Sinn Féin in 1917. So popular was he that hegot more votes than either Michael Collins or Seán T. O’Kelly. He also had a passionate interest in the Irish language. He brought Bridget Dirrane from the Aran Islands to be his housekeeper. In 1997, at the age of 103, Bridget recalled bringing food down to ‘The Bog’ for the men ‘on the run’. Though Irish was not an obligatory subject, he appointed only Irish speaking teachers to his schools, recruiting them personally from Cork and Kerry. He organised hugely successful feiseanna and aeríochta. Pádraig Pearse referred to one of them: Over 10,000 people were expected, and trainloads were to come from Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Through the activities of the Celtic League, and the zeal of the local teacher, Edmond Cussen, the parish became noted for its proficiency in Irish. A new generation of local teachers fluent in Irish sprang up, most notably Micheál Mac Carthaigh, who became President of the Gaelic League. Fr. Matt had been Vice-President of the League from 1908-1924.
Fr. Matt vigorously promoted ‘Buy Irish’, riding a big Wexford made Pierce bicycle, a ‘gate on wheels’, as one parishioner described it. At Mass one Sunday he demonstrated the superiority of Irish made matches over English by counting the number in both boxes. Indeed, his colourful Sunday sermons were eagerly awaited; subjects might range from the freedom of Ireland to the price of women’s hats (“Ye’d get them cheaper above at Johnny Crowe’s in Dundrum”). Of course, he also spoke on spiritual matters, and old parishioners have testified to the moving effects of his words when he spoke out of the depths of his sincere faith and spirituality.
An experimental Irish time, twenty-five minutes later than Greenwich Mean Time, adopted by Fr. Matt, caused much confusion. The plaintive query was often heard, “Is that new time, old time or Fr. Matt’s time?”
The porches of Knockavilla church were erected by him in 1917. His biggest project was the building in 1901 of the fine cut stone church in Donaskeigh, designed by William Doolin. The bell and belfry were added in 1929. Fr. Matt had three teachers’ residences built, in Kilmore, Bishopswood and Donaskeigh and kept his schools in perfect repair. Though personally indifferent to wealth, he showed quite discerning taste in the design, furnishing and landscaping of parish buildings. His generosity was legendary and when he died in October 1937 at the age of ninety-three he was practically penniless. Among the huge attendance at his funeral were Éamon de Valera and Seán T. O’Kelly, both future presidents of Ireland, and at that time President and Vice-President of the Executive Council.
Cuimhneofar i gcónaí ar shagart an chroí mhóir, a raibh aisling gheal aige, agus a d’imir a shaol is shubstaint ar a son. Solas na bhflaitheas go raibh aige.
1937-1947: Fr. Edmond Mackey. Fr. Mackey succeeded Fr. Matt in 1937. Although a quiet and refined man, he shared the political philosophies and allegiances of his predecessor. Fr. Edmond was a native of Barnalisheen, Templetuohy, and was ordained in Thurles Cathedral by Archbishop Fennelly on 19th June 1904. During his time in the parish, Fr. Edmond had a memorial altar, sanctuary, altar rails and stations of the cross erected to the memory of Fr. Matt. He also installed a new bell in the belfry. Fr. Mackey suffered ill health and died on 20th September 1947. He is buried in the grounds of Knockavilla church.
1947-1962: Fr. Patrick O’Neill. A native of Tipperary Town, Fr. O’Neill was born on 10th March 1892 and ordained on 20th January 1918. He closed the church in Knockavilla for complete internal and external renovation, re-opening the building on 15th August 1951 and dedicating it to Mary Assumed into Heaven. He also had improvement works carried out to St. Brigid’s church, Donaskeigh. Canon O’Neill had two brothers, John and Clement, who were also priests. He died on Friday 24th August 1962 and is buried in the grounds of Knockavilla church.
1962-1971: Father Michael Quinlan. Father Quinlan had served as curate in the parish from 1929 to 1946 and returned in 1962 as Parish Priest. He was a native of Borrisoleigh and was born on 23rd April 1894 and ordained in Maynooth on 20th June 1920. He presided over the controversial amalgamation of three schools in the parish, succeeding in acquiring a site and having the new school built with a view to closing Bishopswood and Ballinahinch. Fr. Michael had the boundary wall and railing erected around the church, changed the entrance and provided parking space. He also had some restoration work done to the exterior and grounds of the parochial house.
Big-hearted and generous, yet humble and unassuming, Fr. Michael was blessed with a keen mind and a grasp of several branches of learning. He died on 31st July 1971 and is buried in the grounds of Knockavilla church.
1971-1991: Fr. John O’Mahony. Fr. O’Mahony was a native of Ballingarry. He was born on 25th March 1916 and ordained in Maynooth on 23rd June 1940. He opened and blessed the new school in Knockavilla in 1972 and also the new school in Donaskeigh. Fr. John had the grotto built, which was opened in 1987 by Dr. Dermot Clifford, and also refurbished the church, mainly the sanctuary, for the changing of the altar position. Fr. O’Mahony founded the Legion of Mary in the parish and was made Canon in 1987. During his time here, the Presentation Convent in Dundrum was closed. The nuns, including two of his sisters, left the parish the Order had come to in 1908. Canon O’Mahony celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1990, retired in 1991 and died on 12th March 1993, after a long period of ill health spent in a nursing home. He is buried in the grounds of Knockavilla church.
1991-1998: Fr. Patrick O’Gorman. Fr. O’Gorman succeeded Canon O’Mahony on his retirement in 1991. A native of Thurles, he was born in 1923 and ordained in 1949. As Parish Priest, he had the curate’s house refurbished, the church carpeted, toilet facilities built in the grounds and the sacristy roof repaired. He also had the automatic bell ringing system installed. In 1998, Father Paddy retired as Parish Priest but continued to serve as Assistant Pastor in the parish until his illness and subsequent death on 19th May 2003. He is buried in the church grounds. Fr. O’Gorman was much loved and greatly missed.
Fr. Denis Fahey, C.S.Sp. D.D 1883-1954. Fr. Fahey did not serve as a priest in our parish, but he was born here, at Kilmore in 1883. Fr Denis received his secondary education in Rockwell College, Cashel. At the age of 17 he entered the novitiate of the Holy Ghost fathers at Grignon-Orly, near Paris. Returning to Ireland the following year he continued his studies and in 1908 he received his B.A from the Royal University of Ireland with first place and first class honours in Civil and Constitutional History, Political Economy and General Jurisprudence. After graduation, Fr. Fahey spent two years doing the usual courses in houses of the congregation in England and France and made his religious profession on 2nd February 1907.
In 1908 he went to Rome and followed the theological course at the Gregorian University. It was in Rome that he was ordained in 1910. In the following year he gained the Doctorate in Philosophy at the Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas and in 1912 he received the Doctorate in Theology from the Gregorian university. He returned to Ireland in 1912 and was appointed Director of Scholastics and Professor of Philosophy at the recently opened Scholasticate of the Irish Province of the Holy Ghost Congregation at Kimmage in Dublin.
Fr. Fahey spent the rest of his life writing and teaching and was one of the foremost proponents of the Social Reign of Christ the King and the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. His writings are indispensable in helping us to understand how we, as Catholics, are to approach the social questions, not just with formulas derived from the Social Encyclicals but with a profound understanding of the spiritual life and the role of Divine Grace.
Upon Fr. Fahey’s death on 21st January 1954, the following was written, ‘Father Fahey was a great professor, a great patriot and a great priest. He will be greater in death than in life. The cause for which he strove so laboriously, or better, the crusade he preached so fervently, will not fail. He has sown the seed with a generous hand and already a promising harvest is assured. Not only do we on the missions, who were his pupils, thank God for that privilege, but throughout Ireland and in far off America there are groups of laymen to whom Fr. Fahey has opened up the vista of a life full and satisfying, a life lived in Christ and for the promotion of His Kingly rights. In this connection it is worth recording that when news of his death reached America a Solemn Requiem Mass was offered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, at the request of and in the presence of a host of his friends. A tombstone will doubtless be raised to his memory in Kimmage but we are his epitaph, his monument, we on whose souls the shining example and profound teaching of this learned and saintly priest have traced the likeness of Christ: We are his glory and his crown’.
The following inscription in the Church of the Assumption, Knockavilla, details Fr. Denis Fahey’s baptism:
‘Rev. Denis Fahey, C.S.Sp. D.D.
Professor of Philosophy, author and advocate of Christ the King
was baptised in this church on 3rd July 1883’.