History
There are two churches in the Parish of Tynagh and Killeen, Saint Lawrence's Church, Tynagh and The Sacred Heart Church, Killeen, formally known as St. Corban's Catholic Church, Killeen South, Ballyshrule, Ballinasloe.
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St. Laurence's Church, Tynagh
The old church of St. Laurence was built in the townlands of Lisinard West by the Rev. John Kemple in 1764.
In 1822 it was rebuilt by the Rev. Patrick Shiel who was administrator from 1802 to 1835 when he became Parish Priest of Portumna. He died in 1838 and is buried in KIlcorban.
In 1822 it was rebuilt by the Rev. Patrick Shiel who was administrator from 1802 to 1835 when he became Parish Priest of Portumna. He died in 1838 and is buried in KIlcorban.
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Sacred Heart Church, Killeen
The site was given to the Administrator of the Parish, Rev. James Fahy in 1835 by the Kellys of Kellys Mills, Portumna. While it was being constructed, part of the roof was carried away by the Big Wind in 1839. It was opened for worship in 1841. A very neat entrance porch was built by the Parish Priest Fr. John Campbell in 1910. In 1921 a new roof was put on Killeen Church. This roof was renovated in 1964. The slates were refitted on the main roof and porch in 1966.
In July 1972, the altar of Tynagh Old Church was erected in Killeen Church. The most recent renovations were completed in 2014, when Killeen Church was reroofed.
In July 1972, the altar of Tynagh Old Church was erected in Killeen Church. The most recent renovations were completed in 2014, when Killeen Church was reroofed.
Priests of tynagh parish
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Our Lady of Kilcorban
Our Lady of Kilcorban and Our Lady of Tynagh span 800 years of Christian devotion in the parish.
Our Lady of Kilcorban is an old wood carving originating west of the Shannon about 1200 AD. In the 15th century it had its own chapel in the Dominican Priory, Kilcorban. Our Lady of Kilcorban is the oldest known wooden statue of its kind in Ireland, currently in the Clonfert Museum in Loughrea.
Our Lady of Kilcorban is an old wood carving originating west of the Shannon about 1200 AD. In the 15th century it had its own chapel in the Dominican Priory, Kilcorban. Our Lady of Kilcorban is the oldest known wooden statue of its kind in Ireland, currently in the Clonfert Museum in Loughrea.
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PArish religious heritage
Written by Marie Burke
Photographs by Seán Hearne
Photographs by Seán Hearne
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The Tynagh St. Catherine
This statue dates back to the 15th century. It is thought to have come from Kilcorban. It is the only Irish St. Catherine in wood which has so far come to light. Devotion to St. Catherine was most popular in Europe during the 11th century. It spread to Ireland with the Normans. St. Catherine, virgin and martyr, is honoured on the 25th November the date believed she was martyred in Alexandria, Egypt. The Tynagh Calvarv Group This is a 17th century Crucifixial figure with attendant figures of Our Lady and St. John, carved in sycamore. The faces of all three figures, and other features, set them apart from English and continental traditions and mark them as distinctively Irish local work. They were preserved with the Kilcorban Virgin and Child in the parish church of Tynagh and presumed to have come from Kilcorban. Calvary Feast Day is 14th September. The Tynagh Crucifixus A Crucifixial figure copied apparently from the figure of the Tynagh Calvary, possibly around end of 17" or 18" century. It was lying in the parochial house in Tynagh and uncovered in 1942. Nothing is known of its earlier history. The Kilcorban Virgin and Child statue and that of St. Catherine of Alexandria and the three figures of the “Crucifixal Group” came from Lisheenard to the parochial house in Tynagh circa 1880. Local Tradition About the Wooden Figures The National Folklore Commission undertook a nation-wide recording of local folklore in the early 1900’s. An entry therein relating to the statues is as follows: There are four statues at present lent !o the National Museum Dublin which local tradition says were got in a tree close by the monastery of Kilcorban, where they were hidden for security in the penal times... The tree was called Crann Dubh. It is told in the locality that when the tree was being cut a voice was heard to say “Na Gearr”. One of the images was without a hand which was supposed to be cut off by the hewer of the tree” St. Laurence: Patron of Tynagh Parish St. Laurence, martyr, is the patron saint of the Parish of Tynagh. It is not certain how this came about but the altar stone in the old church in Tynagh held a relic of the saint and this is most likely the reason. On the feast of St. Laurence, 10‘ August, the Kilcorban Virgin and Child Statue was exposed, annually, for veneration. There was a time in Tynagh parish when everything came to a standstill on this day. It was treated with the same reverence as a holyday. |
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