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' Dromahair is situated near the shore of Lough Gill in the ancient parish
of Drumlease. We know from the book of Armagh that the church of
Drumlease was one on considerable importance in north Connacht in the
late seventh and early eight century. Tirechan claims, in the Book of Armagh,
that St Patrick founded a church there. Certainly by the late seventh
century the cult of Patrick was very strong in Drumlease.
The Franciscan Friary at Creevalea,
just outside the town. was founded in 1508 by Margaret O'Brien of
Thomond, the wife of the local chieftain Owen O'Rourke who had his
castle in Dromahair. The Friary finally closed c. 1650. It is likely
that there was a Mass house in the area in the second half of the
eighteenth century. Unusually though, the town had no permanent church
as late as 1888. In that year the parish priest, Fr Cormac McSharry,
wrote to the Sligo Champion stating that 'for more than fifteen years
Mass has been celebrated in various houses [in Dromahair] - most of the
faithful have to kneel outside. For some time we have the use of a small
school house in which is a little moveable altar'.
He was drawing attention to their
plight and beginning to fund raise. The foundation stone for a new
church was laid the following year, on St Patrick's Day, 1889. St
Patrick's Church was built in less than a year. The contractor was
Patrick Scott from Navan. His brother Anthony was the architect. The
church was dedicated on 9th March 1890 by Bishop Edward McGeinnis. It
cost £3,000 to build. The landlord George Lane Fox donated £50. His
agent Francis La Touche gave £20. Extensive work was carried out on the
church in 1990 and it was rededicated with a centenary Mass on 9th March
1990. ' From: 'Churches of the Diocese of Kilmore' by
Fr Liam Kelly - Published 2005. |
