Castledaly church hosts week-long 150th anniversary celebrations
St Ciaran's Church in Castledaly is to host a week-long celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of the church.
Moate parish priest Monsignor Bernard Noonan is inviting those from the local community and with a connection to St Ciaran's Church to join the milestone occasion.
"I'm delighted to be celebrating, to mark a 150th anniversary, it's a high point for any parish," Fr Bernard said. "St Ciaran's Church was built in the 1870s, just 20 years after the famine, and it's just amazing to think that those people had the energy, the foresight, and the creativity to build a church at that time.
"This celebration is a way to mark the efforts of those incredible people who gave their all for their faith. Thanks to those people, we have St Ciaran's Church today at the centre of our community."
The anniversary celebrations will run from Saturday, May 3, to Sunday, May 11, and include a number of special events.
The events commence on Saturday, May 3, with a Mass in St Ciaran's Church at 6pm and blessing of the church. This will be followed by Stations of the Cross, a walking in procession to Kilcleagh Cemetery, a prayer service and blessing of graves.
"It's very important for us to remember those who are in the graveyard, who built the faith in the local parish over the years. Blessing the graves is a way to thank them for their faith," said Fr Bernard.
A Youth Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, May 4, at 10am, and on Bank Holiday Monday, Mass will be celebrated in Castledaly GAA at 12pm by Fr Joe Campbell, followed by blessing of the pitch, with a family fun day and barbecue also to be held at the club grounds.
Next Tuesday, May 6, the 7.30pm a Mass by Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin will feature a marriage jubilee celebration to mark the 25, 35, 50, 60 and 65-year anniversaries of a number of local couples.
On Wednesday, May 7, Ballinahown's Fr Brendan O'Sullivan will carry out the healing and anointing of the sick as part of the Mass at 7.30pm. On Thursday, May 8, at 7.30pm, there will be musical entertainment as well as a talk on the history of St Ciaran's Church and the local area, which will be delivered by Alan Duffy.
On Friday, May 9, at 3pm, Bishop Paul Connell, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois, will host the Confirmation for students from Kilcleagh National School, as well as students from St Oliver Plunkett BNS and St Brigid's Primary School in Moate.
First Holy Communion for Kilcleagh NS pupils will be celebrated on Saturday, May 10, at 1pm, and the celebrations will conclude with a Closing Mass/Baptism by Athlone's Fr John Roache on Sunday, May 11 at 10am.
The parish priest of Moate Parish, which includes St Ciaran's Church, Castledaly and Corpus Christi Church, Mount Temple, is Fr Bernard Noonan. Fr Liam Farrell has served in the parish for many years, with Fr Reji Kurian also based in the parish at present.
The planning committee for the 150th anniversary of St Ciaran's Church consisted of Olivia Goeghan, Jean Gaffey, Siobhan Kerrigan, Grainne Dunican, Pat Kelly, John O'Brien, Anne Duffy, and Fr Liam Farrell.
"I'm so thankful to all the committee members, who have been planning for almost eight weeks, and to Castledaly GAA," said Fr Bernard. "We'd like to invite people from Castledaly, and those from further afield to join us in celebrating across the week, everyone is welcome to come along."