Celebrations mark 200th anniversary of Dysart church

The bicentenary of the establishment of Dysart Catholic Church in South Roscommon was celebrated on Sunday.

A large attendance gathered for mass, the unveiling of a plaque and a community celebration afterwards.

Dysart Catholic Church which is part of the united parishes of Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara was built in 1825, at a time when the nation was still burdened by the harsh legacies of the Penal Laws and emerging from centuries of religious suppression.

The church building was initially a modest, rectangular barn structure. For two centuries, it has stood as a steadfast symbol of spiritual nourishment, a beacon of hope, and a centre of communal life and faith for generations of parishioners in this area.

Throughout its 200-year history, the church building has evolved over the decades and has been renovated, restored, and preserved with the sensitive care of dedicated parishioners and clergy. Its colonnaded limestone structure with its magnificent stained-glass windows which add to the grandeur of the building that is much admired by its many callers.

Sunday’s celebrations included Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Kevin Doran. This will be followed by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the church grounds. Afterwards, in Dysart Community Centre, a souvenir booklet was launched tracing the history of Christianity in Dysart from Patrician times to the present church.