Oulart& The Ballagh

LOCKDOWN

With schools, sports organisations, community centres, churches, local organisations etc closed and their activities suspended on account of the Covid-19 pandemic there is little or nothing to report except to encourage people to adhere to the HSE and government regulations.

We hope that all readers and contributors to these Local Notes, and their loved ones, continue to stay safe and that our community is spared the ravages of the pandemic. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy looking back at some of the items and personalities that made the news in former years.

GAA/CAMOGIE HERE TO HELP

Oulart-The Ballagh GAA and camogie personnel are available to help people in the local community with shopping, collecting medications etc or in any other necessary way and assure you that help is only a phone call away. Be assured that a member is always available to help. C.

ontact GAA chairman, Bartle Sinnott (087 2041896), camogie chairperson Patrick Fortune (087 9339950) or Coiste na nÓg chairperson, Liz Freeman (087 7560871) all of whom will make sure you get the help you need.

HISTORY OF ST PATRICK’S CHURCH

On Sunday, September 12, 1909, St Patrick’s Church, Oulart was officially opened and the First Mass was celebrated at 8 a.m. by Fr John O’Dowd, a native of the parish, who had been appointed curate there in 1905, to assist the aging parish priest, Rev Patrick Kenny, who had been curate in Oulart (1853-1860) and parish priest (1864-1911). Prior to his appointment to Oulart Fr O’Dowd had been 20 years on the Australian Mission.

The second Mass was celebrated at 11 o’clock by Rev F. McDonald who was serving on the English Mission and was at that time, on a visit to his relatives in Oulart.

All through the period of building, the parish priest had been unwell and confined to the house. In October he was able to be brought to the church in an invalid chair and he remarked that he was ‘simply astonished at the beauty and elegance of the structure’.

BUILDERS AND MATERIALS – The architect chosen to draw the plans for the new parish church was George L. O’Connor of Brunswick St, Dublin. John Bolger, Blackwater was the building contractor given the task of erecting the church. He was the grandfather of the Royce family, Ballinerode. The stonework is hammered Knockavacca stone from Boolavogue. The cut granite is from the Ballyknocken Quarries, near Blessington.

The ceiling is the work of James Shipley. One of Shipley’s assistants was local carpenter, Matt Quirk, whose brother, Ned Quirk made the huge main entrance door for the church.

The centre-light of the threelight window in the sanctuary was presented by the Right Rev Henry Cleary, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, in memory of his parents Robert and Susan Cleary of Glinn. The bishop also donated the left-hand side light, representing St Patrick while his sister Margaret Cleary of Glinn donated the side-light, depicting St Brigid.

CENTENARY – A hundred years later the Centenary of St Patrick’s Church was celebrated in 2009 when Fr John Jordan was parish priest. Other parish priests who served in Oulart were Rev John Maher (1911-1940), Rev John O’Grady (1940-1959), Rev Timothy Nolan (1959), Rev Edward J Kehoe (1960-1976), Rev Séamas S. de Vál (19761997). The present parish priest of Oulart is Rev Patrick Browne, whose contact number is 053 9136139.

THE 1918 BAZAAR

A big fundraising venture, in aid of St Patrick’s Church, took place over two days in 1918, on Thursday, August 15, and Sunday, August 18.

On the Thursday (the feast of the Assumption and a Holy Day) in the field behind the parochial house (now Mayview Park) an athletic sports meeting was held. The competitions were confined to the parish and the handicapper and starter was P. McCullagh of Ferns, the secretary of Wexford GAA.

Following that, a football match was played between volunteers of Enniscorthy and a team from Oulart parish. Seven stalls had been erected in the avenue leading to the priest’s house, each bore a local placenames and was looked after by a ladies committee.

The first day’s proceedings were concluded by the production of a play ‘The wedding of Maggie Dempsey’ by Marshalstown Dramatic Society.

SUNDAY’S BAZAAR – On both days Bands from Gorey and Castlebridge entertained the attendance while on Sunday, hurling matches between Blackwater and Oylegate (junior) and a senior match between Castlebridge and Glenbrien took place.

Then a two-mile ‘marathon’ race was run with the following result: First John Murray, The Ballagh, second Philip Kinsella, Raheenaskeagh, third P Hall, Raheenaskeagh. The other runners were John Mahon, Ballytarsna and Jim Morton, Oulart.

All the unsold articles on the stalls were auctioned at the end of the day. A concert followed and the bazaar concluded with a dance, in the old school-house, which went on till the early hours.

A NEW CHURCH FOR THE BALLAGH

The first sod for the present Catholic Church in the Ballagh was turned on February 27, 1949, by Oulart parish priest, Rev John O’Grady assisted by curate of the Ballagh Rev James Furlong. The foundation stone was laid on May 22 that same year, after Confirmation in Oulart.

The Church of St John the Baptist was blessed and dedicated by Bishop James Staunton on July 1, 1951.

This fine building replaced the early nineteenth century church that stood in what is now the yard of the priest’s house where the outline of the old church can be traced.

LOCAL NOTES

If you want coverage of your organisation, club or family’s important occasions or successes please contact your Local Correspondent, Breda Jacob by phone, text (086 1686978) or email mickjacobjr@yahoo.co.uk no later than 8 p.m. on Thursday prior to publication.

In these difficult days we all need positive stories to cheer us up so if you have any good news to relate we would be more than pleased to include it here. There is no charge for including an item in the Local Notes.