Information about our Parish History maintained by our parish office.
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Rev. John Rooney
• Rev. John Rooney (1886-1911) was born at Athlumney (then Parish of Johnstown) in October1829. He studied at St. Finian’s Seminary in Navan and entered Maynooth in August 1850. He wasordained by Dr. Cantwell (Bishop of Meath) on 10th August 1857 and during the next decade he wasattached to the teaching staff of All Hallows.…
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Rev. John Kilmartin
• Rev. John Kilmartin (1936-1941) was born in Dundalk. He was educated in Dundalk, Cork and at St.Finian’s. He entered Maynooth in Autumn 1910 and was ordained in June 1915. He served as curate in Nobber, Milltown, Rathkenny and a s administrator in Navan where he organised a successful bazaar for the extension of the…
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Rev. Patrick Forde
• Rev. Patrick Forde (1932-1936) was born in Killucan parish in July 1884. He was educated a t St.Mary’s, Mullingar, the seminary and the Irish College, Paris. He was ordained at Maynooth on 19th June 1910 and served as curate at Dysart, Ardcath, Eglish, Moynalty, Dunboyne, Summerhill, and Kilskyre. Fr. Forde was appointed Parish Priest…
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Rev. Eamonn Butler
• Rev. Eamonn Butler (1979-2000) was born in Moylough, Oldcastle and was educated a t St. Finian’s College and Maynooth where he was ordained in 1948. Following a period from 1948-1952 when he was on loan to the Diocese of Sacramento, California, Fr. Butler returned to the diocese and served as curate at Carnaross and…
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Rev. Michael Jennings
• Rev. Michael Jennings (1960-1979) was a native of Mullingar and was educated at St. Mary’s C.B.S., St. Finian’s College and Maynooth where he was ordained in 1928. Following a period in which he was on loan to San Francisco Archdiocese, U.S.A. he was appointed curate at Kinnegad. He subsequently served in Kilcloon, Kilcormac and…
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Rev. Anthony O’Neill
• Rev. Anthony O’Neill (1941-1960) was born in 1895 in Ballymore parish. He was educated at St. Finian’s College and the Irish College in Rome. He was ordained in Maynooth in 1919 and served as a reader in Dunboyne and then as curate in the parishes of Kilmessan, Stamullen, Summerhill, Slane, Mountnugent, Kilcloon and Moynalvey.…
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Ballinavoran Church
In 1788 Dr. Plunket noted ‘one chapel repaired’. It was probably that at Ballinavoran. In 1836 the writer in the Name Book made the note: ‘ 8 perches from Ballynavoran Bridge is a Roman Catholic chapel in very bad repair, it is 2 stories and thatched’. About this time, Lewis describes it as ‘ a…
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Meath Hill School (1941-1988)
The Meath Hill school of 1854 was replaced by a new school which was begun in 1941 and opened in 1942 following the appointment of Fr. O’Neill. The building has been improved on a number of occasions, but a major extension and renovation job planned for 1986 was shelved due to cut-backs in funding.In 1940…
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Meath Hill Church
Meath Hill Church was erected by Fr. McCormack in 1843, and was dedicated to St. Patrick. It was rectangular shaped with one long aisle and the altar on the south wall. Prior to the completion of Fr. Brady’s history in the 1930’s the dedication of the church had been changed to St. Brigid.In 1943 the…
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Ballinavoran: Confirmation Records
Here are some statistics taken from Dr. Plunket’s diaries regarding his visitation to the parish.1782 Ballinavoran (Rev. Mr. Maglew) 8 confirmed1786 Ballinavoran (Rev. Luke M’Glew) 14 confirmed1797 Ardagh and Drumconrath at Ballinavoran Church (Rev. Luke M’Glew) 3 6 confirmed1798 Ballinavoran (Rev. Luke M’Glew) 1 6 confirmed Dr. Plunket writes “I announced to the pastor that I must send…
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