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Rev. John Stafford ministered
in the district from 1590 to 1608. His will was admitted to
probate in 1609. He is referred to as Rev. John Stafford, Balliborne,
Kilmore. (Grattan Flood).
Rev. William Hanton lived at Pullingtown
(1609).
Rev. Patrick Keating would seem
to have been pastor of Kilmore in 1637, as there is a chalice
still in existence recording that Fr Keating had it made for
the parish of St Patrick, Kilmore, in that year (Grattan Flood).
Rev. Nicholas Mayler was killed
by Cromwellian soldiers while celebrating Mass on Christmas
morning, in the year 1653, in a "knock of furze" at
Lingstown. A woman in the congregation secured the chalice,
hiding it under her cloak, and this chalice is preserved in
the parish of Kilmore. Fr Mayler was buried in Tomhaggard.
Rev. Richard Norton was highly
esteemed by Bishop Wadding. In his will, dated 1692, his name
is given as "Richard Carney or Norton".(c.1653)
Rev. William Lambert (Lamporte) was
ordained on 28th September 1695 in Lamore, Spain, registered
himself as PP of Kilmore, Kilturk, and Ballymore, in 1704. In
Parliamentary Papers of 1731, he is given as PP Killinick and
Mayglass. He died in January 1733 and was buried in the cemetery
at Our Lady's Island.
Rev John Stafford was PP from
1733 to December 1755.
Rev Peter Devereux was appointed
PP Kilmore in 1756 and lived at Ballyhealy. He became Archdeacon
of Ferns.
He left a bequest for the education of diocesan students for
the priesthood, but the Napoleonic wars prevented the implementation
of his intention. The fund was subsequently used in establishing
St Peter's College, Wexford. He died on 15th April 1794 and
was buried in Tomhaggard.
Rev Andrew Corish was a member
of the Lough family of Corish. He was uncle of Very Rev. Peter
Corish, PP Bannow, and great-granduncle of Very Rev. John Corish,
PP Ballymore, and Rev. P. A. Corish, OSA, Carrig-on-Suir. He
was appointed PP on 14th May 1794, and to him is due the present
parochial church of Kilmore, commenced in 1798 and finished
in 1802. He lived with the Paries of Clongaddy, where he died
on 7th November 1807, aged 55 years, and was buried, with the
other members of the Corish family, in the old churchyard at
Bannow.
Rev Clement Pettit was ordained
by Bishop Caulfield on 17th May 1785, along with Rev. Michael
Murphy and Rev. Philip Roche who were involved in the Insurrection
of 1798, and Rev. Nicholas Cooney who died in Ferns in 1826.
Fr Pettit was made PP Kilmore in January 1808 and died on 20th
March 1827. During his pastorate, Rev. James Hore, CC, who was
promoted to be PP Oulart in 1823, built the churches of Tomhaggard
(1813) and Mulrankin (1816).
Rev James Walsh was educated at
Carlow College, from 1810 to 1814, and ordained for the Diocese
of Ferns. He served as curate in Ballycullane, before being
appointed to Crossabeg, on 6th September 1820. From Crossabeg
he was transferred to Wexford on 7th February 1823. On 10th
November 1826 he became CC at Kilmore and, five months later,
in April 1827, he was appointed PP Kilmore, on the death of
the Rev. Clement Pettit.
He is particularly remembered for his tireless efforts to improve
the lot of the fishermen of Kilmore and the pier at Kilmore
is a lasting monument to his memory, "which would never
have had existence, but for him."
Fr Walsh died on 3rd December 1850 after a long and severe illness.
He was in the sixtieth year of his age.
Rev. Philip Mayler and his brother,
Very Rev. Bernard Canon Mayler of Ferns, were natives of Gentstown,
in the old parish of Tomhaggard. These, as well as the families
of Harristown, Ballyseskin and Rathaspeck, were descended from
the Maylers of Duncormack, who were dispossessed of their castle
and estates in the Cromwellian confiscation. After the seizure
of their castle and lands the Maylers settled at Ballyhealy,
the lease of which they were enabled to keep through the kindness
of the rector of Kilmore, Rev. Roger Vigors. They afterwards
acquired Gentstown and Ballyseskin. Fr Philip Mayler was also
a relative of Rev. Nicholas Mayler, who was martyred by the
Cromwellians on Christmas morning 1653, while secretly celebrating
Mass in a knock of furze at Lingstown.
Fr Philip Mayler and his brother, Bernard, were educated in
Rome. Philip was born on 28th November 1805, matriculated at
Maynooth on 25th August 1825, and is listed as a subdeacon at
Maynooth in 1828. He left Rome for Ireland on 26th April 1832.
He was appointed curate at Enniscorthy on 3rd March 1835 and
transferred to Kilmore, as curate, on 21st October 1836. He
was appointed Parish Priest on 4th December 1850 and, some years
later, Archdeacon of Ferns.
Archdeacon Meyler built the church at Kilmore Quay. The church
was dedicated by Most Rev. Dr Furlong, the High Mass of dedication
being celebrated by Rev. William Fortune, CC, who later became
parish priest of Taghmon. The great window in the church at
Kilmore Quay is a replica of the window in the old ruined pre-Reformation
church in Tomhaggard cemetery, of which the Archdeacon's kinsman,
the martyred Priest, Rev. Nicholas Mayler, was the last Pastor.
In those days, when trips to the Continent were rare, Archdeacon
Mayler, accompanied by some relatives, went to Rome to visit
the scenes of his student days. On that trip he examined the
details of every little church and oratory he met, with a view
to providing the very best for his own new church of St Peter
at Kilmore Quay, replacing the old Catholic church of Kilturk.
He also effected many improvements in the parish. His curate,
Rev. John Keating, added a new wing to Mulrankin church in 1861.
Venerable Archdeacon Mayler, PP, DD, died on 12th January 1884.
Rev. Mark O'Gorman was born at
Kellystown, Adamstown, in the year 1837. Many of Canon O'Gorman's
kinsfolk were priests of this diocese: Fr Edward O'Flaherty,
who was a curate in New Ross in 1798; his granduncle, Fr Jeremiah
Gormacan, or O'Gorman, who built the church at Sutton's Parish
when it first became possible, after Emancipation, to erect
ornate churches with bells; and Fr Dunne, who was PP Sutton's
Parish. Canon O'Gorman was also an uncle of Rev. Patrick King,
PP Ballycullane, and Rev. Jeremiah King, PP Bree.
He studied at St Peter's College and then went to the Irish
College at Paris, where he completed his ecclesiastical course,
and was ordained by Dr Furlong in St Peter's College on 28th
December 1866 together with Rev. Walter Barry and Rev. Joseph
Murphy. In January 1867 he was sent as curate to Monamolin,
and to Enniscorthy on 5th July 1868. In January 1882 he went
as assistant to Archdeacon Mayler, with the right of succession,
and was appointed Parish Priest in February 1884 - the last
appointment made by Bishop Warren.
In political life he supported the Irish Party and presided
in Kilmore at several meetings in support of the nationalist
candidates, being convinced that the only effective way to secure
national freedom was by constitutional methods.
It was under his supervision that new technical schools, conducted
by the Sisters of St John of God, were erected in Kilmore. He
also built a new hall. He made improvements to the old church
and the schools of the parish and built a new wing to the parish
church. He was appointed Precentor of Ferns. Very Rev. Mark
O'Gorman died on 9th June 1919, after a long illness. He was
81 years of age. On the 16th of May 1920 a fine pulpit was dedicated
to his memory, on which occasion Rev. Richard Walsh, MSS, preached
the sermon.
Rev James O'Byrne was born in
Cushinstown and was brother of Rev. Maurice O'Byrne, who died
PP Port Elizabeth. His father was Patrick O'Byrne, Cushinstown.
His mother was a sister of Rev. David O'Hanlon Walsh. Amongst
his kinsmen were: Venerable Philip Mayler, DD, Archdeacon of
Ferns, and his brother, Very Rev. Bernard Ennis Mayler, PP Ferns;
Fr Ennis of Mayglass and Rev. M. O'Connor, CC Wexford.
Having completed his studies in St Peter's College, he made
his theological studies at Maynooth, 1888 to 1895. He was ordained
at St Peter's College, with Rev. John Howell and Rev. Thomas
Hore, on Sunday, 27th January 1895.
After ordination he did temporary duty in Blackwater for Rev.
M. E. Kavanagh from February 1895. He then served as curate
in Monaseed from March 1896 until he was transferred to Wexford,
on 1st October 1898. He published a book, giving a succinct
history of the Holy Family Confraternity in Wexford, during
half a century, from its formation by Fr Walter Lambert, CC,
and Fr Harbison, CSSR, with many interesting side-lights on
Wexford's religious and social life for fifty years. He was
transferred to Boolavogue in March 1911, and from there he was
appointed PP Kilmore on 3rd July 1919, on the death of Canon
O'Gorman.
Fr O'Byrne died on 3rd March 1925, at the age of 55, and was
interred in Kilmore.
Rev James Furlong was born in
the parish of Rathnure in the year 1874. He began his preparatory
studies at St Peter's College. After his secondary course at
St Peter's, he went to Maynooth, 1893-1899. He was ordained
in St Peter's College Chapel on 1st May 1899 with Fr Thomas
Scallan of Ballinesker.
His first appointment was to the curacy of Screen, 1st September
1899, where he ministered for nearly twenty-six years and where
he erected the curate's residence. He was promoted to the pastoral
charge of Kilmore on 26th March 1925.
Archdeacon Furlong shunned publicity but privately was a supporter
of Sinn Fein. He carried out many improvements in Kilmore Church,
including a new sacristy and the heating of the chapel.
On the death of the Venerable Archdeacon Dunne, PP, VF, Castlebridge,
he was promoted Vicar Forane of the Deanery of Wexford and in
1950 Archdeacon of the diocese.
Venerable James Archdeacon Furlong, PP Kilmore, died at the
Meath Hospital, Dublin, on Sunday, 7th April 1951.
Rev. Patrick Doyle was a native
of Castlewhite, near Carnew, and was a member of a highly respected
family, several of whom entered the religious life. He was a
relative of Very Rev. Edward Doyle, PP Ballymore.
He studied in St Peter's College, Wexford, and at St Patrick's
College, Maynooth, where he was ordained on 28th April 1918.
Shortly after his ordination he was sent on a temporary mission
to London, where he served at the Church of Our Lady of the
Angels, Bayswater. On his return from London he was appointed
to Gorey, on 10th July 1919. From Gorey he was transferred to
Wexford on 4th April 1922 and became Administrator in 1947.
He was appointed Parish Priest of Kilmore on 26th May 1951.
In Kilmore he played a major part in the provision of a new
cemetery, erected a Grotto to Our Lady on the roadside between
Kilmore Village and Kilmore Quay, and was responsible for the
erection of a new school at Kilturk. He died on Monday, 21st
November 1960.
Rev. William J Gaul was the only
son of Captain and Mrs William J. Gaul, Paul Quay House, Wexford.
H received his early education at Wexford Christian Brothers'
Schools. He attended St Peter's College for his secondary courses,
and entered the seminary there for short time. He was then sent
to Rome, to the University of St John Lateran. There to studied
philosophy and theology and obtained the Licentiate in Sacred
Theology. Hi was ordained at St John Lateran's, Rome, on 16th
April 1927.
Returning from Rome he spent a short time in pastoral work,
in South London Fr Gaul was appointed to the teaching staff
of St Peter's College one year later. Here he had charge of
music in the secondary school and Gregorian chant and sacred
music in the seminary. He was also physical culture director
and gamesmaster. Before leaving St Peter's he was happy to see
the College reach the Senior Colleges' Hurling Final. He was
founder of the College's Operatic Society.
In 1932 he founded St Michael's Boys' Club, and two years later
instituted a summer holiday camp for the boys at Ballinesker,
Curracloe. The St Vincent de Paul Society aided him in this
project.
In 1942 the camp was transferred to Carne and, in just three
years, a magnificent premises was acquired, given to Fr Gaul
by a generous Protestant lady, Mrs Weldon. This was the forerunner
of the Carne Holiday Centre. The holiday project took quite
an amount of financing, but Fr Gaul overcame that problem too.
In 1938 he started the famous Penny Bank, affording boys and
their families the opportunity of saving for Christmas. The
first year's savings reached just over £2. By 1961 it
had reached £25,000 and, ten years later, had more than
doubled that amount.
Fr Gaul became President of St Peter's College in June 1959.
A lover of music, he was a talented pianist. He was director
of Gregorian chant for the diocese of Ferns and adjudicated
at festivals in the diocese and outside it for a number of years.
He was appointed PP Kilmore on 5th June 1961. He was made a
Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in 1973 and, in January 1985,
he was appointed Archdeacon. In 1965 Fr Gaul established a Parish
Council. In the years following, his four churches were fully
renovated and a central School for more than five hundred primary
pupils was built.
The Venerable Archdeacon William Canon Gaul, PP, VF, died at
Ely Private Hospital, Wexford, on 18th May 1985. He was 83 years
of age and 58 years a priest
Rev. Tomás O'Neill was
son of Martin and Mrs O'Neill, nee O'Dowd, Charlesfort, Ferns.
Martin O'Neill was a former secretary of the Leinster Council
of the GAA. Fr O'Neill was educated at St Peter's College, Wexford,
where he was ordained on 31st May 1959.
He was appointed CC Horeswood on 22nd June 1959. From Horeswood
he was transferred to Clongeen on 12th May 1962. His next curacy
was Monaseed, 29th April 1968. On 22nd June 1974 he was transferred
to Rosslare, and from there to Kilmore, as Parish Priest, on
28th August 1985.
His pastorate was a short one. His health broke down and he
died after a protracted illness on 23rd September 1987.
Rev. Patrick Furlong was a native
of Littlegraigue, Duncormack, and son of John J. and Alice Furlong,
nee Cullen, was born in 1935. He received his education at Danescastle
National School, 1940-1949; St Peter's College, September 1949-1954;
St Peter's Seminary, September 1954-1960. He was ordained at
St Peter's College on 5th June 1960.
He was appointed CC Screen, 20th June 1960, and in 1963 was
responsible for the building of a new school. He went as CC
to Kiltealy on 10th January 1966; during his time there, in
1975-1976 the church was renovated. He was appointed CC The
Ballagh, 31st August 1981, and PP Kilmore, 20th November 1987.
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