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Priests who served in Kilmore parish
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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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