| Priest |
Dates |
Bibliography |
| Rev. Nicholas Mayler |
c1600-1653 |
He was martyred at the Mass-rock in Tomhaggard while celebrating Mass on Christmas morning in 1653. He is reputedly buried with his kinsfolk within the ruin of the medieval church in Tomhaggard cemetery. He was descended from the Norman Maylers of Duncormick, who were dispossessed of their castle and estates in the Cromwellian confiscations. The family afterwards settled on property in Ballyhealy, the lease of which they were enabled to keep through the kindness of the Protestant Rector of Kilmore, the Rev Roger Vigors. |
| Bishop Michael Rossiter |
1648-1709 |
He was born in Bargy Castle, where his father, Thomas Rossiter of Rathmacknee, was then living. He was ordained in Lisbon in 1672. As Vicar General of the diocese he attended the provincial Council of Dublin on 24th July 1685. He was Dean in 1692, when he was nominated for the bishopric by James II and was consecrated bishop in 1698. That July he was named as one of the four Catholic prelates then supposed to be in the country. Tradition has it that he was buried with his ancestors in the churchyard of Rathmacknee. |
| Rev. Peter Devereux |
c1700 -1794 |
Little is known of him till he became parish priest of Kilmore in 1756 and lived at Ballyhealy. Later 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 was buried in Tomhaggard. |
| Rev. William Devereux |
c1705 -1771 |
He was appointed PP "Rathmanee" in 1729 . In the Parliamentary Report of 1731 he is given as "PP Killinic" , while in that of 1766 he appears as "PP Drinagh". He lived at Ballykilliane and is supposed to have built the house there, which has a slab inscribed "W.D. 1732", on the exterior wall. He was Chancellor of Ferns in 1739 and Vicar General of the diocese. He compiled a catechism for the Diocese of Ferns. The Kilmore carols are also attributed to him. His pastorate lasted 42 years during which he built the old thatched chapel at Murrintown, the predecessor to the present church. |
| Rev. Walter Herron |
c1740-1780? |
He was a student of the Irish College, Salamanca, 1758-64 and was ordained in 1764. He was a curate in Wexford from 1766 to 77 and parish priest from 1777 to 80. He was said to have been a Jesuit. |
| Rev. Patrick Murphy |
1786-1867 |
He was born at Cousinstown and did his early studies in the Old Seminary, Wexford. He entered Maynooth in 1806 and was ordained there in 1812 and appointed to Enniscorthy. He was appointed PP of Glynn in 1817 and made Canon of Ferns in 1827 and Dean in 1838. He built the church in Barntown of Pugin's design. He resigned in 1859 and lived in Wexford, but still retained his parochial rights of Glynn until his death. He is buried in the church at Barntown. |
| Rev. Philip Cullen |
c1793-1853 |
He was a native of Grayrobin. He was appointed curate in Cleristown in 1817 and was promoted to be Pastor of Rathangan in 1836. |
| Rev. Philip Mayler |
1805-1884 |
He was a native of Gentstown in the old parish of Tomhaggard. He was descended from the Maylers of Duncormick, who were dispossessed of their castle and estates in the Cromwellian confiscation. They settled in Ballyhealy and afterwards acquired Gentstown and Ballyeskin. He was a relative of the martyred Fr Nicholas Mayler. He was educated in Rome and returned to Ireland after ordination around 1829 and was curate in Enniscorthy in 1835. He was appointed parish priest there in 1850 and later became Archdeacon of Ferns. He built the church in Kilmore Quay. |
| Rev. Bernard E Mayler |
1809-1880 |
He was a brother of Fr Philip Mayler and also studied in Rome, where is was ordained in 1833 and appointed curate to the parish of Ferns. He became parish priest of Ferns in 1850. He took quite an interest in public affairs. "Trained under the leadership of O'Connell, he was ever convinced that the wrongs of Ireland could only be redressed, her people regenerated, and the basis of lasting prosperity effected, by moral and constitutional agencies alone." |
| Rev. William Murphy |
1814-1880 |
He was born at the Lake, Bridgetown, and was among the first students who entered St Peter's College (founded in 1819). He studied in Maynooth College and was ordained in the Cathedral in Enniscorthy in 1840. He spent three years in Annacurra and four years in Gorey. Here he witnessed the terrible effects of the Famine and the overcrowding of the Workhouse. In the "Black 47" he was transferred to Wexford. He was responsible for the building of the schools attached to the Presentation Convent. In 1863 he was appointed PP of Cushinstown and built the new church and parochial residence there and renovated the churches at Rathgarogue and Terrerath. |
| Rev. Thomas Busher |
1825-1895 |
He was born at Mount Pill. He was educated at St Peter's College and in Maynooth. He was ordained at Clarendon St, Dublin, in 1852. His first assignment was to Clongeen and he was appointed curate in Ferns in February 1854 and to New Ross in June 1854.He was very involved in local politics. He went to Wexford in 1858 and became parish priest of Newtownbarry (Bunclody) in 1870. He was Dean of Ferns from 1896. He built a new boys' school in Newtownbarry and also schools in Marshalstown, Castledockrell and Kilmyshal. Under his guidance the FCJ Sisters greatly enlarged their school. |
| Rev. John Keating |
c1830-1875 |
He was a native of Kilmore parish and went to Maynooth in 1848 and was ordained in 1853. He served in Courtnacuddy till 1862 when he was appointed to Murrintown. When the new parish of Craanford was created from the parish of Ballyoughter in May 1875 he became its first parish priest. However, after a short illness he died a month later. |
| Rev. William Sinnott |
c1830-1895 |
He was born at Ballagh Island, near Ballycogley and was educated for the priesthood at Maynooth College, 1951-1854. He was ordained in Dublin in 1854. His first appointment was curate at Riverchapel for less than a year. His later appointments were Cushinstown and New Ross (1859). He was Administrator there in 1871 and became its parish priest the following year. He fell into ill health in 1892 and retired from the ministry in 1893. |
| Rev. John Furlong |
1834-1900 |
He was a native of Soughane, Kilmore. His preliminary studies were completed at St Peter's College. Following his theological studies in Maynooth, he was ordained by Dr Furlong in St Peter's College in 1866. He was curate in Castlebridge till 1870 when he was transferred to Newtownbarry in 1870, to Riverchapel in 1873 and finally appointed PP of Ballygarrett in 1884. He was appointed Canon in 1896. |
| Rev. Nicholas Hore |
c1837-1906 |
He was a member of the Mount Pill family in the parish of Kilmore. His early classical studies were carried out in St Peter's College. In 1855 he went to St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained in Wexford by Bishop Furlong in 1861. He was curate in The Ballagh till 1863 when he was appointed to Marshalstown, which was then part of Newtownbarry parish. He was transferred to Cleristown in 1864, Ballymitty in 1870, Gorey in 1873. He was appointed PP of Tintern in 1875 and transferred as PP to Adamstown the following year and finally to Rathangan in 1887. |
| Rev. Stanislaus Joyce O.F.M. |
1849-1933 |
He was a native of Kilmore and studied in St Peter's College. In 1872 he entered the Franciscan Order and pursued his higher ecclesiastical studies at the Irish Franciscan College of St Isidore in Rome. He was ordained there in 1876. He worked for some years in Ireland and in 1880 went to Australia. He never returned to his native land, even for a holiday. In Australia he was one of the pioneer band of Franciscans which were in charge of the whole of the eastern part of Sydney, from Watson's Bay as far as Botany and la Perouse. He also instructed the Aborigine people in that area.He was responsible for the erection of the Paddington presbytery and laying the foundation of Clovelly parish. |
| Rev. Thomas Hore |
c1870-1936 |
He was a native of Tilladavin. He was educated at St. Peter's College and Maynooth, and was ordained in 1895 at St Peter's College. He was curate in Cleristown (1895), Gusserane (1897), Ballycullane (also 1897), Wexford (1908) and PP in Monageer in 1922. |
| Rev. Patrick Murphy |
1876-1971 |
He grew up in Whitehall, Kilmore, and received his early education at St Peter's College. He later studied at the Irish College in Rome and at Clonliffe College in Dublin. He was ordained in the Pro-Cathedral in June 1900. He entered the house of Missions the same year and spent 35 years there, giving missions and retreats in all parts of Ireland as well as in England, Scotland and Wales. He was offered the parish of Kilanerin in 1927, but he declined to accept owing to the small number of members in the house of Missions at the time. He completed Canon Ryan's volumes of sermons on the Epistles and Gospels of Sundays and Feast Days.He visited Argentina in 1934 and gave some retreats there. The following year he was appointed parish priest of Glynn and made a canon in 1954. He founded the Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society in 1920 and was closely associated with the Gaelic League. He was author of a booklet on the history of Our Lady's Island and wrote in many historical publications. He was responsible for the grotto of Our Lady at Whitechurch. He retired in 1969. |
| Rev. David Hore |
1901-1952 |
He was a brother of Thomas and the youngest in the family. He was educated at St Peter's College and was ordained there by Bishop Browne in 1901. He was one of the first students to complete the full course of studies for the priesthood at St Peter's College.He was appointed to Horeswood, Taghmon (1903), Kiltealy (1904), Terrerath (1905). After twenty-four years there he was appointed parish priest of Rathnure in 1929. He was made Canon in 1949. He was responsible for many parochial improvements in Rathnure, chief among them being the renovation of the 150-year-old parish church. These renovations included the re-roofing of the church, painting and decoration of the interior, installing new stained glass windows, new altar plate and equipment. At the time of his death he was engaged in arranging for the erection of a new national school. He established the first branch of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association in the parish. |
| Rev. Richard Browne |
1913-1964 |
He came from Rathronan Castle in Bridgetown, where his father was a prominent figure in the Land League and the Gaelic League. He was educated in St Peter's College, and later at Maynooth, where he was ordained in 1913. He served in Poulpeasty until 1916 when he was appointed curate in Enniscorthy. He remained there till 1931 when he went as curate to Glenbrien. He retired due to ill health in 1947, but spent his last years as chaplain to St Mary's Convent, Loftus Hall. |
| Rev. David Hore |
1945- |
He was a native of Tillidavin, Tomhaggard, and was educated at Tomhaggard National School and St Peter's College, where he was ordained in 1969. He joined the House of Missions for a year and was then appointed curate in Clongeen. The following year he began a year's course at the Catechetical Centre, Dundalk and returned to Clongeen. In 1973 he was transferred to St Leonard's and shortly afterwards went to Melbourne, Australia, and subsequently left the ministry. |
| Rev. John Doyle |
1942- |
He was a native of Tomhaggard. He was educated at St Peter's College, secondary and seminary,, where he was ordained in 1966. He was appointed curate in Monamolin, where he renovated the church, built a new presbytery and renovated the schools. He resigned in 1978 and subsequently left the ministry. |
| Rev. Joseph Power |
1948- |
He was born at Mount Pill, Tomhaggard. He went to Tomhaggard National School, St Peter's College school and Seminary where he was ordained in 1972. He spent four years at Kentish Town in London and then was appointed to New Ross. In 1981 he was appointed Bursar at St Peter's College, where he remained until he joined the Ferns missionary team in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 1996 he was appointed curate in Gorey and became the parish priest of Kilrush in 1998. |
| Rev.Michael Hore |
1949- |
A native of Tillidavin, Tomhaggard, He entered St Patrick's Seminary, Kiltegan, after finishing his secondary schooling in St Peter's College. He was ordained in 1973. His first assignment was the Island of Grenada in the Caribbean. Later he was attached to St George's Cathedral in the city of St George, where he was secretary to the bishop.He is now PP in Reading, England. |
| Rev.Nicholas Marshall |
1951- |
He was a native of Ballygrangans, Kilmore. He was educated first at Kilmore and then at St Peter's College and St Peter's seminary. He was ordained in Kilmore parish church in December 1974. He was curate at Tacumshane for a year and then went to the Archdiocese of Westminster and served at Our lady of Grace, Chiswick, London until 1981 when he was appointed to Wexford. He went to the Diocese of Motherwell, Scotland in 1990 and served at St Monica's Coatbridge for two years. He returned to Wexford until 1997 when he was appointed curate in Castledockrell. He was appointed parish priest of Rathangan in 2001. |
| Rev. Desmond Quigley |
1956- |
A native of Kilmore he was educated at Bridgetown Vocational School and then went to the seminary at St Peter's College, where he was ordained in 1980. He was appointed curate at Gusserane and the following year he took an appointment in the Archdiocese of Westminster in London. He subsequently left the ministry. |
