| Carrickerry Church
© Carrickerry Church
St Mary's Church, Carrickerry, was built in 1878 on a site
donated by the Stack Family and with the help of a generous gift of £800.00
from the local landlord Mr McNamara. It was dedicated to St Mary. Due
to legalities, a deed had to be written up. A copy of this deed, in the
possession of Fr Dan Lane PP, tells us that the area of the site was one
rood and twelve perches. The legal rent stated on the deed was one penny
sterling annually. The composition of the soil demanded that the foundations,
which were laid on pitch pine planks, had to be twelve feet deep.
© Altar in Carrickerry Church
The very beautiful cut stone building was erected with material
drawn from Moig Quarry near Shanagolden. Horse and cart using voluntary
labour drew all the stone. In the early years people worshipped on a gravelled
floor. The workmen who built the church were Michael O'Brady, Tommy Barrett,
Bill Taylor, Ned Dalton, Tom Hannafin, Dan Aherne, Denis Hayes, and Bill
Dalton.
© Inscription over the
doorway in St Mary's
The windows in the church are all plain. There is a statue
to Sacred Heart on the left of the church while there is a statue to Mary
on the right of the altar.
© Statues in Carrickerry church
Fr Sheehan, who was parish priest in 1895, donated the Stations
of the Cross and is also credited with laying the first floor in the church.
The erection of the gallery and the installation of the seats took place
under Fr. Reeves who was parish priest in 1916. The church was completely
renovated, blessed and re-opened on August 21, 1987. A marble altar, chair,
lectern, tabernacle, pedestal, and credence table were installed on October
14th 1989, with sincere thanks to the Oblate Fathers, Dublin for donating
the marble for the altar and to the parishioners of Ardagh/Carrickerry
for their generosity. Many other improvements have been made to the church
since then and today the building is still one of the finest cut stone
buildings in the diocese. St Mary's church is now a listed building.
© Stations of the Cross
One feature of particular interest in the parish today involves both
churches. Radio transmitters have been placed in both churches and each
week mass is broadcast for those that are housebound but still want to
partake in the parish mass. The parish also donated the radio receivers
to those to whom the scheme applied.
 
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