This June marks the bicentenary of a Laois church.

The Church of Saint Kieran, Knockaroo has a long and rich history dating back to the 1760s, when it formed part of the parish of nearby Aghaboe.

To mark the occasion, Áilís de Búrca wrote a history of the Knockaroo church, that was compiled by Geraldine & Rachel Campion.

The church was established during the Penal Law era, when restrictions on the practice of Catholic worship placed most of the population outside the protection of the law.

Pictured: The Church of Saint Kieran, Knockaroo 

By 1796, a chapel was provided at Knockaroo, built by the Rev Partick Delaney, P.P, on a site granted for the purpose by the
Rev. Richard Carden of Lismore, the Protestant Curate of Skirk.

Up until the second millennium, most of Ireland’s churches were simple wooden, thatched structures- the old Irish word for a church is dairteach or dairtheach - house of oak.

An inscription marking the centenary of the church reads: "This Church was built by the Rev John Kavanagh P.P 1825 A.D. To commemorate its centenary 1925 A.D. this tablet has been erected by the Rev. James Dillon P.P.".

Pictured: The plaque marking the church's first centenary in 1925

The name comes from Saint Kierán, first Bishop of Ossory and patron of the Diocese founded a great monastery at Saighir Kieran and established his Episcopal See there. By 1118, The See of Ossory was changed to Aghaboe, – Achadh Bhó: Ox’s Field.

In 1855, twenty-four townlands were taken from the western section of Aghaboe parish and added to the newly formed parish of Borris-in-Ossory with the Rev. John Birch appointed as the first Parish Priest.

He was succeeded by the Rev. Michael Drea P.P. in May 1875, and in 1881 by the Rev. Martin Howley. P.P. This year also saw the establishment of a new school on a plot of ground adjacent to the Knockaroo Church. 

In 1887, the Rev. John Lynagh was appointed Parish Priest and was succeeded by the Rev. Martin Meaney. P.P. From 1898 to
1937, the parish was under the pastoral care of the Rev. James Dillon P.P. who, during his thirty-nine years is credited with many improvements in Knockaroo Church.

Pictured: Beautiful stained glass windows in the church, set in 1982

In 1925, the Church was re-roofed, new wooden flooring was laid and new pews installed. He consecrated a new altar to become the centre of all solemn parochial functions. He also installed the Via Crucis - the Way of the Cross – a meditation on the Passion of Christ in the fourteen devotional Stations.

He was responsible for the erection of the commemorative stone over the entrance door. Father Dillon was greatly assisted by the generous sum of money bequeathed by Beverly Smyth, the son of a firm of haulage contractors whose ancestors resided in Borris-in-Ossory about 1800.

Two members of the family rest in Knockaroo Cemetery marked by a monument bearing the following inscription: ‘Erected by Beverly Smyth in memory of his father Beverly Smyth who departed this life in March 1827, aged 60 years: also, his sister Margaret Smyth who died 19 th October 1839, aged 28 years’.

Pictured: the memorial to the Smyth family in Knockaroo cemetery.

The Rev. Canon Collier was appointed Parish Priest in 1982, and he organised the setting of stained-glass windows in the Church.

He upgraded the heating system and invested in maintenance equipment for the upkeep of the cemetery and laid tarmac on the entrance.

He erected the Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, used in the movie 'All things Bright and Beautiful. The Grotto Plaque reads: ‘Shrine to Our Lady, blessed by Sean Canon Collier P.P. 1 st . July, Jubilee Year 2000’.

Pictured:The shrine to Our Lady in Knockaroo

In early 1990 he received the Chapel Altar from the Convent of Mercy, Borris-in-Ossory and placed it in the Church of Saint Kieran.

Two wall plaques erected during the Jubilee Year 2000 are further reminders of the continuing commitment of the community of Knockaroo. The first plaque reads:  ‘In memory of all deceased members of the Kilcotton GAA Club 1884 – 1984.’

This was erected by members of the Kilcotton GAA Club, by way of tribute to their deceased members. The Club is one of the oldest in Laois, and was the only organisation of its time which provided a recreational outlet for the young men of the parish.

The second plaque acknowledges the car parking facility gifted by Jimmy and Mary Campion, Knockaroo, in memory of their parents: Laurence and Mary Campion, now deceased members of the Parish community.

Pictured: a plaque erected in 2000 in memory of Laurence and Mary Campion, RIP

The nearby Knockaroo Community Centre has had refurbishments over the years and plays an important role in local life and provides a venue for various gatherings, charity activities and meetings and was a hub for liturgical services during the Church’s refurbishment.

Today, the Church of Saint Kieran, Knockaroo, Borris-in-Ossory Parish, is under the leadership of the Rev. Father Jackie Robinson, who was appointed Parish Priest twenty-five years ago.

In 2010, he undertook a major renovation of the Church of Saint Kieran costing in excess of €340,000. The building was re-roofed, and a new heating system installed with full interior refurbishment. Again, the works were fully funded by the local community.

Pictured: Inside The Church of Saint Kieran, Knockaroo

Day-to-day liturgical operations in Saint Kieran’s, Knockaroo have been managed by a devoted line of dedicated Sacristans who have served Saint Kieran’s over the decades.

In the past, Brigid (Brigie) Nolan and Mary (Molly) Campion have given unwavering service. For close to the last half century, Josie Dunphy, with the assistance of her family, is continuing the tradition of protecting the sanctity and security of the Church.

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