200 years of Our Lady's Church in Carbally

The community of Tramore and Carbally came together last week to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Our Lady’s Church.

During a celebratory mass attended by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan and a number of former parish priests, a packed congregation got to hear about the vast history of the church courtesy of Michael Farrell.

Symbols were brought to the altar to reflect on the church’s history, including the parish baptism records, baskets, the original church chalice from 1837, a bouquet of flowers, and the church keys.

There is very little information about Carbally church in church records, Michael Farrell said. He did, however, provide a fascinating insight into its construction and history.

“The site for the church was given by the local landlord, Lord Fortescue who was a protestant, who also gave a donation for the construction of the church,” he said.

Another protestant, George Lymbery of Ballylough (better known today as Belle Lake) also donated £5. This George Lymbery was a direct descendant of one of Cromwell’s planters who confiscated Gaultier land."

Michael outlined that regarding the building of the church, all the work that could be done by the local people was done voluntarily.

The stones used in the building were quarried, drawn to the site by horse and cart, and probably shaped.

Sand, lime, gravel, slates, timber were all transported to the site and any work that could be done by the locals was done for free.

In 1824, money was scarce among the Catholic population of Carbally, and the local people had great pride in their church as they had done as much as possible to get it built.

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Michael said, “The parish priest at the time was very old, he died in 1830 at the age of 92. The responsibility of the building of the church fell to the curate, Fr Colbert. Without Fr Colbert taking on that job we would not be here today.” 

The church originally had a wooden altar, on both sides of which were Grecian pillars, which were nearly touching the ceiling and were supported by a canopy with a Grecian pattern.

The floor of the church consisted of lime and gravel. There were no church benches but there were several forms (long benches without a back) instead. The external walls of the church were just local brown sandstone without any plaster.

In the period of the late 1880s the church in Carbally was renovated. The Grecian pillar and the canopy were removed. The lime and gravel floor was replaced by a wooden floor. A new altar was installed and the external walls were plastered. The forms were taken out and replaced by church benches.

When the old altar was taken out and the new altar put in there was an unfinished inscription put on the right-hand side of the base of the new altar.

The inscription reads: “Of your charity pray for the soul of Martin Flynn who died May 9, 1870, and his wife, Catherine Kirwan, who died March 5, 1870. This altar is…” 

The reason the inscription is unfinished is unknown, however, the Martin Flynn who is mentioned with his wife Catherine Kirwan was the owner of a licensed premises at the crossroads situated south of the church. In Martin Flynn’s will it was his wish to donate £100 for the erection of an altar in the church.

Like other churches, Carbally Church had a gallery when it was built in 1824, which escaped the renovations of the late 1880s. Therefore, the original church forms, which were left in the gallery, are still in the gallery today.

During the mass, words of thanks on behalf of Carbally Parish Council were presented by Noel Kelly.

“This place has been witness to many historic events, such as the granting of Catholic Emancipation, the impact of the Famine, the Land Wars and the War of Independence,” he said.

“Throughout those turbulent times, this Church has been a major part of the lives of our local community and has been with them throughout their joys and their sorrows.

“However, we know that as the current generation, we are merely custodians of the Church in this present time. We inherited it from those gone before us and are preparing in our own individual way to pass it on to the generation coming after us. But will they wish to receive it?

“Our hope is that they will and that there will be someone here to take those keys from us.” 

Thanks was expressed to Bishop Cullinan and parish priests Fr Richard O'Halloran and Fr Tadeusz for their tireless work.

A special word of appreciation was also expressed to Mons. O'Mahony, Fr Shane, Fr Bobby, Fr Tom, all those who engage in ministries within the parish every week, sacristan Mary Manton and former sacristan Kathleen Maher.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks was offered to the community and all who support the church and have done so down through the years.