Parish Priests of Kilcormac and Killoughey

PARISH PRIESTS (PASTORS) OF KILCORMAC AND KILLOUGHEY

1781-1786 Rev. Henry Doherty Moved to Trim in 1786 and died there on 30 April 1796.

1786-1807 Rev. Michael Kearney Native of Athboy. Transferred to Tullamore in 1807 and Kells in 1820 where he died 11 February 1827.

1807-1814 Rev. Michael Callan. Native of Beabeg. Transferred to Drogheda in 1814 where he died in March 1837.

1814-1820 Rev. James O'Rafferty Native of Kinnegad. Transferred to Tullamore in1820 where he died 22 June 1857. According to Fr. Shaw’s history, around the year 1817 a secret anti-Orange Society called the Carders flourished in Killoughey and Ballyboy as well as in other parts of the Midlands. They were accused, among other crimes, of holding up mail coaches and of robbing and beating the passengers. Fr. Rafferty is credited with having converted the Carders from their lawless ways.

1820-1821 Rev. Awly McAuley Native of Offaly. Transferred to Castletown-Geoghegan where he died 25 July 1824.

1824-1863 Rev. Walter Lynch Native of Duleek. Died 23 December 1863. Buried in the church at Mountbolus which he built. A plaque to his memory is on the wall of the church.

1863 - 1888
Rev. Bernard Flood

was born in the parish of Kilbeg. He was educated at St.Finian's, then Carlow and Tuam and was ordained at Maynooth on the 5th June 1841. He officiated as curate in the parishes of Castlepollard, Milltown, Tullamore and Duleek and was promoted parish priest of Mayne in September 1863. After a brief pastorate of two months, he was translated (22 November) to Kilcormac, where he died 4 December 1888. He rests in the church at Kilcormac. The chapel in Mount Bolus was seated and repairs to the roof and windows were effected by Fr. Flood during 1863-67.

1888 - 1891 Rev. Christopher Morgan Born in Kentstown parish in November 1832. He studied at St. Finians, Navan and Maynooth and was ordained on 10th August, 1857. He served in Navan and Skreen before being appointed parish priest of Mountnugent and later Rahan. He was translated to Kilcormac on 25 November 1889 and died at the early age of 59 on 2 March 1891. He was buried with his predecessor.

1891 - 1899 Rev. Joseph Wheeler Born in Mullingar in 1843. Ordained at Pentecost in 1871. Educated at Mullingar, Navan and Maynooth, he was curate in Stamullen, Dunboyne, and administrator of Kilcloon and later Curraha. He was appointed parish priest of Mountnugent in December 1882 and was translated to Kilcormac on 27 July 1891. He died 8 December 1899. He rests in the church at Kilcormac. Fr. Wheeler improved the parish church and erected the convent schools.

1899 - 1901 Rev. Michael Bracken Born in Ballivor in January 1847. He was educated at St. Finian’s Navan and Maynooth. He was ordained on 29th June 1877. After ordination, he worked in Kilcormac and Tullamore. He became parish priest of Ballynabrackey in 1893 and parish priest of Kilcormac on 22 January 1900. He was translated to Clara 14 January 1901 and appointed Vicar General of the diocese of Meath in 1925. In Clara he decorated the interior of the church, and the spire was erected at his own expense. He resigned in September 1933 and died in December of the same year.

1901 - 1929
Rev. Edward O’Reilly

A native of Milltown, succeeded from the administratorship of Mullingar 11 March 1901. Born in April 1850, Fr. O’Reilly was educated at Navan and entered Maynooth in September 1874. He acted as Prefect of Studies at St. Finian's during 1879-80 and was ordained 20 June 1880. Mullingar was his only appointment. Although promoted to Kilcormac in March 1901, Fr. O’Reilly did not take possession of his parish until the following September. He resigned through ill-health in October 1929 and died 15 March 1932. He rests in the church grounds at Kilcormac. Fr. O’Reilly erected the Church bell at Mount Bolus. During his time a new floor was set down in the church and new windows were erected.

1929 - 1937 Rev. James Kane Born in the parish of Dunderry, Co. Meath in August 1872. He was educated at St. Finian’s Navan and Maynooth. After ordination on 18th June 1899, he ministered in the parishes of Moyvore, Longwood, Ballivor, Rochfortbridge and in 1912 became the first priest to live in the parochial house at Mountbolus. He was appointed parish priest of Slane on 17th October 1921 and was translated to Kilcormac on the 17th October 1929. He died after a brief illness on the 7th May 1937 and was buried near his predecessor.

1937 - 1952 Rev. John O'Connor Fr. O’Connor was a native of Kilbeggan, was educated at St. Finian’s and Maynooth and ordained at Kells on September 1st 1907. After a brief spell in Summerhill and Drogheda, he was appointed curate in Navan and later administrator. During his time there he contributed much to the social and cultural life of the parish and set up a Choral society. This interest continued when he was appointed Parish Priest of Stamullen in 1928 and later having been translated to Kilcormac on the 20th June 1937. He died on 12 June 1952.

1952 - 1958 Rev. James Johnson C.C., Oldcastle, succeeded in July 1952. A native of Horseleap, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1925 He served in Mountnugent, Kells, Eglish and Oldcastle (1935-52). He was appointed P.P., St. Mary's, Drogheda in 1958 and celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1975. He retired in 1978 and died on 5 June 1984

1958 - 1984 Rev. Andrew Shaw A native of Blackrock, Co. Dublin, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth where he was ordained on the 19th June 1928. Initially on loan to Southwark Diocese in London, he was later appointed curate in the parishes of Mountnugent, Drumconrath, Coole Kilbeggan, and Mullingar from 1937-52, He became Administrator of Mullingar until 1958 when he was appointed Parish Priest of Kilcormac. Fr. Shaw was an excellent historian and like other parishes where he served, Kilcormac and Killoughy have received an authoritative history at his hands. He retired on 1 November 1984 and died on 3 September 1986.

1984 - 1988 Rev. Thomas Mullen A native of Beauparc, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1957. He served in St. Augustine, Florida, for four years and for a further four years with the Emigrant Mission in London. On his return to Ireland, he served as curate in the parishes of Longwood, Taghmon and Collinstown and Tullamore before his appointment as Parish Priest on the 11th November 1984. He died suddenly on 8 June 1988.

1988 - 1989 Rev. William Cleary A native of Rathwire, Killucan, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1959. On loan to Ossory Diocese for two years and in 1961 was appointed chaplain to St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar. Appointed curate in Mullingar in 1968 and Administrator in 1982. He was appointed parish priest of Kilcormac on the 4th September 1988 and in November 1989, was appointed parish priest of Tullamore. He was appointed a Vicar General of the diocese of Meath in 1994, and prelate of the Holy See in 1995.

1989 – present day
Rev. Edmond Daly

A native of Summerhill parish, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1955. On loan to Kildare Diocese for seven years. Served in parishes of Coole, Daingean, Delvin, Kingscourt, Glasson, Gormanston – Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Tullamore and Rosemount before his appointment as parish priest of Curraha in 1984. Fr. Daly was appointed parish priest of Kilcormac in November 1989.

1781-1786	Rev. Henry Doherty	Moved to Trim in 1786 and died there on 30 April 1796.
1786-1807	Rev. Michael Kearney	Native of Athboy. Transferred to Tullamore in 1807 and Kells in 1820 where he died 11 February 1827.
1807-1814	Rev. Michael Callan.	Native of Beabeg. Transferred to Drogheda in 1814 where he died in March 1837.
1814-1820	Rev. James O'Rafferty	Native of Kinnegad. Transferred to Tullamore in1820 where he died 22 June 1857. According to Fr. Shaw’s history, around the year 1817 a secret anti-Orange Society called the Carders flourished in Killoughey and Ballyboy as well as in other parts of the Midlands. They were accused, among other crimes, of holding up mail coaches and of robbing and beating the passengers. Fr. Rafferty is credited with having converted the Carders from their lawless ways.
1820-1821	Rev. Awly McAuley	Native of Offaly. Transferred to Castletown-Geoghegan where he died 25 July 1824.
1824-1863	Rev. Walter Lynch	Native of Duleek. Died 23 December 1863. Buried in the church at Mountbolus which he built. A plaque to his memory is on the wall of the church.
1863 - 1888	Rev. Bernard Flood	was born in the parish of Kilbeg. He was educated at St.Finian's, then Carlow and Tuam and was ordained at Maynooth on the 5th June 1841. He officiated as curate in the parishes of Castlepollard, Milltown, Tullamore and Duleek and was promoted parish priest of Mayne in September 1863. After a brief pastorate of two months, he was translated (22 November) to Kilcormac, where he died 4 December 1888. He rests in the church at Kilcormac. The chapel in Mount Bolus was seated and repairs to the roof and windows were effected by Fr. Flood during 1863-67.
1888 - 1891	Rev. Christopher Morgan	Born in Kentstown parish in November 1832. He studied at St. Finians, Navan and Maynooth and was ordained on 10th August, 1857. He served in Navan and Skreen before being appointed parish priest of Mountnugent and later Rahan. He was translated to Kilcormac on 25 November 1889 and died at the early age of 59 on 2 March 1891. He was buried with his predecessor.
1891 - 1899	Rev. Joseph Wheeler	Born in Mullingar in 1843. Ordained at Pentecost in 1871. Educated at Mullingar, Navan and Maynooth, he was curate in Stamullen, Dunboyne, and administrator of Kilcloon and later Curraha. He was appointed parish priest of Mountnugent in December 1882 and was translated to Kilcormac on 27 July 1891. He died 8 December 1899. He rests in the church at Kilcormac. Fr. Wheeler improved the parish church and erected the convent schools.
1899 - 1901	Rev. Michael Bracken	Born in Ballivor in January 1847. He was educated at St. Finian’s Navan and Maynooth. He was ordained on 29th June 1877. After ordination, he worked in Kilcormac and Tullamore. He became parish priest of Ballynabrackey in 1893 and parish priest of Kilcormac on 22 January 1900. He was translated to Clara 14 January 1901 and appointed Vicar General of the diocese of Meath in 1925. In Clara he decorated the interior of the church, and the spire was erected at his own expense. He resigned in September 1933 and died in December of the same year.
1901 - 1929	Rev. Edward O’Reilly	A native of Milltown, succeeded from the administratorship of Mullingar 11 March 1901. Born in April 1850, Fr. O’Reilly was educated at Navan and entered Maynooth in September 1874. He acted as Prefect of Studies at St. Finian's during 1879-80 and was ordained 20 June 1880. Mullingar was his only appointment. Although promoted to Kilcormac in March 1901, Fr. O’Reilly did not take possession of his parish until the following September. He resigned through ill-health in October 1929 and died 15 March 1932. He rests in the church grounds at Kilcormac. Fr. O’Reilly erected the Church bell at Mount Bolus. During his time a new floor was set down in the church and new windows were erected.
1929 - 1937	Rev. James Kane	Born in the parish of Dunderry, Co. Meath in August 1872. He was educated at St. Finian’s Navan and Maynooth. After ordination on 18th June 1899, he ministered in the parishes of Moyvore, Longwood, Ballivor, Rochfortbridge and in 1912 became the first priest to live in the parochial house at Mountbolus. He was appointed parish priest of Slane on 17th October 1921 and was translated to Kilcormac on the 17th October 1929. He died after a brief illness on the 7th May 1937 and was buried near his predecessor.
1937 - 1952	Rev. John O'Connor	Fr. O’Connor was a native of Kilbeggan, was educated at St. Finian’s and Maynooth and ordained at Kells on September 1st 1907. After a brief spell in Summerhill and Drogheda, he was appointed curate in Navan and later administrator. During his time there he contributed much to the social and cultural life of the parish and set up a Choral society. This interest continued when he was appointed Parish Priest of Stamullen in 1928 and later having been translated to Kilcormac on the 20th June 1937. He died on 12 June 1952.
1952 - 1958	Rev. James Johnson	C.C., Oldcastle, succeeded in July 1952. A native of Horseleap, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1925 He served in Mountnugent, Kells, Eglish and Oldcastle (1935-52). He was appointed P.P., St. Mary's, Drogheda in 1958 and celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1975. He retired in 1978 and died on 5 June 1984
1958 - 1984	Rev. Andrew Shaw	A native of Blackrock, Co. Dublin, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth where he was ordained on the 19th June 1928. Initially on loan to Southwark Diocese in London, he was later appointed curate in the parishes of Mountnugent, Drumconrath, Coole Kilbeggan, and Mullingar from 1937-52, He became Administrator of Mullingar until 1958 when he was appointed Parish Priest of Kilcormac. Fr. Shaw was an excellent historian and like other parishes where he served, Kilcormac and Killoughy have received an authoritative history at his hands. He retired on 1 November 1984 and died on 3 September 1986.
1984 - 1988	Rev. Thomas Mullen	A native of Beauparc, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1957. He served in St. Augustine, Florida, for four years and for a further four years with the Emigrant Mission in London. On his return to Ireland, he served as curate in the parishes of Longwood, Taghmon and Collinstown and Tullamore before his appointment as Parish Priest on the 11th November 1984. He died suddenly on 8 June 1988.
1988 - 1989	Rev. William Cleary	A native of Rathwire, Killucan, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1959. On loan to Ossory Diocese for two years and in 1961 was appointed chaplain to St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar. Appointed curate in Mullingar in 1968 and Administrator in 1982. He was appointed parish priest of Kilcormac on the 4th September 1988 and in November 1989, was appointed parish priest of Tullamore. He was appointed a Vicar General of the diocese of Meath in 1994, and prelate of the Holy See in 1995.
1989 – present day	Rev. Edmond Daly	A native of Summerhill parish, he was educated at St. Finian's and Maynooth and was ordained in 1955. On loan to Kildare Diocese for seven years. Served in parishes of Coole, Daingean, Delvin, Kingscourt, Glasson, Gormanston – Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Tullamore and Rosemount before his appointment as parish priest of Curraha in 1984. Fr. Daly was appointed parish priest of Kilcormac in November 1989.