Priests and Religious born in Killoughey

www.killoughey.com

Priests born in the Parish

Please note that this is an incomplete list. If you have details of other priests or religious who were born in the parish you can send information for inclusion on this site to: webmaster@killoughey.com

Rev. Thomas Finn. Born at Killooley in 1898. He was the son of William and Susan Finn and a brother of John, Joseph, William, Daniel, Anne, Sarah, Mary Ellen and Teresa. He was educated at St.Finians and Maynooth and was ordained in the Chapel at Maynooth on Sunday 17th June 1923 and appointed to Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath as curate. Fr. Tom died tragically when his motor cycle collided with a motor car in Johnstown three years later on September 26th 1926. He is buried beside the church in Johnstown.

Rev. William Gleeson. Educated at St. Finian’s College and Maynooth, William was ordained in 1919. He served in Longwood, Rathkenny and Killucan before being appointed parish priest of Nobber. He died there on the 18th July 1975.

Rev. William Kirley.
Fr. Kirley was ordained in 1936, after which he worked in Clonmellon and Drumraney before returning for studies at University College Galway. He was appointed to St. Finian's College in September 1937 where he spent twelve years. He moved as curate to Mullingar for three years before being appointed catechist for the Diocese. In 1957 he was appointed to Rochfortbridge and then Ratoath.

In 1966 he was appointed parish priest of Milltown and was moved as parish priest to Enfield, where he died on the 3rd April 1986.

Rev. James Molloy. educated at Mountrath, St. Finian's, Irish College, Paris and All Hallows. Ordained l8th June 1905, for Auckland. Fr. Molloy died 2 April 1957.

Rev. Joseph Gleeson Born in September 1931, Joseph Gleeson studied at St. Finian’s and Maynooth. He was ordained on the 21st June 1958. From 1958 to 1965 he was on loan to the diocese of Ossory where he was curate at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. He was appointed curate in Tullamore in March 1965 and moved as curate to Laytown in Co. Meath (at that time in the parish of St. Mary’s Drogheda) in January 1977. In 1986, when Laytown was established as a parish he was appointed administrator of the new parish. On the 1st September 1987, Fr. Joseph became parish priest of Skryne, Co. Meath.

Fr. Jerry White Born in 1938, Fr. Jerry was educated at Gortnamona N.S. C.B.S. Tullamore, St. Finian’s Mullingar and the Sacred Hearts Father’s School in Coothill before entering the Sacred Hearts Father’s Seminary in Jaffney, New Hampshire. He was ordained on the 14th June, 1964 and said his first mass in Mount Bolus the following day. He spent one year in Cape Cod before returning to Coothill. He spent many years teaching in Castleblaney and working in the parish of Lutton. Most of the summers he spent in Cape Cod where he met the Kennedy’s and became a friend of Tipp O’Neill who attended his church each Sunday. Since 1994, Fr. Jerry has been Parish Priest of Daventry, Northants, and chaplain to Onley Young Offenders institute.

Rev. Thomas Leonard. Tom Leonard was born in 1925, one of fifteen children born to Daniel and Maria Leonard. He attended Coolanarney N.S. and the Christian Brothers in Tullamore. From a very young age, Tom had always wanted to become a priest but on finishing school he followed in his brothers’ footsteps and moved to London where he worked as a barman for a few years. In 1954 he entered St. Patrick’s seminary in Carlow where he studied for four years. He was ordained on the 7th June 1958 for the diocese of Mobile, in Alabama, U.S.A. His first assignment was to St. Jude’s Church in Montgomery where he spent eleven years. From there he moved to St. Joseph’s Church in Pratville, St. John’s Church in Butler county and then to St. Martin’s Church in Troy. His final parish was St. Agatha’s in Bay Minette, Mobile, Alabama. Fr. Tom died suddenly on the 19th January in 1984 aged 59 years. He was buried in the cemetery at Mountbolus according to his wishes.

Rev. Raphael Mitchell Raphael, a native of Derrymore, was born in November 1962 and was ordained in Mountbolus on the 20th of July 1986. He served for 8 years in St. Mary’s Parish Drogheda and is currently working with the North Eastern Health Board.

Fr. Joseph O’Gorman Fr. Joseph was born at the Blue Ball in August 1897. He attended first Gortnamona and, later, Kilcormac where he was taught by Mr. Henry Granger N.T., before undertaking studies for the priesthood with the Redemptorists in 1915. After his ordination he served as a missionary in the Philippines for many years. On his return home, until his death in 1972, he gave missions and retreats in parishes throughout Ireland, including his native Kilcormac and Killoughy.

Religious Brothers and Sisters Born in the Parish

Sr. Oswald Doolan Bridget Doolan of Cappagolen was Born on the 6th February 1874 – She died in 1908 – She entered a convent in the Phoenix Park where she remained until her death at the early age of 34. She is buried in the Phoenix Park. She was the eldest girl of the family.

Sr. Mary Eunan Hickey was born in 1907. Attended Gortnamona National School and Secondary Education with the Sisters of Mercy in Tullamore. Early in 1924 she heard of the visit of Sr.’s Brendan and Damien to Rahan in search of postulants. Along with Sr. Elizabeth Newton she became one of 49 who arrived at Brisbane, Australia on 19th September 1924 on board the S.S. Persic. She made her final profession in 1930 and served at the Valley School, and in many parts of Queensland. Her longest stay was in Helidon where she spent 17 years. At the time of this publication Sr. Eunan still lives in Australia and enjoys good health.

Br. Joseph Costello A son of Edward and Catherine Costello, Joseph was born in 1900. He entered the Marist Congregation and took the name Br. Dermot. He died on the 23rd October 1918. Although Brother Dermot lived only a short time in the community, his memory shows that he was much loved as a member who was always ready and eager to help others especially sick brothers. He was a keen hurler and swimmer. It has been said that during a bad ‘flu epidemic in 1917, Br. Dermot helped to look after and nurse other members of the community who were victims of the ‘flu. When he himself became a victim, he was so worn out that his undermined health was unable to respond to treatment and he died. Brother Dermot is buried in Bailieboro, Co. Cavan.

Sr. Mary Eucharia Costello Sr. Mary Eucharia is one of three sisters (see below) who were daughters of Richard and Brigid Costello of Cappagolan. She entered the Franciscan Sisters Minoress on the 9th November 1945, where she became a novice on 30th May 1946, made her first profession on 25th May 1948 and her final profession on the 25th May 1954. Sister Eucharia lived in England for thirty-six years, eleven years in Scotland and most recently is based in St. Anthony’s convent, Cabra Grove, in Dublin. The Franciscan Sisters Minoress were founded in 1888 and initially their ministry was to the poor of the city of London which included many Irish who had fled Ireland during the famine.

Sr. Mary Alice de L’Assomption Costello Rose Anne Costello entered the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1950, making her first profession two years later and her final profession in 1957. Rose Anne took as her name in religion Sr. Mary Alice de L’Assomption. She spent forty-six years of her religious life in France. At the time of publication she is based at Manor Hill, Waterford. Founded by Blessed Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the poor are renowned for the care and devotion they give to the poor wherever they minister to them.

Sr. Catherine Mary de la Providence Costello Elizabeth Costello, a sister of Rose Anne and Mary, entered the same congregation as Rose Anne (the Little Sisters of the Poor) in Dublin in 1953. At her reception, she took the name Sr. Catherine Mary de la Providence. Prior to her final profession, Sr. Catherine lived in France. After her final profession, she returned to a convent in Ireland, then to England and finally Scotland where she is with the community at Robroystan, Glasgow.

Sr. Alacoque Gleeson A daughter of James and Margaret Gleeson (nee Guinan) Sr. Alacoque was born in Lowertown, attended Coolanarney National School, the Convent of Mercy school in Kilcormac and St. Joseph of Clunay school in Ferbane. She entered the Sisters of Mercy at Loughrea, Galway on August 15th 1962. After novitiate training, she commenced a nursing carreer in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda qualifying in June 1969. She made her final profession two months later. She was appointed to the nursing staff in St. Brendan’s Geriatric Home, Loughrea and during that time, qualified as a midwife in University College Hospital, Galway and also received a diploma in First Line Management. In 1982, she was appointed director of the Day Care Centre with Ballinasloe Social Services. She is based at the Convent of Mercy, Ballinasloe.

Sr. Mary Raphael Cummins Margaret (Ita) Cummins formerly of Gortacur was born in 1923 and was educated at Mount Bolus N.S. and the Sacred Heart secondary school, Tullamore. She entered the Novitiate of the Mercy order at St. Edward’s Convent, Harewood Avenue, London N.W.1 in 1945, studied for teaching (correspondence Oxford University) later trained as a nurse at St. John and St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. John’s Wood, London N.W.8. She then proceeded to Part One Midwifery at East End Maternity Hospital, London E.1 and Part Two at Walthamstow District Hospital, London E.17. On completion she returned to St. John and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as a ward sister. After some years she was offered and accepted the position of infirmarian at Hardinge Street Convent, Commercial Road, London E.1., taking care of up to twenty retired and more Sisters of Mercy. On the morning of St. Swithin’s Day (15th July) 1971, failing to turn up for 8am mass, her body was found on the floor behind the door of her bedroom. She had died of a massive heart attack aged 47 years. Her remains were laid to rest in one of the Community Plots at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone, London E.1.

Sr. Bridge (Mary Malachy) Commins Was born on the 31st January 1947. She entered St.Joseph’s Mercy Convent in Tullamore on the 24th September 1965. She was received on July 1966 taking the name Sr. Mary Malachy and made her first profession in July 1968. Sr. Bridge trained as a nurse in St. Helen’s Lancashire, England from September 1968 to October 1971. She made her final profession in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kilcormac in July 1972, after which she nursed in Tullamore General Hospital (1972-73). From May 1994 to May 1995 Sr. Bridge trained as a midwife in the Coombe Hospital, Dublin and commenced work in St. Mary’s Hospital, Mullingar in August 1975.

Sr. Berchmans (Margaret) Carroll Attended Gortnamona National School between 1933 and 1940 and then Loretto College, Mullingar (1940-45). Sr. Berchmans entered the Convent of Mercy Tullamore in 1945 making her final profession in July 1948. She taught Home Economics in the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore until 1959, when along with a group of sisters she went to found a convent in Costa Mesa California in August 1959. Fr.J. Nevin (Knockhill) was the pastor of the parish. Sr. Berchmans remained there until 1967 and then returned to teaching in the Sacred Heart School until her retirement in 1991.

Sr. Mary Cormac Gonoude Of Holmshill, Sr. Cormac attended Gortnamona National School and the secondary school of the Cross and Passion Sisters, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. She joined the order of the Cross and Passion in Bolton, England in 1930. She served in Fleetwood and other houses of the order until her death in 1996.

Sr. Mary O’Brien Of Holmshill, Sr. Mary attended Gortnamona National School and the Presentation Convent, Killina. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, Hastings, England in 1929. She spent most of her religious life in the same convent. She was injured during one of the many air raids over South East England during the Second World War. Sr. Mary made a recovery and managed to make a visit home to see her family in the mid sixties. She dies in 1973

Sr. Hildegarde Gonoude

Sr. Leonardine Gonoude

Sr. Ignatius Gonoude
All of Holmshill. These three sisters were born between 1880 and 1885. They all entered the convent of the Cross and Passion Sisters. Having spent their novitiate in Bolton, England, they served in various houses of the order in England and Northern Ireland. Sister Hildegarde became the Head Teacher of the senior school in Ballycastle.

Sr. Mary Immaculate Gonoude From Holmshill, Sister M. Immaculate entered the convent of the Our Lady of Charity order in 1886. She served in several houses of the Order until her death in 1940.

Sr. Mary Ambrose (Elsie) Newton Elsie Newton was born on the 23rd May 1915 to Robert and Mary Newton, Holmshill. She was educated at Gortnamona National School and the Sacred Heart School in Tullamore. She entered La Sainte Union Convent in Highgate Road, London in 1936. She became a qualified teacher in 1948 and taught in Greater London until 1958 when she came to Ireland to teach in Our Lady’s Bower Athlone, the orders chief Irish house. She taught there until 1972 before travelling to the Cameroon in Central Africa. Sr. Elsie returned to the Bower, Athlone in 1998 where at the age of 84 she now spends some time visiting the patients in the hospital and nursing home. Sr. Elsie had two aunts Sr. Ann and Sr. Mary, one a Cross and Passion sister, the other a Good Shepherd Sister.

Sr. Emerentia (Janey) Newton One of a family of twelve from Holmshill (Pallas Road) and one of six of the seven girls who entered religious life, Sr. Emerentia was born in 1896. She entered the Cross and Passion Sisters in England where she died in 1995 at the age of 99. While longevity of life is associated with this family of Newtons, two of the boys of the family died at a young age, one as the result of a traffic accident. Another brother, Eamonn died in Australia in 1997 aged 81. Tommy died in 1996 aged 101 and Mike died in Mountbolus also in 1996 aged 90. A sister, Gertie who married a Moynahan is still living in Wicklow.

Sr. Eugene (Nannie) Newton Nannie was born in 1898. She entered the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas, U.S.A. taking the name Eugene. Sr. Eugene passed away in September 1999 having celebrated her 101st birthday some days earlier.

Sr. Elizabeth (Lil) Newton Lil was born in 1902. Along with Sr. Eunan Hickey, Elizabeth sailed on the S.S. Persic to Australia in 1924 where she was professed as a sister of Mercy. She died there in 1996 aged 94.

Sr. Angelina (Bridget) Newton Bridget was born in 1904. She entered the Cross and Passion Sisters in Kilcullen. She died in 1987 aged 83.

Sr. Clement (Kathleen) Newton Kathleen, born in 1907, as her sister Nannie joined the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas U.S.A. She died in 1992 aged 85.

Sr. Josephine (Dolly) Newton Born in 1912, along with Nannie and Kathleen joined the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas U.S.A. Sr. Josephine is still living at the age of 87

Sr. Felicitas (Mollie) Doyle

Sr. Finian (Kit) Doyle

Sr. Angela (Liz) Doyle
In 1926 35 girls left Ireland for Australia. Among them were three Doyle sisters daughters of Matt and Mary Ann Doyle. Mollie took the name Felicitas at her profession. Kit took Finian as her name in religion and Liz took Angela. Sr. Angela was the second youngest of the group to head for Australia that year, aged only 15 years. After 6 weeks of sailing the three sisters arrived at Sydney from which they made a weeks journey to their convent in Townsville. After 39 years they made their first trip home in 1965. Sr. Angela celebrated her 70th Jubilee this September.

Sr. Margaret Scully James and Mary Scully, Ladywell, had 15 children, ten of whom went to England. Sr. Margaret entered the Sacred Heart Convent in Chickwell, Kent. Sr. Stanislaus went to St. Augustines St. Augustines Priory

Sr. Paulina (Tess) Gorman Tess was born in February 1912. After attending Gortnamona and later Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle, Antrim, Tess joined the sisters of the Cross and Passion in Kilcullen where she was professed in 1932. She spent her religious life working in the Eastern States of America and made only one return visit to the Blue Ball before her early death in 1958.

Sr. Peg Gorman In September 1959 Sr. Peg left the Blue ball to join a missionary order in England where she trained as a sister and teacher. She volunteered for missionary work in Botswana and taught in a boarding school in Kgale. An article by Sr. Peg describing life in Botswana is printed in this publication.

Sr. Mary Gorman After attending school in Killina and Tullamore Sr. Mary entered the Novitiate of the Cross and Passion Sisters in Southampton. After her profession she trained as a nurse and for the following seventeen years worked with teenagers and children in residential care and more recently with young women caught up in prostitution. Some reflections of Sr. Mary are also to be found in this publication.

Sr. Margaret Scully

Sr. Stanislaus Scully
James and Mary Scully, Ladywell, had fifteen children between 1909 and 1932. All except 5 went to England. Margaret entered the Sacred Heart Convent, Chickwell, Kent 1929-30. Sr. Stanislaus entered the noviciate in Chiqwell, Essex on the 16th July July 1931. She was professed on February 2nd 1934. For several years she was in social work in Frant, where she cared for 45 delinquent adolescent girls and found employment for them before they left the school. She spent many years in Zambia where she was Superior and was loved and appreciated by parents, children and all the parishioners in the missions. On her return, she was assigned to the convent in Colwyn Bay, which is in North Wales. Here she dedicated herself to teaching religion in the State schools and prepared many youngsters to receive the sacraments. Her final assignment was in St. Anne’s, Roscrea. She was sacristan and had a great interest in the children who had physical and mental disabilities. It was here that she died on April 8th 1992 after a life of quiet dedication. She is buried in the cemetery at Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea.

Sr. Dympna (Bride) Feighery Sr. Dympna was born on the 24th May 1912 and was educated at Coolanarney N.S. and the Sacred Heart School Tullamore. She entered the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny in Ferbane on the 15th August 1932 and spent two years there before going to college in Edinborough where she spent three years. In 1937 she returned to Mount Sackville Convent where she began her teaching. She later moved to Stranraer in Scotland and from 1949 to 1974 she taught in Girvan, Scotland. In 1974, she returned to Mount Sackville National School where she served as a remedial teacher until she retired in 1997. Her present address is Mount Sackville, Chapelizod, Dublin 20.

Some other religious with associations in the Parish of Killoughey

Bishop William Quarter

(First Bishop of Chicago)
Bishop William Quarter was a native of Killurin. He was ordained a priest at the age of 23 and was appointed assistant pastor at St. Peter’s Church, New York City. During the Cholera epidemic of 1832, when he was 26, he displayed great courage and self-sacrifice. The cholera made orphans of many children and Fr. Quarter gathered the children together and placed them in care. He spent all of his personal means for their maintenance. In the following year he was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Parish where he rebuilt the church which had been burned. He founded a free school in connection with the church. He was 37 years old when the church of Baltimore submitted his name to the Pope. The diocese of Chicago had just been created, and it was the recommendation of the Baltimore Council that Fr. Quarter be created bishop. In March of 1844 he was consecrated the first bishop of Chicago in the cathedral of New York by Archbishop Hughes. Out of his own resources and the contributions of the members of his family Bishop Quarter completed the Chicago Cathedral and opened several Catholic schools. He also founded a College that afterwards developed into the University of St. Mary’s of the Lake. He introduced the sisters of Mercy to the diocese and took under his special care the many immigrants from Ireland who were flocking to the United States. He died at the age of 42 in 1848. Bishop Quarter was born in Killurin in 1806 and attended the lessons given by the school master Thomas Rourke at the famous ‘hedge school’ in our parish at Killoughy Cross.

Bishop John Joseph Conroy consecrated Bishop of Albany 15 October, 1865. He built the beautiful St. Joseph's Church in the city of Albany, and established a home for the aged in charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and orphanages under the care of the Sisters of Charity and Christian Brothers in the same city. The secular clergy still proving inadequate for the growing and insistent needs of the ministry, he encouraged the Augustinian Fathers and the Minor Conventuals to cast their lot with the diocese. He secured the future of Catholic schools by establishing the celebrated convent of the Sacred Heart at Kenwood, and soliciting and welcoming foundations of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Mo., Sisters of Mercy, and Sisters of the Holy Names. The second diocesan synod was held in his episcopate.

Bishop John Mahon Born in 1922, Bishop Mahon was native of Killurin who was educated in Gortnamona National School before his studies for the priesthood and the missions. He was ordained at Kiltegan in 1948. Following studies in Canon Law at Maynooth, he was assigned to a teaching position in Kiltegan for eight years before travelling to Ogoja in Nigeria, where he ministered for a further eight years. In 1968, he was transferred to Lodwar in Kenya, and ten years later was ordained bishop. Bishop Mahon visits home regularly and has been welcomed on many occasions to Mountbolus where he celebrates mass.

Rev. William Scully. Educated at St. Finians College and Maynooth, where he was ordained on the 20th June 1915. He served as a curate in Ballinabrackey, Oristown, Kilbeg, Delvin, Castletown-Geoghegan and Kinnegad where he died on the 9th February 1937. He is buried at Coralstown Church in Kinnegad parish. William was a brother of Rev. Joseph Scully, who died as parish priest of Castletown-Kilpatrick. The Stations of the Cross in Mountbolus Church were erected by William and Joseph and their brothers and sisters.

Rev. Joseph Scully. A brother of Rev. W. Scully, Joseph was educated at St. Finian’s and Maynooth and was ordained in 1922. He served in the parishes of Johnstown, Slane, Beauparc, Kinnegad, Bohermeen, Lobinstown and Clonmellon. He was appointed parish priest of Castletown-Kilpatrick in Co. Meath in April 1945. He died on the 19th April 1947 and is buried in the grounds of Castletown church.

Rev. Joseph Leonard. Ordained in All Hallows in 1945 for Christchurch, New Zealand Mission. Retired in Monterey, Los Angeles, U.S.A. and a frequent visitor to his home at Kilcormac. Fr. Joe has many relatives in the Killoughy end of the parish and celebrates mass in Mount Bolus regularly.

Rev. Thomas Finn.	Born at Killooley in 1898. He was the son of William and Susan Finn and a brother of John, Joseph, William, Daniel, Anne, Sarah, Mary Ellen and Teresa. He was educated at St.Finians and Maynooth and was ordained in the Chapel at Maynooth on Sunday 17th June 1923 and appointed to Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath as curate. Fr. Tom died tragically when his motor cycle collided with a motor car in Johnstown three years later on September 26th 1926. He is buried beside the church in Johnstown.
Rev. William Gleeson.	Educated at St. Finian’s College and Maynooth, William was ordained in 1919. He served in Longwood, Rathkenny and Killucan before being appointed parish priest of Nobber. He died there on the 18th July 1975.
Rev. William Kirley.	Fr. Kirley was ordained in 1936, after which he worked in Clonmellon and Drumraney before returning for studies at University College Galway. He was appointed to St. Finian's College in September 1937 where he spent twelve years. He moved as curate to Mullingar for three years before being appointed catechist for the Diocese. In 1957 he was appointed to Rochfortbridge and then Ratoath. In 1966 he was appointed parish priest of Milltown and was moved as parish priest to Enfield, where he died on the 3rd April 1986.
Rev. James Molloy.	educated at Mountrath, St. Finian's, Irish College, Paris and All Hallows. Ordained l8th June 1905, for Auckland. Fr. Molloy died 2 April 1957.
Rev. Joseph Gleeson	Born in September 1931, Joseph Gleeson studied at St. Finian’s and Maynooth. He was ordained on the 21st June 1958. From 1958 to 1965 he was on loan to the diocese of Ossory where he was curate at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. He was appointed curate in Tullamore in March 1965 and moved as curate to Laytown in Co. Meath (at that time in the parish of St. Mary’s Drogheda) in January 1977. In 1986, when Laytown was established as a parish he was appointed administrator of the new parish. On the 1st September 1987, Fr. Joseph became parish priest of Skryne, Co. Meath.
Fr. Jerry White	Born in 1938, Fr. Jerry was educated at Gortnamona N.S. C.B.S. Tullamore, St. Finian’s Mullingar and the Sacred Hearts Father’s School in Coothill before entering the Sacred Hearts Father’s Seminary in Jaffney, New Hampshire. He was ordained on the 14th June, 1964 and said his first mass in Mount Bolus the following day. He spent one year in Cape Cod before returning to Coothill. He spent many years teaching in Castleblaney and working in the parish of Lutton. Most of the summers he spent in Cape Cod where he met the Kennedy’s and became a friend of Tipp O’Neill who attended his church each Sunday. Since 1994, Fr. Jerry has been Parish Priest of Daventry, Northants, and chaplain to Onley Young Offenders institute.
Rev. Thomas Leonard.	Tom Leonard was born in 1925, one of fifteen children born to Daniel and Maria Leonard. He attended Coolanarney N.S. and the Christian Brothers in Tullamore. From a very young age, Tom had always wanted to become a priest but on finishing school he followed in his brothers’ footsteps and moved to London where he worked as a barman for a few years. In 1954 he entered St. Patrick’s seminary in Carlow where he studied for four years. He was ordained on the 7th June 1958 for the diocese of Mobile, in Alabama, U.S.A. His first assignment was to St. Jude’s Church in Montgomery where he spent eleven years. From there he moved to St. Joseph’s Church in Pratville, St. John’s Church in Butler county and then to St. Martin’s Church in Troy. His final parish was St. Agatha’s in Bay Minette, Mobile, Alabama. Fr. Tom died suddenly on the 19th January in 1984 aged 59 years. He was buried in the cemetery at Mountbolus according to his wishes.
Rev. Raphael Mitchell	Raphael, a native of Derrymore, was born in November 1962 and was ordained in Mountbolus on the 20th of July 1986. He served for 8 years in St. Mary’s Parish Drogheda and is currently working with the North Eastern Health Board.
Fr. Joseph O’Gorman	Fr. Joseph was born at the Blue Ball in August 1897. He attended first Gortnamona and, later, Kilcormac where he was taught by Mr. Henry Granger N.T., before undertaking studies for the priesthood with the Redemptorists in 1915. After his ordination he served as a missionary in the Philippines for many years. On his return home, until his death in 1972, he gave missions and retreats in parishes throughout Ireland, including his native Kilcormac and Killoughy.

Sr. Oswald Doolan	Bridget Doolan of Cappagolen was Born on the 6th February 1874 – She died in 1908 – She entered a convent in the Phoenix Park where she remained until her death at the early age of 34. She is buried in the Phoenix Park. She was the eldest girl of the family.
Sr. Mary Eunan Hickey	was born in 1907. Attended Gortnamona National School and Secondary Education with the Sisters of Mercy in Tullamore. Early in 1924 she heard of the visit of Sr.’s Brendan and Damien to Rahan in search of postulants. Along with Sr. Elizabeth Newton she became one of 49 who arrived at Brisbane, Australia on 19th September 1924 on board the S.S. Persic. She made her final profession in 1930 and served at the Valley School, and in many parts of Queensland. Her longest stay was in Helidon where she spent 17 years. At the time of this publication Sr. Eunan still lives in Australia and enjoys good health.
Br. Joseph Costello	A son of Edward and Catherine Costello, Joseph was born in 1900. He entered the Marist Congregation and took the name Br. Dermot. He died on the 23rd October 1918. Although Brother Dermot lived only a short time in the community, his memory shows that he was much loved as a member who was always ready and eager to help others especially sick brothers. He was a keen hurler and swimmer. It has been said that during a bad ‘flu epidemic in 1917, Br. Dermot helped to look after and nurse other members of the community who were victims of the ‘flu. When he himself became a victim, he was so worn out that his undermined health was unable to respond to treatment and he died. Brother Dermot is buried in Bailieboro, Co. Cavan.
Sr. Mary Eucharia Costello	Sr. Mary Eucharia is one of three sisters (see below) who were daughters of Richard and Brigid Costello of Cappagolan. She entered the Franciscan Sisters Minoress on the 9th November 1945, where she became a novice on 30th May 1946, made her first profession on 25th May 1948 and her final profession on the 25th May 1954. Sister Eucharia lived in England for thirty-six years, eleven years in Scotland and most recently is based in St. Anthony’s convent, Cabra Grove, in Dublin. The Franciscan Sisters Minoress were founded in 1888 and initially their ministry was to the poor of the city of London which included many Irish who had fled Ireland during the famine.
Sr. Mary Alice de L’Assomption Costello	Rose Anne Costello entered the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1950, making her first profession two years later and her final profession in 1957. Rose Anne took as her name in religion Sr. Mary Alice de L’Assomption. She spent forty-six years of her religious life in France. At the time of publication she is based at Manor Hill, Waterford. Founded by Blessed Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the poor are renowned for the care and devotion they give to the poor wherever they minister to them.
Sr. Catherine Mary de la Providence Costello	Elizabeth Costello, a sister of Rose Anne and Mary, entered the same congregation as Rose Anne (the Little Sisters of the Poor) in Dublin in 1953. At her reception, she took the name Sr. Catherine Mary de la Providence. Prior to her final profession, Sr. Catherine lived in France. After her final profession, she returned to a convent in Ireland, then to England and finally Scotland where she is with the community at Robroystan, Glasgow.
Sr. Alacoque Gleeson	A daughter of James and Margaret Gleeson (nee Guinan) Sr. Alacoque was born in Lowertown, attended Coolanarney National School, the Convent of Mercy school in Kilcormac and St. Joseph of Clunay school in Ferbane. She entered the Sisters of Mercy at Loughrea, Galway on August 15th 1962. After novitiate training, she commenced a nursing carreer in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda qualifying in June 1969. She made her final profession two months later. She was appointed to the nursing staff in St. Brendan’s Geriatric Home, Loughrea and during that time, qualified as a midwife in University College Hospital, Galway and also received a diploma in First Line Management. In 1982, she was appointed director of the Day Care Centre with Ballinasloe Social Services. She is based at the Convent of Mercy, Ballinasloe.
Sr. Mary Raphael Cummins	Margaret (Ita) Cummins formerly of Gortacur was born in 1923 and was educated at Mount Bolus N.S. and the Sacred Heart secondary school, Tullamore. She entered the Novitiate of the Mercy order at St. Edward’s Convent, Harewood Avenue, London N.W.1 in 1945, studied for teaching (correspondence Oxford University) later trained as a nurse at St. John and St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. John’s Wood, London N.W.8. She then proceeded to Part One Midwifery at East End Maternity Hospital, London E.1 and Part Two at Walthamstow District Hospital, London E.17. On completion she returned to St. John and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as a ward sister. After some years she was offered and accepted the position of infirmarian at Hardinge Street Convent, Commercial Road, London E.1., taking care of up to twenty retired and more Sisters of Mercy. On the morning of St. Swithin’s Day (15th July) 1971, failing to turn up for 8am mass, her body was found on the floor behind the door of her bedroom. She had died of a massive heart attack aged 47 years. Her remains were laid to rest in one of the Community Plots at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone, London E.1.
Sr. Bridge (Mary Malachy) Commins	Was born on the 31st January 1947. She entered St.Joseph’s Mercy Convent in Tullamore on the 24th September 1965. She was received on July 1966 taking the name Sr. Mary Malachy and made her first profession in July 1968. Sr. Bridge trained as a nurse in St. Helen’s Lancashire, England from September 1968 to October 1971. She made her final profession in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kilcormac in July 1972, after which she nursed in Tullamore General Hospital (1972-73). From May 1994 to May 1995 Sr. Bridge trained as a midwife in the Coombe Hospital, Dublin and commenced work in St. Mary’s Hospital, Mullingar in August 1975.
Sr. Berchmans (Margaret) Carroll	Attended Gortnamona National School between 1933 and 1940 and then Loretto College, Mullingar (1940-45). Sr. Berchmans entered the Convent of Mercy Tullamore in 1945 making her final profession in July 1948. She taught Home Economics in the Sacred Heart School, Tullamore until 1959, when along with a group of sisters she went to found a convent in Costa Mesa California in August 1959. Fr.J. Nevin (Knockhill) was the pastor of the parish. Sr. Berchmans remained there until 1967 and then returned to teaching in the Sacred Heart School until her retirement in 1991.
Sr. Mary Cormac Gonoude	Of Holmshill, Sr. Cormac attended Gortnamona National School and the secondary school of the Cross and Passion Sisters, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. She joined the order of the Cross and Passion in Bolton, England in 1930. She served in Fleetwood and other houses of the order until her death in 1996.
Sr. Mary O’Brien	Of Holmshill, Sr. Mary attended Gortnamona National School and the Presentation Convent, Killina. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, Hastings, England in 1929. She spent most of her religious life in the same convent. She was injured during one of the many air raids over South East England during the Second World War. Sr. Mary made a recovery and managed to make a visit home to see her family in the mid sixties. She dies in 1973
Sr. Hildegarde Gonoude Sr. Leonardine Gonoude Sr. Ignatius Gonoude	All of Holmshill. These three sisters were born between 1880 and 1885. They all entered the convent of the Cross and Passion Sisters. Having spent their novitiate in Bolton, England, they served in various houses of the order in England and Northern Ireland. Sister Hildegarde became the Head Teacher of the senior school in Ballycastle.
Sr. Mary Immaculate Gonoude	From Holmshill, Sister M. Immaculate entered the convent of the Our Lady of Charity order in 1886. She served in several houses of the Order until her death in 1940.
Sr. Mary Ambrose (Elsie) Newton	Elsie Newton was born on the 23rd May 1915 to Robert and Mary Newton, Holmshill. She was educated at Gortnamona National School and the Sacred Heart School in Tullamore. She entered La Sainte Union Convent in Highgate Road, London in 1936. She became a qualified teacher in 1948 and taught in Greater London until 1958 when she came to Ireland to teach in Our Lady’s Bower Athlone, the orders chief Irish house. She taught there until 1972 before travelling to the Cameroon in Central Africa. Sr. Elsie returned to the Bower, Athlone in 1998 where at the age of 84 she now spends some time visiting the patients in the hospital and nursing home. Sr. Elsie had two aunts Sr. Ann and Sr. Mary, one a Cross and Passion sister, the other a Good Shepherd Sister.
Sr. Emerentia (Janey) Newton	One of a family of twelve from Holmshill (Pallas Road) and one of six of the seven girls who entered religious life, Sr. Emerentia was born in 1896. She entered the Cross and Passion Sisters in England where she died in 1995 at the age of 99. While longevity of life is associated with this family of Newtons, two of the boys of the family died at a young age, one as the result of a traffic accident. Another brother, Eamonn died in Australia in 1997 aged 81. Tommy died in 1996 aged 101 and Mike died in Mountbolus also in 1996 aged 90. A sister, Gertie who married a Moynahan is still living in Wicklow.
Sr. Eugene (Nannie) Newton	Nannie was born in 1898. She entered the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas, U.S.A. taking the name Eugene. Sr. Eugene passed away in September 1999 having celebrated her 101st birthday some days earlier.
Sr. Elizabeth (Lil) Newton	Lil was born in 1902. Along with Sr. Eunan Hickey, Elizabeth sailed on the S.S. Persic to Australia in 1924 where she was professed as a sister of Mercy. She died there in 1996 aged 94.
Sr. Angelina (Bridget) Newton	Bridget was born in 1904. She entered the Cross and Passion Sisters in Kilcullen. She died in 1987 aged 83.
Sr. Clement (Kathleen) Newton	Kathleen, born in 1907, as her sister Nannie joined the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas U.S.A. She died in 1992 aged 85.
Sr. Josephine (Dolly) Newton	Born in 1912, along with Nannie and Kathleen joined the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Texas U.S.A. Sr. Josephine is still living at the age of 87
Sr. Felicitas (Mollie) Doyle Sr. Finian (Kit) Doyle Sr. Angela (Liz) Doyle	In 1926 35 girls left Ireland for Australia. Among them were three Doyle sisters daughters of Matt and Mary Ann Doyle. Mollie took the name Felicitas at her profession. Kit took Finian as her name in religion and Liz took Angela. Sr. Angela was the second youngest of the group to head for Australia that year, aged only 15 years. After 6 weeks of sailing the three sisters arrived at Sydney from which they made a weeks journey to their convent in Townsville. After 39 years they made their first trip home in 1965. Sr. Angela celebrated her 70th Jubilee this September.
Sr. Margaret Scully	James and Mary Scully, Ladywell, had 15 children, ten of whom went to England. Sr. Margaret entered the Sacred Heart Convent in Chickwell, Kent. Sr. Stanislaus went to St. Augustines St. Augustines Priory
Sr. Paulina (Tess) Gorman	Tess was born in February 1912. After attending Gortnamona and later Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle, Antrim, Tess joined the sisters of the Cross and Passion in Kilcullen where she was professed in 1932. She spent her religious life working in the Eastern States of America and made only one return visit to the Blue Ball before her early death in 1958.
Sr. Peg Gorman	In September 1959 Sr. Peg left the Blue ball to join a missionary order in England where she trained as a sister and teacher. She volunteered for missionary work in Botswana and taught in a boarding school in Kgale. An article by Sr. Peg describing life in Botswana is printed in this publication.
Sr. Mary Gorman	After attending school in Killina and Tullamore Sr. Mary entered the Novitiate of the Cross and Passion Sisters in Southampton. After her profession she trained as a nurse and for the following seventeen years worked with teenagers and children in residential care and more recently with young women caught up in prostitution. Some reflections of Sr. Mary are also to be found in this publication.
Sr. Margaret Scully Sr. Stanislaus Scully	James and Mary Scully, Ladywell, had fifteen children between 1909 and 1932. All except 5 went to England. Margaret entered the Sacred Heart Convent, Chickwell, Kent 1929-30. Sr. Stanislaus entered the noviciate in Chiqwell, Essex on the 16th July July 1931. She was professed on February 2nd 1934. For several years she was in social work in Frant, where she cared for 45 delinquent adolescent girls and found employment for them before they left the school. She spent many years in Zambia where she was Superior and was loved and appreciated by parents, children and all the parishioners in the missions. On her return, she was assigned to the convent in Colwyn Bay, which is in North Wales. Here she dedicated herself to teaching religion in the State schools and prepared many youngsters to receive the sacraments. Her final assignment was in St. Anne’s, Roscrea. She was sacristan and had a great interest in the children who had physical and mental disabilities. It was here that she died on April 8th 1992 after a life of quiet dedication. She is buried in the cemetery at Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea.
Sr. Dympna (Bride) Feighery	Sr. Dympna was born on the 24th May 1912 and was educated at Coolanarney N.S. and the Sacred Heart School Tullamore. She entered the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny in Ferbane on the 15th August 1932 and spent two years there before going to college in Edinborough where she spent three years. In 1937 she returned to Mount Sackville Convent where she began her teaching. She later moved to Stranraer in Scotland and from 1949 to 1974 she taught in Girvan, Scotland. In 1974, she returned to Mount Sackville National School where she served as a remedial teacher until she retired in 1997. Her present address is Mount Sackville, Chapelizod, Dublin 20.

Bishop William Quarter (First Bishop of Chicago)	Bishop William Quarter was a native of Killurin. He was ordained a priest at the age of 23 and was appointed assistant pastor at St. Peter’s Church, New York City. During the Cholera epidemic of 1832, when he was 26, he displayed great courage and self-sacrifice. The cholera made orphans of many children and Fr. Quarter gathered the children together and placed them in care. He spent all of his personal means for their maintenance. In the following year he was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Parish where he rebuilt the church which had been burned. He founded a free school in connection with the church. He was 37 years old when the church of Baltimore submitted his name to the Pope. The diocese of Chicago had just been created, and it was the recommendation of the Baltimore Council that Fr. Quarter be created bishop. In March of 1844 he was consecrated the first bishop of Chicago in the cathedral of New York by Archbishop Hughes. Out of his own resources and the contributions of the members of his family Bishop Quarter completed the Chicago Cathedral and opened several Catholic schools. He also founded a College that afterwards developed into the University of St. Mary’s of the Lake. He introduced the sisters of Mercy to the diocese and took under his special care the many immigrants from Ireland who were flocking to the United States. He died at the age of 42 in 1848. Bishop Quarter was born in Killurin in 1806 and attended the lessons given by the school master Thomas Rourke at the famous ‘hedge school’ in our parish at Killoughy Cross.
Bishop John Joseph Conroy	consecrated Bishop of Albany 15 October, 1865. He built the beautiful St. Joseph's Church in the city of Albany, and established a home for the aged in charge of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and orphanages under the care of the Sisters of Charity and Christian Brothers in the same city. The secular clergy still proving inadequate for the growing and insistent needs of the ministry, he encouraged the Augustinian Fathers and the Minor Conventuals to cast their lot with the diocese. He secured the future of Catholic schools by establishing the celebrated convent of the Sacred Heart at Kenwood, and soliciting and welcoming foundations of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Mo., Sisters of Mercy, and Sisters of the Holy Names. The second diocesan synod was held in his episcopate.
Bishop John Mahon	Born in 1922, Bishop Mahon was native of Killurin who was educated in Gortnamona National School before his studies for the priesthood and the missions. He was ordained at Kiltegan in 1948. Following studies in Canon Law at Maynooth, he was assigned to a teaching position in Kiltegan for eight years before travelling to Ogoja in Nigeria, where he ministered for a further eight years. In 1968, he was transferred to Lodwar in Kenya, and ten years later was ordained bishop. Bishop Mahon visits home regularly and has been welcomed on many occasions to Mountbolus where he celebrates mass.
Rev. William Scully.	Educated at St. Finians College and Maynooth, where he was ordained on the 20th June 1915. He served as a curate in Ballinabrackey, Oristown, Kilbeg, Delvin, Castletown-Geoghegan and Kinnegad where he died on the 9th February 1937. He is buried at Coralstown Church in Kinnegad parish. William was a brother of Rev. Joseph Scully, who died as parish priest of Castletown-Kilpatrick. The Stations of the Cross in Mountbolus Church were erected by William and Joseph and their brothers and sisters.
Rev. Joseph Scully.	A brother of Rev. W. Scully, Joseph was educated at St. Finian’s and Maynooth and was ordained in 1922. He served in the parishes of Johnstown, Slane, Beauparc, Kinnegad, Bohermeen, Lobinstown and Clonmellon. He was appointed parish priest of Castletown-Kilpatrick in Co. Meath in April 1945. He died on the 19th April 1947 and is buried in the grounds of Castletown church.
Rev. Joseph Leonard.	Ordained in All Hallows in 1945 for Christchurch, New Zealand Mission. Retired in Monterey, Los Angeles, U.S.A. and a frequent visitor to his home at Kilcormac. Fr. Joe has many relatives in the Killoughy end of the parish and celebrates mass in Mount Bolus regularly.