Drumaroad Bell Tower

On Sunday 9th May 1954, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Mageean, Bishop of Down and Connor officially blessed a newly constructed Bell-Tower at St. John the Baptist Church Drumaroad. The new Bell-Tower of rectangular blocks of stone was added to the church in 1954.284 To mark the completion of the Bell Tower in 1954, the following article was published in the Irish News on Monday 10th May 1954.

The legendary "Bell of Drumnaquoile" sounded over the peaceful countryside of Drumaroad on Sunday. It was the occasion of the dedication of a new Bell Tower for the parish.
The bell was rung during the Consecration at the Solemn Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin, celebrated in the Church by Rev. V. Davey, P. P., Antrim, and at which His Lordship Most. Rev. Dr. Mageean, Bishop of Down and Connor presided.

There was a large attendance of priests and laity. Fr. Davey was assisted at the mass by Fr. F Taggart, C.C., Ballymartin, as deacon, and Rev. P. McFerran, C. C., Newcastle, as sub-deacon. The master of ceremonies was Rev. C. O'Neill, P. P., Kilcoo.

A special sermon was preached by the Rev. Gerald MacNamara, E.I.

Father MacNamara said that when Father Cahill told him he was going to call his new church "St. Mary of the Angels," he immediately thought of that beautiful Franciscan Basilica in Assisi, and wondered what connection the Franciscans could have with Drumaroad.

Father Cahill soon informed me. 'No tradition that is good should ever be lost,' he said. The Franciscans had a convent or friary in Downpatrick, but soon after the Reformation they were expelled.

They came back to Downpatrick, but due to relentless persecution early in the 17th century, they had again to fly. Some of them found their way to Rome, and tradition has it that Our Lady appeared to three of them and made them return to Ireland to County Down, in fact-once more.

At the place which they would hear the Angelus bell they were to set up a Friary and there tend to the spiritual needs of the people. The Friars did not protest that in those dark and evil days in Ireland to hear the Angelus bell would be truly miraculous, but with true obedience set out once more for Ireland.

And they came to this part of Down, and when passing Drumnaquoile, at the gates of an ancient and noble family called Savage, at Dunturk, they heard clearly the sound of the Angelus bell.

There they founded the Friary of Drumnaquoile, and in spite of priest-hunters and persecution, in spite of dungeon fire and sword, they and their successors ministered to the spiritual welfare of your forefathers for almost a century and a half." "There is little trace of that Friary here now, but we still have part of the mensa, or table of the altar on which they said Mass, here in this very church.

Father Cahill has preserved it for posterity, true to his theory that no tradition that is good should be allowed to be lost. From the inscription you can see that it is an old hedge schoolmaster called Bernard McAvoy that we have to thank for rescuing this legacy of the past.

The zeal for the Church displayed by that old teacher in these parts may help to explain the wonderful tradition of teaching and the high standard of religious training associated with the modern schools of this parish and you will pardon me if I claim that, after inspecting them for 22 years, I have some reason for my statement

Not Forgotten

The Franciscan Friars have gone from Drumnaquoile, but they are not forgotten, and that beautiful cross of Ballymagreehan granite standing four square to the winds from the Twelve Cairns, is symbolic of their Faith and the Faith they instilled in your fore-fathers.

Amongst the ordinary people, too, the Friars are not forgotten, for the residents of the district will tell you stories of the Friar's field at Drumnaquoile, and some of the old people will even claim that they, like the Friars, have heard that mystic bell.

Be that as it may, isn't it a strange coincidence that a lady who is a direct descendant of the principal house of Savage, of this Drumnaquoile, should unasked for, have generously offered to put up this magnificent bell and so perpetuate the old tradition.

That lady is the last survivor of an old family-and I don't think it is any longer a secret-her name is Miss Rose McKenna. She is a sister of the Right Rev. Charles McKenna, Parish Priest of Castlewellan, and Dean of the Diocese of Down and Connor. He also was a benefactor of the parish, for he erected that Grotto outside the Church."

Fr. D. Cahill, P. P., at the conclusion of the Mass thanked the Bishop for his attendance and said that the parishioners appreciated very much all his Lordship had done for them in the many visits he paid to the parish. He had blessed the renovated church of Drumaroad 20 years ago, and 17 years ago he consecrated the new Church of St. Mary of the Angels.

In 1951 he blessed the granite memorial cross-erected to the memory of the Friars of Drumaroad and carried out other laborious duties in the parish. Father Cahill also thanked the priests who had assisted at the ceremony, and the choir under the conductorship of Miss. B. O'Neill, for the beautiful music. Fr. Cahill returned special thanks to Miss. Rose McKenna who had donated the new bell.

Wonderful Sacrifice

Expressing gratitude to the parishioners, he said: "You have made wonderful sacrifices, and it is you that all credit is due."

Fr. Cahill thanked the architects who designed the Bell Tower, Messrs Bready and Kilpatrick, Belfast, the contractor, Mr J. Branniff, and McCullagh Brothers who carried out the an impressive decoration scheme being introduced to tone with the limestone colour of the new tower.

From Left: Rev. P. J. McFerran, C.C., Newcastle; Rev. D. Cahill, P.P., Drumaroad; His. Lordship the Most. Rev. Dr. Mageean, and Rev. D. M. Murray, C.C., Newcastle at opening ceremony

References:

Irish News, 26 June 1939