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Drumaroad Parish
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    Priests of the Parish
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    Priests of Ballykinler &c; Parish
    Priests of Kilmegan Parish
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    Clanvaraghan Primary School
    Old Clanvaraghan Chapel
    Old Clanvaraghan graveyard
    Old Drumaroad graveyard


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Patrick Clarke
8 Carrigard
Newcastle
Dundrum
Co Down
Northern Ireland
BT33 0SG

Priests of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan

On 5th April 1877, Rev. John McCourt was appointed the first Parish Priest of the newly formed parish of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan. Since the parish's formation in 1877 various priests also served as Curates up until 1935. Since then the Parish of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan has remained with only a Parish Priest living in residence at Drumaroad.

   
1877 - 1884 Rev. John McCourt was born in the Parish of Duneane, he studied Classics at Nelson's Academy in Downpatrick, and entered Humanity Class, Maynooth College, on September 30th, 1830. He was ordained in Belfast by Dr. Wm. Crolly, Bishop of Down & Connor, on July 1833. Shortly afterwards he was appointed curate of Drummaul, of Rasharkin in December 1835, and of Lisburn, on November 28th, 1839. He was appointed Parish Priest of Glenarm on November 3rd, 1840, where, on the site of the old chapel, he erected a new church at Carnlough, which was dedicated in 1846. He was appointed Parish Priest of Ballygalget, where he erected the parochial house in 1870. He was appointed first Parish Priest of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan on April 5th, 1877. He died on April 29th, 1884, and was interred in the cemetery attached to Drumaroad church.
1875 to 1880 Rev. John Cavanagh C.C
1884 - 1895 Rev. Bernard McKenna was born in the parish of Maghera, Co. Derry, on February 17th, 1845, he studied the classics in Tergarvel, entered Rhetoric Class, Maynooth College, on September 1st, 1864, and was ordained in St. Malacy's Church, Belfast by Dr. Dorrian, Bishop of Down & Connor, on the first Sunday of November 1870. He was appointed curate of Newtownards in November 1870, of St. Patrick's, Belfast, on August 1st, 1873, of Saul on August 1st, 1874, and of Kilcoo on February 1st, 1875. On August 1st, 1884, he was appointed Parish Priest of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan. He died on January 1st 1895, and was interred in Drumaroad cemetery.
1891 to 1982 Rev. H Skeffington, C.C., was born in St Peter's Parish, Drogheda, he entered St. Malacy's College, Belfast, in February, 1880, proceeded to Physics Class, Maynooth College, in September, 1885, and was ordained in St. Malacy's College by De. McAlister, Bishop of Down & Connor, on January 12th, 1890. He was appointed curate of Duneane on January 12th, 1890, and of Drumaroad on September 7th, 1891.
1895 to 1898 Rev. John McAllister P.P.
1896 to 1898 Rev. Mullumby C.C.
1898 to 1906 Rev. Patrick McCambridge P.P.
1906 to 1909 Rev. B Downey C.C.
1906 to 1934 Rev. Dan O'Reilly P.P.
1915 to 1919 Rev. Denis Cahill C.C.
1920 to 1924 Rev. James Maguire C.C.
1924 to 1925 Rev. Joseph Ivory C.C.
1927 to 1929 Rev. Frank McKenna C.C.
1929 to 1934 Rev. Terence Keenan C.C.
1934 to 1957 Rev. Denis Cahill P.P.
1958 to 1966 Rev. Richard O'Neill P.P.
1966 to 1977 Rev. Joseph Maguire P.P.
1977 to 1987 Rev. Gerard Park P.P.
1987 to 1989 Rev. Eamon Magee P.P.
1989 to 2007 Rev. John Moley P.P.
2007 to Date Very. Rev. Peter Donnelly

References:

M.J.F. A Digest of the Historical Account of the Diocese of Down & Connor, pp189,239,269, Belfast 1945
Park, Rev. Gerard, Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, p85
O'Laverty, Rev. James, Diocese of Down & Connor Ancient & Modern, Vol. 1, p80, London 1878
Down & Connor Diocesan Records, Lisbreen, Belfast