Priests of Kilmegan Parish

O'Laverty states: -

While these sheets were passing through the press, the Rev. James McAleenan, P. P., died on the 22nd of February, 1876, aged 88 years, and was interred within the Church of Aughlisnafin. After his death, the parish of Kilmegan and a portion of the united parish of Drumcaw, Ballykinlar, Tyrella, and Rathmullan were re-arranged by the Bishop. The districts attached to the Churches of Clanvaraghan and Drumaroad were formed into a new parish, of which the Rev. John McCourt, P. P., Ballygalget was appointed, April 5th, 1877, the first parish priest. Since Father Mc Court's appointment.

Prior to 1877, Clanvaraghan was united to the parish of Kilmegan. However, following the death of Fr. James McAleenan on 22nd February 1876, the townlands of Clanvaraghan, Ballywillwill, and Slievenisky were removed from the parish of Kilmegan and united with the townlands of Drumaroad, Dunturk, Drumnaquoile, Drumcaw, Drumanaghan or Drumulcaw, Claragh and Scribb, which were also removed from the commonly called parish of Ballykinlar to form the new parish of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan. Fr. John McCourt was appointed the first parish priest on 5th April 1877.

The following are a list of priests that served as parish priests and curates in the parish of Kilmegan from 1657 to 1877, some of which may have also celebrated Mass in the old Clanvaraghan chapel which existed from 1785.

1657
Thomas O'Beirne, Vicar Apostolic, 1657 - Lived at Crochna Fawel

1662
Fr. John McIlboy (or McAvoy) Vicar of Kilcoo, which may have also included Kilmegan in those times. His name is supposed to have appeared in Franciscan papers 1662 'Petition to the Irish Bishops', and also in Saint Oliver Plunket's list of priests in Down & Connor 1670.

1671 - 73
Bishop Daniel McKay who resided in the townland of Slievenisky

1673 - 1704
Fr. Neile McIlboy was born in 1648, and was ordained in 1670 at Ballyvark, County Louth, by Primate Oliver Plunket. In 1704 he is returned in the list of Popish priests of Kilcoo and Kilmegan, aged then 56 years old, and resided at Tullyree.

1704
Fr. Owen McMullan was the first registered parish priest of Kilmegan parish. He was 64 years old, place of residence was the townland of Slievenisky. Dr. Patrick Plunket, Bishop of Ardagh in 1666, had ordained Fr. Owen McMullan. On taking up his new role he paid two securities of £50 to guarantee 'his compliance, his good behaviour, and not to move to from the County of Down to another'. Fr. Owen McMullan was returned by Primate Oliver Plunket as one of the priests of Down & Connor in 1670. Slievenisky was very inconvenient for the residence of the parish priest of Kilmegan, but it is probable that the present boundaries of the parish were not strictly adhered to; as, in the year 1704, Fr. Neile McIlboy is registered as the parish priest of Kilcoo and Kilmegan.

1726
Fr. Maurice McKeachry. One of the signatories of the 1726 petition recommending Dr. Armstrong as the new Bishop of the Diocese. He was parish priest of Kilmegan, but is unknown in tradition.

1730 circa
Fr. Quillan, who officiated as parish priest of Kilcoo and Kilmegan around 1730 circa.

1740 -1753
Fr. Bernard Toner, who is said to have been a native of Kilmegan parish. He was one of the seventeen priests, all belonging to the Diocese of Down, who signed the petition dated 17th November 1726 praying for the Pope to confer the vacant See of Down & Connor on Dr. Armstrong. He officiated as Parish Priest of Kilmegan around 1740. Fr. Bernard Toner died 1753.

1753 - 1784
Fr. Daniel Megarry commonly called "Donal Mor", was born in 1702 in the townland of Crossmore, Dunsford. He was a nephew of Dean William McGarry PP Dunsford, and Fr. Eugene McGarry BA DD (Sarbonne) PP Saul. He officiated as curate in Saul in 1725, and was appointed parish priest of the entirs of Ards in 1732. In 1753/54 he was appointed parish priest of Kilmegan, residing in the townland of Aughlisnafin. According to the report to the House of Lords in 1766, his household consisted of "Daniel Magarry, priest of the parish; 3 men-servants, 5 maidservants - 9 Papists". He died on 15th January 1784, aged 82, and was interred in the Churchyard of Dunsford.

1784
Fr. Patrick McMullan (afterwards Bishop of Down & Connor) was born at Seavahgan, Loughinisland on 17th March 1752. He was educated in Linchy School, which was famous for classical literature and the Irish language. He was ordained by Dr. Theophilus MacArtan, Bishop of Down & Connor in 1775 at Seaforde, and then proceeded to the Lombard College at Paris. He graduated with an M.A. in the Sarbonne in August 1779, J.U.B. in January 1783, and S.T.L. in August 1783. He was recalled to the Diocese in 1784 and appointed parish priest of Kilmegan, where he erected old Clanvaraghan chapel in 1785, during which time he resided in a cottage on the edge of the Ballywillwill estate. Later he lived in Clanvaraghan house until 1802. He was consecrated Bishop on 21st September 1793 and succeeded to the See of Down & Connor on 7th October 1794, but did not leave Clanvaraghan house for Ballyvange, Downpatrick, until 1802. Dr. McMullan when having become Bishop of the Diocese recommended the Rev. William McMullan, P.P., of Maghera, to the Holy See for the parish of Kilmegan, which had become vacant by his own promotion.

1793
Fr. Hugh Green, C.C., a native of Drumaconnagher, in the parish of Kilmore, was ordained by Bishop Hugh McMullan at Erinagh 1789. He was educated in Paris, from which he fled because of the French revolution. In 1793 he assisted Dr. Patrick McMullan as curate of Kilmegan, and later served as curate of Rasharkin, Dunluce, and Lisburn, until he became parish priest of Saintfield. He died on 5th December 1834 as the results of injuries inflicted on him by an Orange mob. Some time previously.

1796 - 1824
Fr. William McMullan a native of Carnamalagh, Tyrella, was ordained in 1789 by Bishop Hugh McMullan. He studied in the College of the Lombards in Paris and returned in 1792. He was appointed Administrator of Maghera and Bryansford on 29th January 1793 and appointed parish priest of Kilmegan in May 1796, although he did not take possession until 1802. Presumably he may have lived at Clanvaraghan house when vacated by Bishop Patrick McMullan. He died in 1824 and was interred in the graveyard of Aughlisnafin to the west of the old chapel. His grave is now enclosed by the present Church.

1824 - 1829
Fr. John Smith a native of Drumee, in the parish of Maghera, was ordained in 1808 by Dr. Patrick McMullan who was a previous parish priest of Kilmegan. Fr. John Smith was appointed curate of Kilmegan and later parish priest of Kilmegan in 1824. He died in July 1829 and was interred in Aughlisnafin.

1829
Rev. James McMullan was appointed to the parish of Kilmegan following the death of Fr. John Smith, but resigned within a few days, in consequence of which the parish was administered about a year by the curate Fr. Nicholas Crickard.

1831 - 1843
Fr. John O'Neill a native of the parish of Upper Mourne was ordained in Downpatrick in 1812 by Bishop Patrick McMullan. He had been appointed parish priest of Glenarm in 1825, before being appointed parish priest of Kilmegan in 1831. He resigned the parish of Kilmegan in 1843. He was then appointed parish priest of Clenravel in 1843 and resigned that parish in 1848.

1833
Fr. Edward Mullan, C.C., was born in 1804 in Cairntaggart, Saul, and was ordained in Maynooth by Archbishop Murray of Dublin in June 1833. He officiated as curate of Kilmegan before being appointed parish priest of Derryaghy.

1834
Fr. John Mallon, C.C., entered Maynooth College on 19th October 1825 and was ordained in November 1829 at St. Mary's Church Belfast by Bishop Wm. Crolly. He was appointed curate of Kilmegan for part of the year 1834

1843 - 1876
Fr. James McAleenan was born in the townland of Ballymaginaghy, in the parish of Drumgooland, in the Diocese of Dromore. He was ordained in Advent 1812 by Bishop Patrick McMullan in Downpatrick, and went on to study in Kilkenny College. In 1819 he was appointed curate of Downpatrick, and in 1825 was appointed parish priest of Ballyphilip (Portaferry), where he procured the silver shrine of the hand of St. Patrick. He was appointed parish priest of Kilmegan on 10th March 1843. Fr. James McAleenan was then offered the parish of Glenavy ten days later on 25th March 1843, but declined. Fr. James McAleenan served as parish priest of Kilmegan for over thirty-two years and died on 22nd February 1876 aged 88 years. His body was interred within the church of St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception, Aughlisnafin, which he was responsible for erecting at a cost of £869. In 2003 his remains were discovered during renovation works to the church.

N.B. As previously stated a major realignment of Kilmegan parish took place in 1876, following the death of Rev. James McAleenan, with the townlands around Dundrum, Clough and Moneycarragh being united with Ballykinlar Parish. The districts attached to the churches of Clanvaraghan and Drumaroad were formed into a new parish. `

1847 - 1849
Fr. John Dunn, C.C., was a native of Ballygarrett, Co. Wexford, and was ordained Maynooth by Archbishop Murray of Dublin at Penecost 1847. He officiated as curate in Castlewellan 1847, and then as administrator of Armoy in 1849. Later he was parish priest of Armoy and later Rathlin, from which he retired in ill health to his native Diocese.

1854 - 1864
Fr. John Landy, C.C., was a native of Callan in the Diocese of Ossory, and was ordained in Dublin on 18th November 1854 by Dr. Whelan, Bishop of Bombay. He was appointed curate of Kilmegan on 23rd December 1854. He was then appointed curate of Lisburn, and appointed parish priest of Carnlough and Aghagallon where he died 23rd December 1881.

1859 - 1865
Fr. Francis Digney, C.C., was born in Tyrella in 1830, and educated in Paris, and ordained in All Hallows College, Drumcondra, on 4th August 1858. He was then appointed curate in Duneane in November 1865 and died on 31st January 1867, aged just 36 years old.

1865 - 66
Fr. Patrick Ryan, C.C., was a native of Ballyachill, Co. Tipperary and was ordained in Mullingar by Dr. Cantwell in June 1851. He was appointed Curate to Kilmegan in 1865 to October 1866. He died on 16th May 1883 and was interred in the church of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Whitehouse.

1867
James Hamill, C.C., elder brother of Fr. Murty Hamill was born on 18th April 1847 at Crossskeys in the Grange of Ballyscullion. He was ordained in St. Malachy's Church Belfast on 25th July 1865 by Bishop Dorrian. He was then appointed curate of Kilmegan in September 1867. Fr. James Hamill was appointed parish priest of Whitehouse on 1st August 1883.

1866 - 1873
Fr. Alexander Stuart, C.C., was born on 3rd November 1834 in Ballymacarrett and was ordained by Dr. Whelan in Dublin on 4th August 1858. He was then appointed curate of St. Patrick's Belfast and curate to Kilmegan on 1st November 1866 until 1st February 1873, when he was transferred to Kilkeel. On 21st January 1877 he was appointed parish priest of Ahogill but of his own wish resigned and died as curate of Cushendall in 1892.

1867 - 1870
Fr. James Patrick O'Boyle, C.C., was a native of Duneane and was ordained by Bishop Dorrian on 17th March 1867. He was appointed curate of Kilmegan on 1st April 1867 and of St. Mary's Belfast on 1st April 1870. Later he resigned the parish of Saintfield to emigrate to America where he died 9th May 1882.

1870
FR. Moyes, C.C., was curate of Kilmegan.

Jan 1872 - December 1872
Fr. C. B. Quinn was Curate of Kilmegan.

1872 - 1874
Fr. James O'Hara, native of Aghagallon, was ordained in Maynooth 11th July 1867 by Cardinal Cullen. He was appointed curate to Ballykinlar in June 1870, then curate of Castlewellan on 1st March 1872 until 1st August 1874, when he was appointed curate to St. Patrick's Belfast. Following these two appointments Fr. James O'Hara was appointed parish priest of Ballykinlar on 2nd October 1879, and completed the building of Sacred Heart Church, Dundrum, in 1884, and died 5th April 1921.

1873 - 1874
Fr. J McGreevy was curate of Kilmegan 18th January 1873 to 14th September 1874.

1874 - 1878
Fr. Bernard McCann was born in Ballynalena, Duneane, on 19th February 1849, and was ordained in Maynooth by Dr. McCormac in June 1874. He was appointed curate of Castlewellan between July 1874 to July 1878. Fr. Bernard McCann was appointed parish priest of Cushendun, and later Glenravel where he died 25th April 1935.

1874
Fr. John Conway was born in Rasharkin on 13th July 1850 and was ordained in St. Malachy's Church Belfast on 26th July 1874 by Bishop Dorrian. He was appointed curate to Loughguile, and in October 1874 of Kilmegan until November 1874. He was then appointed parish priest Ramoan on 22nd March 1887, and died 30th January 1909.

1874 - 1894
Fr. John McWilliams, C.C., was curate to the parish of Kilmegan since 1874. On 5th April 1877 the Bishop servered from Kilmegan the district lying around Dundrum and extending to Moneycarragh, which he united to Ballykinlar. Fr. John McWilliams was a native of the parish of Loughguile, and obtained a preliminary education in the Diocesan College, Belfast, and entered the Logic Class in the College of Maynooth in September 1861. Fr. John McWilliams was ordained by Dr. Whelan on 22nd May 1866, and in August of that year, he was appointed curate of Upper Mourne. He was appointed in November 1867 to the Curacy of St. Patrick's Belfast, and in June 1871 to Ballymoney. On 12th November 1874 Fr. John McWilliams was appointed curate of Kilmegan parish, and was promoted to parish priest of Kilmegan parish on 5th April 1877 following the death of Rev. James McAleenan who died on 22nd February 1876. Fr. John McWilliams served as parish priest of Kilmegan parish until 1894, during which time he built the present St. Malachy's Church in Castlewellan in 1884.

St. Malachy's Church in Castlewellan was recently renovated and modernised in 2005 by the present parish priest of Kilmegan Very Rev. Sean Cahill, P.P., of Kilmegan (Castlewellan), who is a nephew of Rev. Denis Cahill, who was C.C., of Drumaroad Clanvaraghan from 1915 - 1919, and P.P., of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan 1934 - 1957. During Fr. Denis Cahill's time as parish priest of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan (1934 - 1957) he renovated St. John the Baptist Church in Drumaroad in 1935, and completed the building of a new church St. Mary of the Angels in Clanvaraghan in 1937.

References:

O'Laverty, Rev. James. Diocese of Down & Connor Ancient & Modern, Vol.1 p ixx,77-79,86-88 London 1878
Park, Rev. Gerard. Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, p86-88. Drumaroad 1985
Dougherty, Gerry, & Crilly, Ciaran. The Town 1905 - 2005, p10,11,12. Castlewellan 2005