The first Parish priest of Beagh, Fr. Dermot Moylan, resided first at Laughtyshaughnessy and later in Clooneene. However, during penal Times, the priests of Beagh had no particular abode and often stayed in caves or underground passages in Lisconla or Bunnacappaun Wood.
The Penal Laws were enforced in Ireland as an attempt to destroy the Catholic community. Catholics were barred from every form of public office and the Catholic priesthood was expelled from the country. A reward of £5 was put on the head of a priest, more if he were of a higher ranking, and the profession of ‘Priest Hunter’ became a popular profession for the Protestants. With the persecution that followed, priests were forced out of their churches and reduced to saying Mass in remote areas usually by ‘Mass Rocks’.
With the relaxation of the Penal Laws, the priests resided mainly in the town of Gort before the erection of the Parochial House in Shanaglish in 1904. Fr. Barry lived in Boland’s house, later known as Sullivan’s drapery in Gort. Fr. Connolly lived in Dr. P.J. Fallon’s house. Dean Cassidy resided at Ned Kennedy’s in Bridge Street, and later moved to Jack Kilroy’s in the Square. When he was P.P. of Beagh, he resided in a cottage on the site of the Lady Gregory Hotel, which was later occupied by Miss Clandillon.
After the building of the Parochial House, curates at first lived with the parish Priest, but there was agitation to get them out. Dr. Carr, the Bishop of Kilmacduagh, agreed that they could stay out if they wished and so they remained where they could get suitable lodgings. The last curate in Beagh, Fr. Keely, lived in Patrick Niland’s house beside the present St. Colman’s Hall, Church Street, Gort.
All marriages and baptisms were practically done in the church in the WorkHouse in Gort. No confessions were heard in the church in Shanaglish until the Dean lived there. There were special confessionals in Gort Church for Fr. Connolly to hear his own Parishioners and also one for the C.C.
The clergy at that time wore long black knee breeches and a tall hat. Their general mode of travel was by horseback. Their boots were made locally by a show maker called Dunning in Shanaglish.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.30, p. 40
Priests of Beagh
Daniel Fahy was parish priest of the united parishes of Kilmacduagh and Beagh. In 1684 he was among those priests who signed a petition to Rome to have Fr. Michael Lynch made Bishop.
Connacht tribune 14 Oct 1977, p.4
Fr Dermot Moylan 1704-1730
Fr Moylan is the first recorded Parish Priest of Beagh. He was ordained in Ballylodge by Bishop Keogh of Clonfert in 1680 and appointed Parish Priest of Kilmacduagh and Beagh in 1704. He first lived in Laughtyshaughnessy and later moved to Cloonene where he received a grant of 30 acres and a house from Colonel Forster. During the Penal Times he was often forced to hide in Lisconla Cave and Bunnacuppaun Wood in order to avoid persecution from the English authorities.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.36
Fr John Geogan 1730-1766
Fr. Geogan replaced Moylan in 1730 at the height of the persecution, He was held in high esteem by the Forsters of Clooneene who protected him from ‘priest hunters’. He sent Lawrence Fahy and his family to live in the Mass house in Shanaglish in order to avoid arousing the suspicion of the British authorities.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.36
Fr John Adams 1766-1771
In 1766, in the parish of Beagh there were 10 Protestant and 313 Catholic families. Here, too, we are informed that Dean Nethercoat was Protestant parish minister, and "Mr. James Adams was parish priest." Local tradition in Kilbeacanty has it that the Rev. Father Adams was parish priest there towards the last decade of the eighteenth century, but had been replaced by 1798 by Rev. P. O’Shaughnessy.
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 362, p.431
Fr Edmond O'Cahill 1771-1787
Edmond O’Cahill was a native of Kilthomas (Peterswell) parish. Mr. Edmond Cahill "was parish priest of Kiltartan. This distinguished priest, to whom the Protestant Dean refers as "Mr. Edmond Cahill," was a Doctor in Divinity, and Dean of the diocese of Kilmacduagh. A little chalice which he used was in Jerome Fahey’s possession in 1893, and bears upon it in legible characters the following inscription in Latin, translated: "Pray for the soul of Edmond O'Cahill, Doctor of Theology, and Dean of Kilmacduagh, who presented me for the use of Kiltartan Chapel in the year 1757." Dean Cahill was probably parish priest in Kiltartan from 1737-1757, and was appointed P.P. of Beagh in 1771.
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 361
Fr Thomas Talmon 1787-1816
He was born in Peterswell. By 1787 he was parish priest of Beagh. He was named to that parish by the noble house of Clanrickarde which claimed the right form antiquity. There were objections forwarded to Rome by Bishop Laurence Nihell but to no avail. The Pope upheld the Clanrickarde claim. Talman was among those who signed the Ardrahan protest against the 1798 Rebellion. There is some evidence that he was educated in Italy. He died on Tuesday 10 September 1816 and was buried with his brother, a doctor, in Kilthomas cemetery.
Declaration of the Clergy of the United Diocese of Kilmacduagh AND KiLFENORA. September, 1798. ‘United Irishmen,' tending to introduce a system of rapine and a subversion of all order, to be a blasphemous outrage against a God of truth…. " We declare it to be a most atrocious falsehood, circulated with fatal industry, that the army of any king is entirely composed of Orangemen, who have sworn to exterminate the lower classes of Catholics at their return from the expedition in which they are now engaged. Blessed be God, those troops are commanded by a Cornwallis, who is the protector of the poor as well as of the rich, who holds the scale of justice with an impartial hand, and at whose councils the genius of humanity and benevolence presides….. The signatures to this interesting document are as follows, and include probably all names of the clergy of the united diocese at that period, including Thomas Talmon, P.P. of Beagh.
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 377, p. 486
Connacht Tribune 4 April 1980, p. 53
Fr O'Doherty and Fr Laurence McGrath 1816-
Just after the Penal Laws had been abolished, parish priests were in high demand.
Bishop Dr. Nicholas Joseph Archdeacon was clearly determined to break any feudal ties of the gentry. Because of his financial dependence on the Catholic gentry, there appears to have been an inclination on their part to dictate policy to him. This, Dr. Archdeacon stoutly if not always discreetly resisted. This gave rise to his most serious dispute – the appointment of a parish priest in Beagh (Shanaglish) in 1816. The Clanricarde family claimed an ancient right of appointment and in November 1816, Lady Clanricarde appointed Fr. Laurence McGrath, who also happened to have 3 influential priest-uncles in the diocese (namely James, John and Michael Duffy of Peterswell). Fr. McGrath accepted the parish which he claimed was rightfully in the gift of Lady Clanricarde.
At the time Fr. O’ Doherty was acting as a parish priest under Mr. Forster, who owned the land in which the Mass House was built. Forster also held the keys to the Mass House. Fr. O’Doherty took offence to McGrath’s appointment and he was supported by Mr. Forster and half of his parishioners. When Fr. McGrath turned up to say Mass in Shanaglish, he was unable to obtain the keys, so he resorted to saying Mass outside. This continued for 6 months, despite the intervention of Dr. Ffrench, who then resided at Rosepark. The intervention of his McGrath’s uncle, Fr. James Duffy, P.P. of Craughwell, failed to resolve the problem, although it is said he exerted a big influence to extricate him.
During this period, everyone who married had a ‘double ceremony’, for fear of being ‘cursed’ by the opposing priest. Dr. Ffrench called at Mr. Forster’s house on numerous occasions to get the key, but each time he was told Mr. Forster was out. On one occasion, Ffrench decide to hide in the grounds and catch Mr. Forster off-guard. Dr. Ffrench rushed in and pounced on Mr. Forster and they came face to face with each other. As a results Dr. Ffrench secured the key. After 6 months in opposition, Fr. O’Doherty was vanquished and having no means of support, he had to take to the roads and ended up shabbily dressed and begging for food.
In January 1818 the Bishop placed Shanaglish under interdict and appointed Fr. Michael O’Shaughnessy as administrator. His episcopal conferences were in agreement with this firm decision as they were anxious to terminate aristocratic privilege. The matter was referred to Rome where Fr. John Nolan, now in residence there, acted for Dr. Nicholas Joseph Archdeacon, Bishop, while some Carmelites were spokesmen for the Clanricardes. Matters reached a climax when the Shanaglish people complained bitterly about the situation that had developed. Fr. McGrath refused to allow the Bishop to enter Shanaglish Church so that he was obliged to address the people on the high road. Finally, in November 1821, Archbishop Oliver Kelly of Tuam intervened and prevailed on Fr. McGrath to reign. (He died as curate in Gort in 1838). The Clanricarde stranglehold was broken.
Connacht Tribune 15 April 1977, p.6
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.37
Father John Michael Acton
Michael Acton entered Maynooth for Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora on 30 November 1800. He was a native of Irishtown, Co. Mayo. His first known appointment was to Shanaglish about 1816. During the McGrath Schism there, Fr. Acton was sent to the parish but he was not acceptable. When he presented himself to say Mass he was hissed and groaned at and in the midst of the tumult, the schismatic Fr. McGrath with his supporters marched in and said Mass. He then became administrator to Kinvara when Fr. Michael O’Fay left Kinvara and went to Rome to continue his studies. He was drowned while on holiday in Spiddal about 1848 and was buried inside Drumacoo old church.
Connacht Tribune 15 April 1977, p.6
Fr John Forde pre 1830
He was born in 1779 and entered Maynooth in 1800. He was appointed Parish Priest of Beagh sometime before 1830, but was evicted later by a local landlord. He went on to become Parish Priest of Kilbeacanty, where he built a church.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.37
Fr M. O'Shaughnessy 1838-1855
Father Michael O'Shaughnessy, was a man of exceptional abilities. He was appointed P.P. of Beagh in 1838. The population of the parish in his time was over a thousand families, though the number in 1871 stood at 543 families. The need of erecting a suitable church was therefore urgent. It was about 1840 that Father O'Shaughnessy undertook the erection of the present church. It is in outline a cruciform building without a chancel. It was nicely situated on a wooded eminence immediately adjoining the site of the old church. The site was granted by the Foster family. The work was completed within a comparatively short period, a fact which showed at once the zeal of the clergymen and the interest of the people in the completion of the work. Improvements have been effected in the church since, however, have effected no change in the outline of the church (in 1893). Father O'Shaughnessy, was transferred to Kilbeacanty in 1855
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.37
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 426
Fr Patrick Tully 1855-1859
A native of Ardrahan, he was a student of the Irish College, Paris, from 1835-1843. He served in Gort and then appointed to Shanaglish in 1855 until his death on 13 October 1859 (or 1 October 1859). While there he was chaplain to the Loretta Nuns in Lough Cutra for 2 years (1852-54) and he was paid £100 per year. He lived in the present steward’s house. In 1846 Fr. Tully replied to the toast of Daniel O’Connell at a banquet in Gort to honor Fr. Theobald Mathew. Over 500 people gathered to hear him. It is also interesting to note that Fr. Tully refused to recognize landlord Robert Lattey’s patronage in Cregg School – both he and Charles O’Shaughnessy managed the school until Lattey came to live on his newly acquired estate purchased from the Butler family. Lattey took his patronage seriously, and he warned the Education Commissioners that if he were not recognized as patron, he would close the school. He was as good as his word, and closed the school. Fr. Tully died on 13 October 1859 and is buried in the old Shanaglish graveyard, adjoining the church. Relations of his live in Rathgar, Dublin. The headstone inscription reads ‘This cross has been placed here by the parishioners to honour in death the remains of the priest whom in life they loved.’
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora'
Fr John Barry 1860-1870
The Rev. John Barry succeeded Father Tully in 1860, and retained pastoral charge until his death on the 14 April 1870. His gave adjoins that of his predecessor. He was born in Inagh, Clare between 1811-1817. The Howes of Ballycotton, Liscannor, and the Lysaghts of Cahilly, Liscannor, were relations. Little is known of Fr. Barry apart from the fact that he was rather innocent in temperament. He was also known to be a ‘quiet and agreeable man’. Newspaper notices mentioned that when he died, he was about 60 years of age, ’40 of which he spent in the sacred ministry’, suggesting that he ordained between 1831-1837.
He too had difficulty with Robert Lattery regarding Cregg school. Lattey agreed to re-open the school on 1 June 1864 as a non-vested school with his name to be included in the books as patron. Fr. Barry objected to his request, and a compromise was reached whereby Fr. Barry and Mr. Lattey would act as joint managers. The clergy’s management was limited to Fr. Barry’s term and his successor Fr. Connolly was not appointed joint manager.
When there was school no longer in Shanaglish church, a deputation of local farmers asked Lord Gough of Lough Cutra to provide a school, in the early 1860s, before Cregg had re-opened. Gough was agreeable and in 1866 the school opened. Bishop MacEvilly of Galway was not happy that Gough should have total control of the school as Patron and Manager. He reported to Rome that Father Barry was a rather simple kind of man and saw no dangers. He continued ‘I took a different view and wrote the P.P. a long elaborate letter on the subject which he forwarded to Captain Gough. All through I was polite and complimentary to Captain Gough, but I hinted that the P.P. had not due control and if necessary we would build another school. I have got the name (rightly or wrongly I won’t say) of being a fighting man since I grappled with Pete Daly. Captain Gough gave in substantially all we demanded both as regards teachers, books etc.’ Fr. Barry was appointed manager of Lough Cutra school in 1868 by Lord Gough.
Fr. Cawley was known locally as Barrach an Aidhne. Dr. MacEvilly concluded that the reason for his care was some bad cases of proselytism in the neighborhood. Fr. Barry, like some rural priests in South Galway, resided in Gort, opposite the parish church, in the house occupied by Cleary’s in the mid-seventies. His parish then came into Gort as far as the river and he with his curate took care of the Workhouse. He was buried in Shanaglish old cemetery and his tombstone reads; ‘Erected by Patrick and James Barry in memory of their Beloved Brother the Revd. Father Barry, P.P. of Beagh, who departed this life on 14 April 1870, aged 59’.
Connacht Tribune 22 April 1977, p.4; Irish Examiner, 18 April 1870, p.2
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 427
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38, p. 168
Fr Michael Connolly 1870-1900
On the death of Father Barry, the Very Rev. Michael Connolly, was transferred from Clarinbridge to take charge of Beagh parish. He was born in Ballywinna, Craughwell, the son of Pat Connolly. He entered Maynooth on 25 August 1838, before being ordained in the home diocese in 1843 by Bishop Edmund Ffrench. He received faculties for missionary duties the same year. During the Famine he labored in Ennistymon, Liscannor, and Lisdoonvarna.
After serving as Parish Priest in Craughwell from 1853-1870, he served in Shanaglish from 1870 to 1900, until his death on 29 June 1900. On the occasion of his transfer he was also appointed Vicar Forrane of the diocese by the Most Rev. Dr. Mac Evilly, then Apostolic Administrator of the diocese. His church was much improved in the 1890s by the erection of an altar in Sicilian marble. It was the gift of Mrs. Tierny, Gort, and was erected in memory of her daughter, lately deceased in the 1890s.
During his tenure, Shanaglish then included George’s Street, ort, as far as the river (including he workhouse), Cloughnaceva and Lavally (all joined to Gort on his death). He lived in Bridge Street, Gort, and had the use of Gort Church to hear confessions. Bishop MacEvilly appointed him Vicar Forane of the Deanery. A late vocation, he had been for a short time a hedge schoolmaster and the money he earned helped to pay for his ecclesiastical education. He was a student of considerable ability in the field of Mathematics. In Clarenbridge, his relationship with the Redington family of Kilcornan was uneasy.
On 12 April 1866 the priests of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora met in Gort to suggest names to Rome for a coadjutor Bishop to the sick Dr. Patrick Fallon. Three names were forwarded; Fathers J. Sheehan, T. Shannon and Michael Connolly. Later, when episcopal opinions were sought, the Bishops of Galway and Elphin were much in favor of Fr. Connolly as bishop. They stressed his academic success, the fact that he was a total abstainer and that he had never become involved in administrative intrigue. Archbishop MacHale too was an influential supporter of Connolly. After considerable discussion, the outcome was a union of the 2 ancient dioceses with the new diocese of Galway.
He died on 29 June 1900, aged 86, at Bridge Street, Gort. He was buried in Shanaglish Church where a fine marble plaque on the West Wall of Shanaglish Church recalls his memory. Close relatives in Craughwell are the Connolly, Farrell and Tully families. Father Michael Farrell of Templemartin and Florida is a great-grandnephew.
Connacht tribune 15 July 1977, p.4; Freemans Journal, 5 July 1900
Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 420
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38
Fr Joseph Cassidy 1900-1907
Joseph Cassidy was born in Moughna, Furglan, Ennistymon, Clare on 6 May 1861. He went to Moy National School and then spent some time with 2 classical teachers in Ennistymon. He then followed as a day boy in Ennis Diocesan College. After 6 years in Maynooth, he was ordained in Galway Cathedral on 17 July 1886. He was a first cousin of Fr. John McCarthy, C.C., Galway, later a Bishop in Australia. His career on Maynooth was outstanding as he won prizes in philosophy, French, Mathematics and various branches of theology. He was curate of Shanaglish from 1886-1889, before being transferred to St. Nicholas N + E from 1889-1892, also as a curate. He became Parish Priest of Shanaglish in 1901, and served there until 1907. It was during his tenure that the Parochial House was built in 1904. In 1902, he closed Lurga National School due to the cholera epidemic.
He was then transferred as parish priest to Ennistymon from 1907-1919. He became Parish Priest of Gort in 1919 and died 1 April 1952. He is buried in Gort Church Grounds. Aged 91 when he died, he knew seven Bishops of Galway. He was also known as ‘Reverend Monseigneur Dean Cassidy’.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.39, p. 178
Connacht Tribune 1 July 1977, p. 7
Fr Andrew J. Nestor 1907-1919
Born in William St. West, Galway in 1864. He was the second youngest of 5 children born to Sarah and Patrick Nestor. He received his early education from the Jesuits. He attended Maynooth from 1882-1889; some of his classfellows in Maynooth were Archbishop Mannix of Melbourne and Bishop Naughton of Killala. In a Latin competition in Maynooth, Nestor was second only to Daniel Mannix.
He was appointed to Beagh in 1907. Interestingly, Father Nestor organized a ‘fete and sports day’ at Gort on 15 August 1910 to help for the repairs of Shanaglish Church. 11 events were offered, including one mile bicycle race, one mile race, three miles bicycle race etc. A dancing saloon was open all day. In 1911 he was instrumental in having the church in Shanaglish renovated at a cost of £2000. It was dedicated on 1 October 1911. In 1910, Fr. Nestor noted in the ‘Parochial Record’ that there were only 36 seats available in the church, but after the renovations, the church contained 66 benches, 33 large seats and 33 small seats.
He was later transferred to Ennistymon in 1919, and in 1921 he successfully requested to ‘the parish’ (Pro-Cathedral) as he wished to return to his native Galway city. His father Patrick played an important part in the establishment of The Connacht Tribune. Andrew’s brother Rev. John (1858-1942) was a Jesuit in Spokane, United States. Canon Nestor had an uncle John, a priest, who was buried in Kilmacduagh in 1851. He died on 17 March 1945.
Connacht Tribune 10 Aug 1979, p.8; Connacht Tribune 30 Jul 1910, p.3; Irish American Weekly 29 Jan 1910, p.2
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38
Fr John Nagle 1919-1921
He was born in Kilshanny in 1875, and was educated in Ennis Diocesan College. He studied in Maynooth from 1893-1900, and then performed in South Africa from 1900 to 1905 as Chaplain in the Boer War. He became Parish Priest of Shanaglish in 1918 and served until his death on 17 March 1921.
While in Shanaglish the Loughnane brothers were murdered, and it affected him deeply. When he was asked to break the news of the murders to Mrs. Loughnane, he found himself unable to face the ordeal. When he went to tell her, he faltered, walked up and down the road and another had to tell the sad news. Shortly afterwards, he was at a British enquiry into the killings. He said he had been chaplain to the British Forces and had witnessed many unspeakable crimes, but, never, he declare, could he even imagine such a hideous barbarity. Before six months had passed, Fr. Nagle, only 56, was dead. He was buried in Shanaglish graveyard.
Connacht Tribune 20 July 1979, page 21
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38
https://www.galwaydiocese.ie/clergy/in-memoriam
Fr Thomas Cawley 1921-1949
Father Thomas was born on 11 October 1878 in Craughwell. He was educated at St. Flannan’s College in Ennis, and later in Maynooth. He was ordained on 23 June 1907. He collected Irish Folklore which was published under the name ‘Killura’, the old name for Craughwell. He also wrote a number of plays which were never published. It is believed by his family that he collected Raftery’s poems and gave them to Douglas Hyde who got the credit for their collection. In 1910 he went to America on a fundraising venture for St. Mary’s College Galway. While there, he published a collection of short stories called ‘An Irish Parish, it’s Sunshine and Shadows’. He also published ‘Leading Lights All’ in 1913. He had previously written a bilingual play called ‘Maire Ní Eidhin’ in 1905. He was a curate in numerous parishes, including Gort, until he became Parish Priest of Shanaglish in 1921. Fr. Cawley erected the bell tower in Shanaglish in 1931, and he also added 2 side porches to the church. It is also notable that Fr. Cawley abolished the right to own a seat in the church. Before his arrival, when the system of pews was introduced, people acquired their own seats. On the death of the owner, the pew passed to the nearest relative, or if no relative existed, it passed to a family friend or neighbor. This effectively meant that only the family who owned the seat could sit there. In 1928 Fr. Cawley served as mentor to the Beagh Hurling Team.
At Mass, he would invite the congregation to say a prayer for all the wicked spirits that wander through the world for the ruination of souls. He did not shy away from using the pulpit to name ‘offenders’ in the parish. One particular Sunday he finished Mass in ten minutes flat. This was because his nephew, a Dáil candidate, was coming canvassing in the Church that day. Fr. Cawley proceeded to tell the congregation not to hang about and to go home. He then broke up the election rally, because Paddy Cawley and his friends were not of his political persuasion. On another occasion, a Céilí at Lough Cutra school was abruptly stopped and everyone told to go home, because he hadn’t given the go ahead for the dance himself’ ‘Father Cawley was a wild man, he could hit a box on you’ recounted some parishioners. Fr. Cawley died on 6 May 1949 while performing his duties in Shanaglish. He is buried in Shanaglish cemetery.
Connacht Tribune 1 July, 1977, p.7
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38, p. 35-36
Fr. John J. Quinn 1949-1964
Aged 66, he was son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Quinn of Inverrin, Connemara. He was educated at Skibereen Secondary School, St. Mary’s Collee, always, and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained on 18 June 1922. He ministered as a curate in Oranmore, Rosmuc, St. Joseph’s Galway (Rahoon), Lisdoonvarna, Castlegar and Gort, before being appointed Administrator of Shanaglish in 1940, later becoming Parish Priest in 1949. He was chaplain to the Irish Army who were stationed in Lough Cutra during the Emergency.
As a student he was an athlete and Rugby player and maintained his interest in athletics all through his life, being actively associated with Shanaglish A.C. and the Diocesan Primary Sports. He was also a keen fisherman and fowler.
He was responsible for many improvements in Shanaglish including the renovation of St. Ann’s Church, the building of Lough Cutra school in 1946, and the reconstruction of Lurga School. He also had the Marian Grotto built in 1954. He was also a keen antiquarian with a profound knowledge of his parish and district. He was a knowledgeable collector of antiques. In the early 50’s the Bishop of the Diocese requested that all his Parish priests collect the history and folklore of their parishes. Fr. Quinn, with the aid of Thomas Walsh from Fiddaun collected an invaluable amount of material and his ‘Parochial Notes’ are among the best collated in the diocese.
His funeral from Galway to St. Ann’s Church was one of the largest ever seen in the district, as reported by local newspapers. His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Galway, presided at the Mass. ‘You all know’ said his Lordship ‘how straightforward he was., how kindly he was,. You will remember his kindly manner and his great interest in his fellow-men. He had been strong in his youth but illness came upon him during the last year and his condition worsened in the past few months.’ Chief mourners at his funeral were his brother Mr. Patrick Quinn, ex National teacher, formerly Principal of Minna National School; his sister Mrs. May Sedwards, National Teacher., Principal, Scoil Fhurse, Galway; his brother in law, Mr. Wally Sedwards, accountant, Galway; and by his sister-in-law, Mrs. P.J. Quinn.
Connacht Tribune 19 Dec 1964, p.7; Connacht Tribune 7 March 1980, page 49
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38-39
Rev. James J Jordan 1964-1977
James Jordan was born in Clarenbridge and was appointed Parish Priest of Beagh in 1965. While P.P. of Shanaglish, he celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination in June 1976. Father Jordan had been ordained in 1926. For his Jubilee celebrations, there was a special reception at Glynn’s Hotel, Gort, attended by over 300 guests. A presentation was made to Father Jordan on behalf of the people of the parish. He retired in 1977 and died on 21 May 1979. He is buried in Shanaglish Church Grounds.
Connacht Tribune 25 June 1976, p.6
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.38
Fr Revato ADM 1978-1979
He was Administrator of Beagh for one year only. Afterwards he returned to Dalgan, Navan, to work with the Columban Missionary.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.39
Fr Helly 1977-1985
Fr. Helly was born in Tulira, Ardrahan. He was appointed Parish Priest of Beagh in 1977. He was later transferred to Castlegar.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.39
Fr Canavan 1985-1988
Fr. Canavan succeeded Fr. Helly as P.P. in 1985. He was then transferred to Clarenbridge in 1988. He was also a member of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council.
McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.39
Fr Patrick Healy 1988-2003
Patrick Healy was born about 1935 in Killaspuglanane, Liscannor, Co.Clare. He was ordained for Galway diocese in 1959, his first appointment was as Curate in Rossaveal, Connemara. By 1960 he was appointed Professor in Our Lady’s College, Gort, and remained there until October 1979, when he was appointed to Lisdoonvarna/Kilshanny. He was appointed Parish Priest in Beagh in 1988 and retired in June 2003 because of ill health. He continued to live in the presbytery at Beagh (Shanaglish) after his retirement, and had been very popular in the Shanaglish parish. He was killed tragically when his car was struck by the Dublin-Galway train at Oranmore level-crossing, Co Galway on 13 February 2004.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/retired-priest-killed-as-train-strikes-car-1.1305046
http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2004/02/13/catholic-priest-killed-oranmore-accident-named/
Curates of Beagh Parish
- Fr Patrick Forde The Rev. P. Forde succeeded. He was a native of the parish of Kilchreest, and was remarkable for a zeal for religion, and for an affectionate interest in the cause of the poor. He died a martyr to duty in the year 1847, and is buried close to the Virgin's altar in the Kinvara church. Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 400
- Rev. John Nestor -1853; John Nestor entered Maynooth in 1844 and after his ordination ministered only in Shanaglish until his death in 1853. He died in July 1853 of malignant fever, caught in the discharge of his ministry. He was ordained priest on 18 Jul 1850, and was interred on the same day of the month, in Kilmacduagh. Connacht Tribune 10 Aug 1979, p.8; Freeman’s Journal 23 July 1853; Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 400; McNamara Marie, Beagh A History & Heritage, p.39
- Rev Thomas Newell 1854-1856; Thomas Newell was born Curracugeen, Headford, he was a brother of Fr. Redmond Newell. Educated at St. Jarlath’s College, he entered Maynooth in 1847 and was ordained in Gort by Bishop Fallon in November 1854. He then served in Shanaglish from 1854-1856, Ennistymon, Liscannor and Kilfenora (P.P. 1868-1873). He was then P.P. Ennistymon from 1873 until his death on 8 January 1899. For a while his brother was one of his curates. He was a fluent Irish speaker. When he left Beagh, the parishioners of convened a meeting, over which A.W. Harnett Esq. presided. An address was adopted, and a subscription entered into which resulted in the presentation of a purse of gold to accompany the address – a sold testimonial of its sincerity. Connacht Tribune, 7 Sep 1979, p.28; Irish American Weekly, 2 Feb 1856, p.2
- Rev John Madden 1856-1858
- Rev Christopher O’Carroll 1858-1861; Christopher O’Carroll was ordained on 12 April 1848 in Maynooth. He served as curate in Craughwell from 1856-1858 before arriving in Shanaglish to perform his duties. He then became curate in Kinvara from 1861 to 1865. Eventually he was Parish Priest of his own parish on Carron, beginning in 1867, where he served until his death in 1877. He was closely related to the Quinn’s of Prospect House, Gort. He was also a member of the learned Ossianic Society. Connacht Tribune 1 Jul 1977, p.7
- Rev Michael Brody 1862-1864; Michael Brody entered Maynooth on 25 August 1855 and was ordained on 14 June 1862. He spent 2 years as a curate in Shanaglish. His subsequent history is unknown. Connacht Tribune 27 May 1977, p.6
- Fr William O'Dwyer
- Rev Michael Killeen
- Rev Thomas Morris
- Rev Patrick Geraghty
- Rev B. Quinn; Rev. B. Quinn, the present respected pastor, was appointed on the 15 August 1884. He was a native of Kinvara, and made his ecclesiastical studies for a time at the Irish College, Paris, and completed them in the National College, Maynooth. He was described as a zealous labourer - through his exertions, Craughwell church was complete and comfortable in its internal arrangements. The erection of a suitable presbytery on the church was an additional evidence of successful labours. Fahey, Jerome, 'The Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora', p. 424
- Rev Michael Flanagan
- Rev Robert Burke
- Rev Francis (Frank) Cassidy 1879-1881; Canon Francis Cassidy was ordained in Maynooth on 29 August 1873, after being educated in Ennis. He served as curate in Shanaglish from 1879-1881 before being transferred to Ballyvaughan. He was a brother to Father Joseph Cassidy who became Parish Priest in Shanaglish in 1907. He died on 4 Apr 1926 and is buried in Kilfenora, Clare, where he served as parish priest from 1908-1926. Connacht Tribune 1 Jul 1977, p.7
- Rev James O'Doherty
- Rev John Usher
- Rev Patrick Francis
- Rev Martin Keely; Martin Kealy was born in Aran, Ballindereen in 1849 and ordained in 1878. His parents were Patrick and Mary Kealy. His brother Thomas, a civil service inspector in Bombay, died in 1894 and is buried in Drumacoo. He was a late vocation as for some years he had been in business in Loughrea. He was educated in the Irish College, Paris. He served in Kinvara, Ennistymon, Rahoon, Shanaglish, Ballyvaughan, Kilfenora, Shrule and Adm. Rosmuc. In poor health for many years, he died on 31 October 1922 and was buried outside his native church. Connacht Tribune 12 May 1978, p. 27
- Rev Redmond MacHugh
- Rev Michael Kearns
- Rev John Kelly 1901; John Keely was born in 1860 in Peterswell, and educated at Loughrea Seminary and Maynooth. He was ordained in June 1889 and served in Galway City, Lettermore, Gort, Ennistymon, Shanaglish (in 1901), Oughterard, Adm. Liscannor, Clarenbridge and finally Kinvara. Fr. Keely died on 20 February 1939 and after his burial in Kinvara, it was discovered that he had willed to be buried in Peterswell. He left a generous sum to Peterswell parish to provide a stained glass window for the church. The noted Evie Hone executed the commission. Fr. Keely had previously erected a tombstone over his parents at Kilthomas. Rev. Kelly was the last curate in Beagh. Connacht Tribune 12 May 1978, p.27