St. Patrick’s Church in Donagh celebrates bicentenary

The celebrant for the Mass, which took place at 3pm, was Fr. Kevin Malcolmson of Galloon Parish.

St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1824 under the guidance of Reverend Francis Goodwin and has been renovated many times during the past 200 years.

A carved stone depicting the year of foundation is still visible above the main entrance of the Church, which was built with donations from extremely poor people in pre-famine Ireland.

Donagh residents have in recent months once again come together to renew their Church, with the grounds and interior now in "pristine" condition.

Following the mass, Fr. Michael King, retired Parish Priest of Galloon, planted a tree in the Church grounds to commemorate the occasion.

Fr. Michael King, retired Parish Priest of Galloon, planted a tree in the Church grounds to mark the bicentenary (Image: Supplied)

The celebrations continued in the Millennium Hall beside the Church, with music and refreshments and an ice-cream van which the children enjoyed.

A booklet containing articles on the history of the Church, and other articles of local interest, was launched, while Donagh Heritage and Cultural Group prepared a display of local history and old photographs.

St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1824 with donations from poor people in pre-famine Ireland (Image: Supplied)

The Church also marked the retirement of its long-serving sacristan and caretaker, Mrs. Tessie Sweeney, who has served the Church for almost 30 years.

In other parish news, a life-sized statue of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized as the first millennial Saint of the Church in 2025, was unveiled and blessed in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Newtownbutler at a school mass last week.