Clonmona, 8th December 1875 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)- to the Very Rev. Edward Connor P.P. Crossgar
Dear Reverend Sir,
On looking over the Directory, I find your name as parish priest of Kilmore, Inch and Killyleagh. The last of these three induces me to beg leave to ask your reverence two simple questions, and after asking them, I'll give you my reasons for doing so. First question; Is there a Catholic chapel in the town of Killyleagh , and secondly, does there be Mass in that town now of a Sunday.
Now, Rev, Sir, my reason for asking these questions are: I lived in Killyleagh in 1824 and part of 1825. I was a tradesman, a builder and foreman to a building company in Dublin, who had a contract for building a steeple and spire to the Protestant church in that town. I was sent there as director and overseer of the works.
When I first went to Killyleagh I very naturally asked was there a chapel in it. I was told there was not, nor no
nearer than Crossgar. Nor was there a Catholic living in the town but five. And one of them a convert. In a few days I found it to be a fact- there was but five, two men and three women, servant girls, in the town. Of course me and my wife had to go to Crossgar every Sunday to Mass. I was not long going there when I got acquainted with the parish priest, a Rev. Father Curoe, am elderly gentleman, who took compassion on my wife to have to walk every Sunday- there being no car for hire in the town at that time. Father Curoe asked me if he sent
a priest to Killyleagh, where he could celebrate Mass. I said he could celebrate Mass in the house I lived in, as I had the house to myself. This was in 1825. Fr. Curoe sent a priest, a Father McMullan , a and a boy with the vestments. The first Sunday he came we had but six of a congregation; the nest time more than the house could contain. There was a Mr. Keon in the town, an agent of the Roan family, and I asked him for the use of the coach-house at the Castle to have Mass celebrated in it, which he very kindly and cheerfully gave to me. We then adjourned to the coach-house, where we had Mass every Sunday after 2 o'clock from the landing of the steps at the hall door of the Castle, and a great many Presbyterians used to come and listen to him (but no Protestants) and very respectable they did conduct themselves and said they would like to hear him. He
was a splendid preacher. He preached one Sunday on the events of the Blessed Virgin and he done it every justice and the Presbyterians liked it very much.
The Rev. Fr. Curoe told me there was not a Mass celebrated in Killyleagh for upwards of 300 years before it was celebrated in my house. As Father, for the house I lived in, I hope there is a Catholic
living in it now; it is the next house to the upper gate going to the church in the back street.
One incident more, Reverend Sir, if you please. When I was going to Crossgar to Mass there were a very
respectable little chapel in it, and look rather new, but there was no tabernacle and it looked very bare without one on the altar. I got my carpenter to make one- a good one- and we placed it on the altar. It had one fault to it when it was up- it looked rather large for the altar, but , however, we left it so. I suppose it is there still. If it be, Rev. Sir, when you see it think of me and hope, sir, you'll pray fro me.
I humbly beg your reverence's pardon for troubling you with such much bad writing, but my sight is failing me fats. I am a very old man. I was born on Easter Sunday, 16th April, 1786 and if God spares me life until next Easter Sunday, it will be on the same date which will finish my 90th year. I would be very happy to know if
there does be Mass in Killyleagh and that I was instrumental in commencing so good a work.
I remain, Rev. Sir, Your most
obedient and humble servant,
Martin Lyons
Clonmona Cottage, Birr, King's County"
Dear Reverend Sir,
On looking over the Directory, I find your name as parish priest of Kilmore, Inch and Killyleagh. The last of these three induces me to beg leave to ask your reverence two simple questions, and after asking them, I'll give you my reasons for doing so. First question; Is there a Catholic chapel in the town of Killyleagh , and secondly, does there be Mass in that town now of a Sunday.
Now, Rev, Sir, my reason for asking these questions are: I lived in Killyleagh in 1824 and part of 1825. I was a tradesman, a builder and foreman to a building company in Dublin, who had a contract for building a steeple and spire to the Protestant church in that town. I was sent there as director and overseer of the works.
When I first went to Killyleagh I very naturally asked was there a chapel in it. I was told there was not, nor no
nearer than Crossgar. Nor was there a Catholic living in the town but five. And one of them a convert. In a few days I found it to be a fact- there was but five, two men and three women, servant girls, in the town. Of course me and my wife had to go to Crossgar every Sunday to Mass. I was not long going there when I got acquainted with the parish priest, a Rev. Father Curoe, am elderly gentleman, who took compassion on my wife to have to walk every Sunday- there being no car for hire in the town at that time. Father Curoe asked me if he sent
a priest to Killyleagh, where he could celebrate Mass. I said he could celebrate Mass in the house I lived in, as I had the house to myself. This was in 1825. Fr. Curoe sent a priest, a Father McMullan , a and a boy with the vestments. The first Sunday he came we had but six of a congregation; the nest time more than the house could contain. There was a Mr. Keon in the town, an agent of the Roan family, and I asked him for the use of the coach-house at the Castle to have Mass celebrated in it, which he very kindly and cheerfully gave to me. We then adjourned to the coach-house, where we had Mass every Sunday after 2 o'clock from the landing of the steps at the hall door of the Castle, and a great many Presbyterians used to come and listen to him (but no Protestants) and very respectable they did conduct themselves and said they would like to hear him. He
was a splendid preacher. He preached one Sunday on the events of the Blessed Virgin and he done it every justice and the Presbyterians liked it very much.
The Rev. Fr. Curoe told me there was not a Mass celebrated in Killyleagh for upwards of 300 years before it was celebrated in my house. As Father, for the house I lived in, I hope there is a Catholic
living in it now; it is the next house to the upper gate going to the church in the back street.
One incident more, Reverend Sir, if you please. When I was going to Crossgar to Mass there were a very
respectable little chapel in it, and look rather new, but there was no tabernacle and it looked very bare without one on the altar. I got my carpenter to make one- a good one- and we placed it on the altar. It had one fault to it when it was up- it looked rather large for the altar, but , however, we left it so. I suppose it is there still. If it be, Rev. Sir, when you see it think of me and hope, sir, you'll pray fro me.
I humbly beg your reverence's pardon for troubling you with such much bad writing, but my sight is failing me fats. I am a very old man. I was born on Easter Sunday, 16th April, 1786 and if God spares me life until next Easter Sunday, it will be on the same date which will finish my 90th year. I would be very happy to know if
there does be Mass in Killyleagh and that I was instrumental in commencing so good a work.
I remain, Rev. Sir, Your most
obedient and humble servant,
Martin Lyons
Clonmona Cottage, Birr, King's County"