Ceremony marks 200 years of St Brendan's Church in Birr

A milestone in the history of Birr, the 200th anniversary of the completion of St Brendan's Church, was marked last weekend at a special Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan.

The local landmark was described at the Mass on Saturday as "a special building" which has a "place in the hearts of all Birr people".

The Mass featured music specially written by Peter Whyte and performed by Birr Choral Society.

Welcoming the attendees, local teacher and chair of the Birr parish pastoral council, Brian Kennedy, explained that the church had been completed on August 1, 1824, seven years after its foundation stone was laid.

"Very few churches, after two centuries, would have a direct descendant of the donor of their site, who appointed Bernard Mullins as architect, and gave £100 and a quarry of stone to build the church," he said.

"It is wonderful to have Sir Brendan Parsons and Lady Alison with us this evening, and we have apologies from Patrick Parsons who is unable to be with us.

"Sir Brendan is the fifth descendant of Lawrence Parsons, the second Earl of Rosse, our benefactor from 1817."

Mr Kennedy said the current generation were merely custodians of the church for the present time.

"We stand on holy ground. A place sanctified by 200 years of daily Masses, and the prayers of countless people," he said.

Bishop Monahan pointed out that he had been present in Birr on December 3, 2017, for the bicentenary of the laying of the foundation stone for the building of St Brendan's Church.

"This is a wonderful occasion for the people of Birr church area, for all involved in church at every level, clergy, religious, ministers, and all who participate in church in any way.

"It's an especially great day for descendants of family members who were involved in the planning, the building and the beautifying of this church, and who have taken such amazing care of it over the last 200 years," he said.

The bicentennial Mass was concelebrated by Fr Tom Hogan, parish native Fr Arnold Rosney, and Fr Michael O'Meara, while local natives Fr Pat Malone and Fr Colm Mannion were also in attendance.

Towards the end of the service a special presentation was made to Brian Kennedy and it was mentioned that he has been working on a history of the parish which, it is hoped, will be launched in November.