A Brief History of the Parish
St. Coleman, who had been educated at Iona under St. Columba, founded a monastery at Oughaval. The Site was later occupied by the parochial church.
A Franciscan monastery was establihsed in the 13th century in Stradbally. In a return of 1731 it is stated: "Stradbally, Fossey, Timmogue: One Mass House, built within ten years. One Schoolmaster, James; Priests: Pat kelly and John Burn, John Burn came latley from France, frequently officiates in the Mass House and in several private houses."
In 1796 Admiral Cosby granted a lease of a site in Cushen's yard for a church.
Fr. George Hume PP 1850-1862 welcomed Presentation Sisters to Stradbally in 1852. The sisters educated the poor and ran a large orphange. They donated the site for the new Church.
Our Churches
Sacred Heart, Stradbally
Date of Completion: 1896
Style: Cruciform
Architect: William Hague
Church of the Assumption Vicarstown
Date of Completion: 1841
Style Cruciform
The Branch of the Grand Canal, through Vicarstown opned in the 1791, and offered transport of goods and comfortable passage for travellers.
The Church of the Assumption is a large, slated, cruciform structure of stone, surmounted by a large stone cross. The front portion facing the gateway to the Church, is un-plastered and consists of regular blocks of cut stone in the wall and corner pillars. The windows are of Gothic design with the largest positioned above entrace doorway.
St. Michael's, Tiamhoe
Date of Completion: 1832
Style: Gothic
Timahoe is situated in Fossey, the ancient parochial district, the ruins of its church being to the south-east of the villag. A religious community exosted in Timahoe as late as 1650.
The round tower of Timahoe is built of limstone and the opening are of sandstone. The tower is 96ft in height and 57ft in circumference at the base, and the wall is 4ft thick. Tjere are five stories above the floor level.
Fr. Dowling, who presided over the buidling of the Church, is buried within its walls. The church's stained glass windows are worthy of particular attention.
On a famr in Garryglass, Timahoe, owned by a Mr. Mooney, is a holy well overhung by a Massbush, called St. Corneliu's Well. A member of the Mooney family discovered a chalice there along with what is thought to be the remnants of a timber altar.