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Ashbourne and Donaghmore Parish - Some Historical Events that Affected Our Parish:
[Pre-Reformation Times]
[Before C. 432]
Celtic spirituality - Newgrange/Knowth/Dowth/Fourknocks.
[C. 432-800]
Golden age; Donaghmore founded by St. Patrick.
[C. 432]
St. Patrick arrives in Ireland.
[C. 500]
St. Brigid "Muire na nGael".
[C. 1117]
Maolmuire Ua Duanain, first bishop of Meath.
[C. 1200]
First parishes centred at killeglan, Greenogue, Ratoath, Crickstown (Curragha) and Cookstown.
[C. 1537]
Reformation, parishes suppressed. No bishop in Meath between 1577 and 1621.
[1539]
Catholic church in Ashbourne closed.
[C. 1650]
Cromwellian invasion; persecution of the faithful.
[C. 1700]
Mass houses in Donaghmore and Ratoath.
[1727]
Michael Plunkett, P.P. Ratoath, buried in Killeglan.
[1760]
Chapel built in Ratoath.
[Post-Reformation Times]
[Before 1828]
Local Parishes: Ratoath/Killeglan, Curragha/Trevet, and Donaghmore/Kilbride.
[1828]
Local Parishes: Ratoath/Killeglan, Curragha/Donaghmore, Kilbride/Dunboyne, and Trevet/Skryne.
[1834]
Ashbourne chapel built, now the village hall.
[1836]
Donaghmore church built.
[1882 to 1889]
Ashbourne church built.
[1920]
Branch of St. Joseph's Young Priests Society founded in parish.
[1932]
Eucharistic congress.
[1953]
Pioneer Total Abstinence Society. New school in village.
[1960]
Apostolic Society.
[1962]
Second Vatican council.
[1977]
St. Declan's National School.
[1979]
Fintan Cassidy curate in Ashbourne. Senior choir founded. Pope John Paul II in Ireland.
[1981]
Extension to Ashbourne church. Gaelscoil na Cille built. Eucharistic Ministers formed.
[1982]
New parishes: Ashbourne/Donaghmore, Ratoath, Curragha. Bridie Kearns appointed sacristan in Donaghmore. Rev. Martin E. Burke appointed first Parish Priest of Ashbourne/Donaghmore.
[1983]
Conference of S.V.P. founded in the parish. Parochial house in Milltown bought for parish.
[1984]
Ashbourne church youth choir formed.
[1986]
St. Mary's National School opened.
[1988]
Eddie O'Donoghue appointed sacristan in Ashbourne. Rev. Kathleen Young, first woman ordained for the Church of Ireland.
[1990]
Dr. Michael Smith consecrated as Bishop of Meath. Donaghmore church 150th anniversary.
[1994]
Fr. Brendan Ferris appointed to the parish. Community school built. Rev. Seamus Mulvaney appointed P.P. Glasson.
[1996]
Rev. Richard Clarke ordained.
[1997]
Fr. Michael Meade appointed to the parish, while Fr. Philip O'Connor leaves for Tyrellspass.
[1998]
Sisters of Mercy Jo. Dunne and Margaret Mary Murphy arrive in Ashbourne. Fr. Jim Lynch is appointed parish priest with Fr. Martin Burke moving to Clara in Co. Offaly.
[1999]
Save Momo, Columban lay missionary arrives. Carmel Boyle appointed pastoral minister. Parish Office opens with Billy Flood as manager and Deirdre McMahon appointed as parish secretary.
Jubilee committees established. Parish finance committee established. Donaghmore choir re-established.
[2000]
March: Gracia Kibad, Columban Lay Missionary, arrived from the Phillipines to work in our parish for three years.
April: Finance Committee established.
May 28th: Jubilee Voices concert in Ashbourne church.
June: Work began on restoration of Ashbourne church roof.
June: £5000 collected for Fr. Michael Ferris' mission in Brazil.
June: Finance committee met with Bishop Michael Smith; it was agreed to buy a house to accommodate our Columban Lay Missionaries.
June 7th: Special Jubilee mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Smith of Meath in Donaghmore church.
June: Fr. Mort Loftus retired P.P. from Bermingham to live in Ashbourne.
June 24th: Diocesan celebration of the Great Jubilee at the Hill of Slane.
August: Fr. Brendan Ferris departed for a Sabbatical.
September: First group of parishioners enroled in "Preparing for Ministries" course in All Hallows.
October: Carmel Boyle ends her work as Pastoral Minister.
November: New Adult Folk Group established for 12.30 p.m. Mass in Ashbourne Church.
November: Church roof restoration complete.
[2001]
August: Fr. Brendan Ferris C.C. transferred to Kinnegad Parish
September: Fr. Kevin Fleming, SSC, Columban Missionary priest on home on leave from Korea, appointed as curate on a temporary basis.
September: Ephrem & Giovanna Feeley appointed as lay pastoral workers, part time.
September: Save Momo's three year term as Columban Lay Missionary ended.
November: "Know Racism", campaign to welcome foreign nationals to Ashbourne, began.
November: Parish web team have first meeting with the aim of developing our website. Team consists of Billy Flood (Co-Ordinator), Deirdre Connolly and Niall McMahon.
[2002]
March: Fr. Kevin Fleming,SSC returned to Korea.
May: 15th - this site goes "live" (see Web team Notes).
June: 1st Meeting of Parish Pastoral Council, 4th June.
June: Emphrem Feeley ends his work as part-time pastoral worker.
September: Bridie Kearns, Sacristan of Donaghmore Church R.I.P.
September: Giovanna Feeley appointed full-time Pastoral Co-ordinator.
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