A
History of Cappagh Parish
St.
Mary's, Killyclogher
- est. 1820.
Christ
the King - est. 1979.
St. Mary's, Knockmoyle -
est. 1800
Corpus Christi, Mountfield
- est. 1953
Hospital Chapel, Tyrone &
Fermanagh Hospital - est.
1881
The town land names baring
references to woods, trees and bushes
indicate the former extensive woodlands
of Cappagh while the use of Lis, Rath
and Dun provide evidence of early
settlements and population.
Earliest ecclesiastical settlement
was in Dunmullan or Cill Mhor. Killmore
as the Civil Survey calls it. The
old church in Dunmullan dates back
to the early 1400’s giving Cappagh
over 600 years of church history.
In the post reformation period Catholics
in Cappagh celebrated Mass on Mass
Rocks such as Cullion Mass Rocks.
Mass was also celebrated in Carnoney
and in Cannings on the Gortin road.
Fr Daniel O’Flaherty who was
parish priest from 1795 to 1829 is
credited with building and renovating
the two churches in Knockmoyle and
Killyclogher.
The church at Mountfield came later
as Mountfield was just established
as a village in 1830 by Sir William
Mc Mahon. Corpus Christi Church was
built in 1955 and up until that point
parishioners attended Mass in neighbouring
Loughmacrory or Killyclogher.
The housing developments in the 1970s
in Strathroy and Lisanelly led to
the opening of the Church Christ the
King in 1979.
So today, the parish has four main
areas including Killyclogher, Knockmoyle,
Mountfield and Strathroy, which are
served to the fullest by the four
dedicated priests in the community.
An
Interview with a Priest
“It’s
a wonderful parish and people are
very strong in their faith. Quite
a lot of young people are active in
the church also which is nice to see,”
according to parish priest Fr Eugene
Boland. St Marys Church plays a major
role in the community and draws parishioners
together every weekend.
Situated about two miles outside
Omagh, the parish has transformed
into an area that is popular to live
and holiday in over the past decade
or so.
As with most parishes, growing numbers
of people are moving to the area to
get a balance between working and
living. “It’s got that
nice blend of town and country,”
Fr Boland says. Where once Killyclogher
was seen as the heart and soul of
the parish, this vitality has extended
throughout the parish as the growth
and development has changed the shape
of it dramatically.
“Just before I came in January
2004 for the first time in the history
of Killyclogher they had just won
the county championship (GAA), the
O’Neill cup so there was a real
feel good factor. Along with this
Tyrone was All Ireland Champions at
the time and it was actually the centenary
year of the club so it was very appropriate,”
Fr Boland says.
Much effort has also been put into
Killyclogher Youth Club which has
been up and running for many years
now. The club is a great diversion
for the young people in the parish
and provides activities in the community
centre on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
The club provides football, table
tennis and many other activities for
its members. Every second Friday night
club organisers run a disco for local
teenagers. This is no ordinary disco
however, as alcohol is strictly banned
to the point where youngsters are
breathalysed if there is any suspicion
that they have been drinking which
O’Donnell says has been very
effective at tackling underage drinking.
Aside from the many activities that
take place inside the club it also
does much work for the rest of the
community. Each year the club helps
with the Old Age Pensioners Dinner
Dance by serving at it and doing various
other things to ensure the event is
a success.
But, Cappagh has not just focused
its energies on the younger generations
as there are many clubs and events
for the wider community to enjoy.
The community centre is booked out
from week to week with bingo on Monday
nights, Karate on Thursday nights
and a bowling Club also.
Cappagh
& the GAA
The GAA was founded in 1884
to emphasize the identity of the community
and pride of place which has continued
to this day. Over the past ten years
there has been a line of dedication
to the Cappagh GAA Club, hurling,
camogie and handball – all of
which have been organised to varying
degrees of success in terms of titles
won but always with commitment.
The past 30 years have been particularly
rewarding with the purchase and development
of a playing field and establishment
of a base in Ballinamullan. A second
playing field has been added and a
modern dressing room complex complete
with fitness suite has just opened
to supplement the existing dressing
rooms and handball facilities.
There are strong ties between CCE
and the cultural centre, Dun Uladh
which is built on land provided by
the GAA club. Players and participants
receive much support throughout the
community and the priests led by Fr
Boland are very vocal in their encouragement
of games in the community.
Ballinamullan, the home of the GAA
and CCE is a veritable hive of activity
and parents can bring their children
to learn skills, play games and enjoy
themselves in a safe and caring environment
and strengthen ties with their own
parish, Cappagh.
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