Westport Parish

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link < Back Memorare Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen . Previous Next

< Back St, Colmcille's National School St Colmcille's National School School • Primary https://quayschool.ie St Colmcille's National School, The Quay, Cloonmonad, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland 2 April 2025 at 09:43:55

History & Renovations Our church has been established on this site for over 200 years. It was built in 1813 and has evolved and changed with the times, addressing the needs of the parish as well as providing a historical and social interpretation of the times. 2024 The new doors in the Croagh Patrick oratory. The five new doors were hung by volunteers Anthony Corrigan, Brendan Conway, Mick Needham, and John Joe McDonnell. 2016 Renovation work commenced. 2015 Structural problems arose with the roof and ceilings. 2004 Major structural works were carried out to reinforce the foundations of the original church. 1990 Placing the statue of St. Patrick on top of the pedestal on the Octagon, March 1990. Watching the preparations are members of the restoration committee. L-R : Joe Berry, Westport; Liam Walsh Chairman; Fr Tony King ADM Westport; Ken Thompson sculptor; John Coffey Monumental Works; Tom Durcan; Cathal Hughes and Sean Staunton, Restoration Committee. Photographer Liam Lyons 1986 St. Mary's Church, Westport, May 1986. House originally the residence of the Gallagher family Westport and it was the property of St. Mary's parish and has returned to the ownership of the parish. It is the residence of the administrator. Photographer Liam Lyons 1973 The alter and sanctuary were remodelled. 1959 Working on St Mary's church, Westport, 1959. Photographer Liam Lyons 1958 Building recommenced to complete the 1928 church and finished in 1961. 1955 St Mary's Church Westport, 1955. before modern renovations & prepared for Procession Sunday. Jim Crawford Castlebar St Westport standing in the doorway. The residents of Westport Quay had the honour every year to decorate the front of the church. Photographer Liam Lyons 1928 A new church was planned and dedicated in 1932. 1813 The foundation stone was laid. 1975: The CROAGH PATRICK Pilgrimage | Nationwide | BBC Archive A facinating look back: " Bernard Falk joined the pilgrims on their arduous journey in the summer of 1975 for Nationwide, making it to the top (and back to the bottom again) relatively unscathed." Oct 16, 2025 St. Mary's Church Westport Stained Glass Windows Mar 18, 2025 Happy to welcome Bishop Michael of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe On Sunday 16 FEB 2025 we were very happy to welcome The Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe to St. Mary's Church,... Feb 17, 2025 You can learn more about the parish’s history by visiting this page: [click here] . Description Detached nine-bay double-height Catholic church, built 1926-32; dedicated 1932, on a cruciform plan comprising seven-bay double-height nave opening into six-bay double-height flat-roofed side aisles; single-bay (single-bay deep) double-height transepts centred on single-bay double-height tower (crossing) on a square plan opening into single-bay double-height apse (south). Completed, 1957-61, producing present composition. Renovated, 1973, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roofs on a cruciform plan centred on pyramidal slate roof (tower); half-conical slate roof (south), clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on slightly overhanging eaves retaining cast-iron square profile hoppers and downpipes. Drag edged rock faced limestone ashlar walls to entrance (north) front on cut-limestone chamfered plinth with limestone ashlar frontispiece in cut-limestone frame; roughcast surface finish (remainder) bellcast over rendered plinth. Round windows (clerestorey) with rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having square glazing bars. Round-headed window openings (side aisles) with concrete sills, and rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Round-headed window openings (transepts) with concrete sills, and rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pair of round-headed door openings to entrance (north) front with cut-limestone surrounds having stepped reveals framing timber panelled double doors. "Wheel Window" (gable) with cut-limestone surround having stepped reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having stained glass panels. Interior including vestibule (north) with reclaimed cut-limestone date stone ("1813"); paired square-headed door openings into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors having overlights; full-height interior with organ gallery (north) supporting pipe organ below stained glass "Wheel Window" (1960), terrazzo central aisle between cruciform-detailed timber pews, round-headed arcades on polished red Verona marble pillars on cut-veined grey marble plinths with barrel vaulted ceiling on cornice, round-headed chancel arch framing carpeted cut-veined white marble stepped dais to sanctuary (south) reordered, 1973, with cut-veined white marble panelled altar below inlaid cut-veined white marble "baldacchino", cut-veined white marble stepped daises to side altars with Gothic-style altars below stained glass memorial windows (1948-1981), timber boarded wainscoting (side aisles) with carved timber dado rail, and "Opus Sectile" stations (1929-31) below stained glass memorial windows (1950-1979). Street fronted with concrete flagged footpath to front. Appraisal A church erected to designs by Rudolph Maximilian Butler (1872-1943) of Kildare Street, Dublin (Irish Builder 1st April 1926, 261; 16th April 1927, 282), representing an important component of the twentieth-century built heritage of County Mayo with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the cruciform plan form; and the slender profile of the openings underpinning a streamlined Romanesque theme: meanwhile, aspects of the composition, in particular the "Wheel Window"-detailed frontispiece, clearly illustrate the belated completion of the church to designs by James Rupert Edward Boyd Barret (c.1904-76) with those works recalling his contemporary Catholic Church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost (1956-60) in County Cork (Irish Builder 14th June 1958, 439; 30th September 1961, 765). Having been well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the arcaded interior reordered (1973) in accordance with the liturgical reforms sanctioned by the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (1962-5) where contemporary joinery; an eye-catching "baldacchino"; opus sectile stations by Hubert McGoldrick (1897-1967) of An Túr Gloine (opened 1903), Dublin; and vibrant stained glass supplied by Earley Studios Limited (closed 1975) of Dublin; Harry Clarke Stained Glass Studios (closed 1973) of Dublin; George Campbell RHA (1917-79) of Belfast and Span; Patrick Pye RHA (1929-2018) of Dublin; and George Walsh (b. 1939) of Dublin, all highlight the considerable artistic potential of a church making an imposing visual statement overlooking the canalised Westport or Carrowbeg River: meanwhile, a reclaimed date stone ("1813") survives as an interesting relic of the Georgian Gothic church 'Erected by subscription and the strenuous exertions of the Most Revd. Oliver Kelly [1777-1834] aided by the Parishioners' which in retrospect was unjustly maligned as 'a large, lumpish, tasteless structure' (Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland 1846 III, 521). data from: NBHS Renovations: The Situation Today In July 2015, part of the ceiling in the side aisle collapsed falling onto the seating below.Thank God no one was injured. While examining the cause of the ceiling collapse it became apparent, after exhaustive investigations, that defects in the building were much more extensive, serious, varied and widespread. The reality is, our ‘200 year’ old Church is ‘physically a lot sicker than it looks’ with serious problems extending from the cross on top of the roof right through to the foundations in the ground. Substantial remedial works are required. The time spent investigating the problems and appropriate solutions has been worthwhile. This process has ensured that poorly planned and abortive works are avoided. The time and effort has undoubtedly saved us money. In the first instance, we have identified the most urgent works to protect your safety and secondly to protect the structure and fabric of our historic building. Accordingly, the works are now divided into four phases in line with what we think we can afford at this time. The more detailed elements of each phase are outlined under the headings below. We deeply appreciate your patience during this process.

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Maumturks Walking Club 30 March 2025 0:00 a.m. Great to do Croagh Patrick in the month of March A few even crossed the border into Mayo, thanks to James O'Doherty for leading the lesser known route. more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AP2fKvTny/

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link < Back Prayer of St. Patrick Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. Here’s the full Prayer of St. Patrick: I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In obedience of angels, In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock. I arise today Through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. Previous Next

< Back Westport Meals On Wheels Eco-Congregation The Primary Objective at Westport Meals on Wheels is to provide home-cooked meals to ALL our Members. Eco-Congregation [email protected] (098) 25669 https://westportmow.ie/ Cahernamart, Westport, County Mayo, F28 YP21, Ireland 31 March 2025 at 14:34:04

< Back St. Patrick's N.S. Clare Island Primary School • St. Patrick's N.S. Clare Island St. Patrick’s N.S. is a school full of history, first built in 1887. It originally began as a small, one-room schoolhouse and was one of only two schools on Clare Island at the time. Over the years, the school has grown — it was extended and renovated eighteen years ago, and in 2015, two more classrooms were added. Today, the school is bright and spacious with plenty of room for all our pupils. Recently, we also upgraded our playground and added a bicycle shed. Our school is located in the heart of Clare Island, in the village of Kille, right beside the church and the old Cistercian Abbey. We are lucky to have stunning views of Clew Bay, with Croagh Patrick, Inishturk, and the mainland visible in the distance. Ms. Winters is our school principal, and she also teaches in the junior classroom. Our acting vice principal, Ms. Mc Ging, teaches the senior classroom, and Ms. Cunniffe is our learning support teacher. Gráinne, our school secretary, looks after the office, administration, and computer work. We are also very lucky to have Ms. Finn, who teaches us music every Friday. We are very proud of our Green Schools achievements. We earned our first Green Flag in 2007 for our work in reducing, reusing, and recycling. Since then, we have received four more Green Flags, most recently for promoting sustainable travel. This year, we are working towards a flag for Biodiversity. Sport is an important part of school life. We play football, soccer, rugby, and rounders. Our Gaelic football team takes part in the Cumann na mBunscoil competitions, playing against other small schools. For over fourteen years, Clare Island has hosted the Small Schools Football Blitz, which was paused during Covid but returned last year. It’s a fun day where over a hundred children come together to play football. Every year, we take swimming lessons in Westport Leisure Park for eight weeks during May and June. These trips are a great way to learn new skills and visit places like the garda station, fire station, library, and playgrounds. We also have summer swimming lessons on the island, run by the Irish Water Safety Council. School • Primary https://clareislandns.scoilnet.ie/blog/ St Patricks National School, Clare Island, Strake, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland 2 April 2025 at 15:54:59

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Jarlath Lally 14 August 2025 5:37 p.m. Tough climb I'm not built for it Great view Thin clouds sometimes

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Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Mairéad and Magnus Knox 25 August 2025 2:55 p.m. Thank you for reminding us of the spectacular beauty of creation- a lovely eagle flew by, and much encouragement from other climbers

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Michelle Mulherin 23 September 2021 0:00 a.m. Proof we made it #together Croagh Patrick almost heaven at Croagh Patrick .— with Joseph Convey and6 others https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220946894527488&set=a.1815621955703

Dedicated parish staff, secretaries, and sacristans are the backbone of any church community. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly, from organizing events to maintaining the church building. Without their hard work and dedication, would be impossible to keep the church running smoothly. We are grateful for their service and commitment to our community. Parish Staff Dedicated parish staff, secretaries, and sacristans are the backbone of any church community. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly, from organizing events to maintaining the church building. Without their hard work and dedication, would be impossible to keep the church running smoothly. We are grateful for their service and commitment to our community. Parish Secretary Parish Secretary: Catherine McNamara St. Mary's Church, The Mall, Westport, Co. Mayo F28 TN28 Telephone +353 98 28871 E-mail: [email protected] Assistant Secretary: Ingrid Jennings St. Mary's Church, The Mall, Westport, Co. Mayo F28 TN28 Telephone +353 98 28871 E-mail: [email protected] Sacristans Get to Know Us Westport : Peter Hastings and Frank Dolan, St Mary’s Church, Westport. Peter Hastings, Frank Dolan, Jason Kelly and Noreen McGreal work as Sacristan in St. Mary's, Westport. They welcome and look after visiting priests and others too. Drummin : Pádraig Gannon, St Mary’s Church, Drummin. The Gannon family in Drummin has cared for the Church and its environs for many years. Today Pádraig is the Sacristan but he has lots of back-up support and help from his family. Lecanvey : John Cummins, St Patricks Church, Lecanvey and St. Patrick’s Oratory, Croagh Patrick. John Cummins succeeded his late father, Jackie, as Sacristan in Lecanvey, but he has been associated with Lecanvey Church all his life. In addition to this, John is the Curator of St. Patrick's Oratory at the summit of Croagh Patrick - a place he visits on an almost weekly basis during the year and more often during the summer months in preparation for the annual pilgrimage on Reek Sunday. Parish Pastoral Council The Chairperson of the Pastoral Council is Kevin Barrett The Secretary is Gertie Foley The President is Fr. John Kenny The Parish Pastoral Council can be contacted through the Parish Office. "The purpose of the Pastoral Council is to attend to the spiritual needs of the parish in partnership with the local priests. The work of the Pastoral Council is motivated by a desire to build up the Kingdom of God and enliven the faith of all the baptised living in the local community. The Council maintains an overview of the whole parish and plans strategically to ensure that the faith of the community is nurtured and strengthened. A Pastoral Council is distinguished from other community groups by its spiritual and pastoral focus. Pastoral Councils are understood in the Code of Canon Law in the following context: "...a Pastoral Council is to be established in each parish. In this Council, which is presided over by the parish priest, Christ's faithful, together with those who by virtue of their office are engaged in pastoral care in the parish, give their help in fostering pastoral action (c. 536 par.1)." (See Guidelines for Pastoral Councils. Treoirlínte do Chomhairlí Tréadach. Archdiocese of Tuam, 2009.) Each Pastoral Council in the Parish has a four year term, with members serving no more than two consecutive terms. The current term of the Parish Pastoral Council began in 2021 and expires in 2025. The Pastoral Council meets every 4-6 weeks in the Presbytery and has representation from each of the Pastoral Groups in the Parish - Liturgy - Faith Formation - Prayer- Eco Congregation - Youth - New Parish Members - Catholic Schools - Lecanvey church area & Drummin church area. Call +353 (098) 28871 Email [email protected] Follow