ST. BRIGID'S or ST. BRIDGET'S CHURCH (R.C.),
Lisminton, Ballintra
Built 1845
St. Brigid's Church, Ballintra
St. Brigid's Church stands on a hill and given it's height is an impressive building. It is a large church for the area it serves which is said to indicate that there must have been numerous wealthy families in the area in the mid 19th century when it was built, who probably contributed to its construction.
It was the Parish Priest of Drumhome, Fr. Daniel Kelly, who had this church built and there is a plaque commemorating him in the entrance hall which reads:
"The Rev. Father Daniel Kelly P.P. for 25 years Pastor of Drumhome. Died 19th April 1866. Aged 60 years. This church alone, which he commenced and completed, bespeakes his zeal for God's House and the general interests of religion. R.I.P."
The sandstone plaque above the main entrance reads
"St. Bridget's 1845
Reverend Daniel Kelly
Pastor
James McKenna
Stranorlar
Builder"
It was the Parish Priest of Drumhome, Fr. Daniel Kelly, who had this church built and there is a plaque commemorating him in the entrance hall which reads:
"The Rev. Father Daniel Kelly P.P. for 25 years Pastor of Drumhome. Died 19th April 1866. Aged 60 years. This church alone, which he commenced and completed, bespeakes his zeal for God's House and the general interests of religion. R.I.P."
The sandstone plaque above the main entrance reads
"St. Bridget's 1845
Reverend Daniel Kelly
Pastor
James McKenna
Stranorlar
Builder"
St. Brigid's Church stands on a hill and given it's height is an impressive building. It is a large church for the area it serves which is said to indicate that there must have been numerous wealthy families in the area in the mid 19th century when it was built, who probably contributed to its construction.
It was the Parish Priest of Drumhome, Fr. Daniel Kelly, who had this church built and there is a plaque commemorating him in the entrance hall which reads:
"The Rev. Father Daniel Kelly P.P. for 25 years Pastor of Drumhome. Died 19th April 1866. Aged 60 years. This church alone, which he commenced and completed, bespeakes his zeal for God's House and the general interests of religion. R.I.P."
The sandstone plaque above the main entrance reads
"St. Bridget's 1845
Reverend Daniel Kelly
Pastor
James McKenna
Stranorlar
Builder"
In the entrance hall there is a large statue of St. Bridget with her prayer on the wall beside her statue. The prayer reads: "Prayer to St. Bridget, Mary of the Gael. Lord you inspired in St. Bridget such wholehearted dedication to your work, that she is known as Mary of the Gael. Through her intercession, bless this country, may we follow the example of her life and be united with her and the Virgin Mary in your prescence, through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Another plaque on the wall in the entrance hall reads: "In memory of the Revd. Daniel Ivers C.C. who died in this parish on the 28th of August 1865, aged 40 years. Pray for the repose of his soul."
It was the Parish Priest of Drumhome, Fr. Daniel Kelly, who had this church built and there is a plaque commemorating him in the entrance hall which reads:
"The Rev. Father Daniel Kelly P.P. for 25 years Pastor of Drumhome. Died 19th April 1866. Aged 60 years. This church alone, which he commenced and completed, bespeakes his zeal for God's House and the general interests of religion. R.I.P."
The sandstone plaque above the main entrance reads
"St. Bridget's 1845
Reverend Daniel Kelly
Pastor
James McKenna
Stranorlar
Builder"
In the entrance hall there is a large statue of St. Bridget with her prayer on the wall beside her statue. The prayer reads: "Prayer to St. Bridget, Mary of the Gael. Lord you inspired in St. Bridget such wholehearted dedication to your work, that she is known as Mary of the Gael. Through her intercession, bless this country, may we follow the example of her life and be united with her and the Virgin Mary in your prescence, through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Another plaque on the wall in the entrance hall reads: "In memory of the Revd. Daniel Ivers C.C. who died in this parish on the 28th of August 1865, aged 40 years. Pray for the repose of his soul."
Stained glass panel St. Bridget's
The present church stands on, or near, the ground where an earlier church once stood. In the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6" map sheet in 1836 this old church appears where it is described as a "large plain chapel".
This stained glass panel, part of the stained glass window above the entrance door seems probable that it is a depiction of that old church.
This stained glass panel, part of the stained glass window above the entrance door seems probable that it is a depiction of that old church.
From Buildings of Ireland:
"This ambitious and monumental mid nineteenth-century Catholic church retains its early form and architectural character. It is an early example of a Catholic church with Gothic Revival detailing and is one of the more substantial examples of its type and date in County Donegal. The impressive ashlar entrance façade with the soaring tower is a particularly noteworthy feature of artistic merit, helping to elevate this church above many of its contemporaries. The rigid symmetry to the front elevation is a typical feature of early post-Emancipation Catholic churches in Ireland, and examples of this can be seen all over the country.
The rather austere side elevations are lightened by the good quality surrounds and hoodmouldings to the openings, while the triple light window to the chancel gable, perhaps a later modification, adds decorative interest to this elevation and helps flood the altar area with light to the interior. The interior has been recently reordered but is noteworthy for the large gallery over the entrance to the west, the colourful encaustic tiled floor and the unusual ogee-headed plasterwork to the chancel gable. The single-storey structure attached to the north-east corner of the church is a curious feature. This may be a vestry or was, perhaps, in use as a school. It is unusual to find a church of this scale in a town of the size of Ballintra, which suggest the input of local prosperous families in its construction. It is also noteworthy that this church was built just before the calamity that was The Great Famine (1845 – c. 1851). The present church replaced an earlier T-plan chapel on or close to the same site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map sheet c. 1836), which was described as a 'large plain chapel' by Lewis in 1837. The elegant sandstone date plaque over the main church entrance records that it was built for the Revd. Daniel Kelly, Pastor, and that the builder involved was a James McKenna of Stranorlar. The original architect is not known but Rowan (Buildings of Ireland, 1979) suggests that John Brady, an architect from Dungannon, may have been involved due to stylistic similarities with his St. Patrick’s Church in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, which was also was built in 1845.
Further works (improvements’: unknown) were carried out in 1912 by Edward Toye (1857 – 1932) of Derry, an architect who carried out extensive works for the Catholic Church in the north-west of Ireland, including the construction of a number of new churches in Donegal (Ardara, Burtonport, Mountcharles, and Glenties) built in the first decade of the twentieth century. This fine church, located in a prominent position dominating the local landscape, remains a local landmark and an important part of the architectural heritage of the Ballintra area. The graveyard and the boundary wall add to the setting and context, and complete this appealing composition."
"This ambitious and monumental mid nineteenth-century Catholic church retains its early form and architectural character. It is an early example of a Catholic church with Gothic Revival detailing and is one of the more substantial examples of its type and date in County Donegal. The impressive ashlar entrance façade with the soaring tower is a particularly noteworthy feature of artistic merit, helping to elevate this church above many of its contemporaries. The rigid symmetry to the front elevation is a typical feature of early post-Emancipation Catholic churches in Ireland, and examples of this can be seen all over the country.
The rather austere side elevations are lightened by the good quality surrounds and hoodmouldings to the openings, while the triple light window to the chancel gable, perhaps a later modification, adds decorative interest to this elevation and helps flood the altar area with light to the interior. The interior has been recently reordered but is noteworthy for the large gallery over the entrance to the west, the colourful encaustic tiled floor and the unusual ogee-headed plasterwork to the chancel gable. The single-storey structure attached to the north-east corner of the church is a curious feature. This may be a vestry or was, perhaps, in use as a school. It is unusual to find a church of this scale in a town of the size of Ballintra, which suggest the input of local prosperous families in its construction. It is also noteworthy that this church was built just before the calamity that was The Great Famine (1845 – c. 1851). The present church replaced an earlier T-plan chapel on or close to the same site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map sheet c. 1836), which was described as a 'large plain chapel' by Lewis in 1837. The elegant sandstone date plaque over the main church entrance records that it was built for the Revd. Daniel Kelly, Pastor, and that the builder involved was a James McKenna of Stranorlar. The original architect is not known but Rowan (Buildings of Ireland, 1979) suggests that John Brady, an architect from Dungannon, may have been involved due to stylistic similarities with his St. Patrick’s Church in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, which was also was built in 1845.
Further works (improvements’: unknown) were carried out in 1912 by Edward Toye (1857 – 1932) of Derry, an architect who carried out extensive works for the Catholic Church in the north-west of Ireland, including the construction of a number of new churches in Donegal (Ardara, Burtonport, Mountcharles, and Glenties) built in the first decade of the twentieth century. This fine church, located in a prominent position dominating the local landscape, remains a local landmark and an important part of the architectural heritage of the Ballintra area. The graveyard and the boundary wall add to the setting and context, and complete this appealing composition."
Click on any of the photographs below to enlarge.
