ST. CRONE'S, ARRANMORE ISLAND (R.C.) ~ Built 1825
Inside the church there is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Arranmore Distaster of the 9th of November 1935. A group of islanders were returning to the island from the nearby port of Burtonport, many of them returning home after a season spent working in Scotland on farms. Fifteen people lost their lives on that winters evening, the youngest of whom was only 16 years of age. The man steering the boat, Edward Gallagher died along with four of his sons and two of his daughters.
From arranmoreco-op.com:
"St Crone's Church is situated at the crossroads bordering the townlands of Illion and Ballintra.
In 1917, an extension was added to the church. Fr. John MacIntyre was curate in Arranmore at the time and he worked tirelessly to have the extension work completed. He paid meticulous attention to the renovation and construction of churches in each of the parishes he was sent to. The parochial house was built in 1908 by Fr. Eddie Doherty. The church on Arranmore also catered for the inhabitants of Inis Caorach – the last inhabitants left the island in 1955. During the days of the English penal laws, masses were held in secret at the site of mass rocks. There are three such sites on Arranmore; Ard an Aifrinn in Poll an Mhadaidh, Béal A’Chaisil in Goirt Gearra and Malaigh na hAltóra in Plochóg."
Click on any of the photographs to enlarge.
Inside the church there is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Arranmore Distaster of the 9th of November 1935. A group of islanders were returning to the island from the nearby port of Burtonport, many of them returning home after a season spent working in Scotland on farms. Fifteen people lost their lives on that winters evening, the youngest of whom was only 16 years of age. The man steering the boat, Edward Gallagher died along with four of his sons and two of his daughters.
From arranmoreco-op.com:
"St Crone's Church is situated at the crossroads bordering the townlands of Illion and Ballintra.
In 1917, an extension was added to the church. Fr. John MacIntyre was curate in Arranmore at the time and he worked tirelessly to have the extension work completed. He paid meticulous attention to the renovation and construction of churches in each of the parishes he was sent to. The parochial house was built in 1908 by Fr. Eddie Doherty. The church on Arranmore also catered for the inhabitants of Inis Caorach – the last inhabitants left the island in 1955. During the days of the English penal laws, masses were held in secret at the site of mass rocks. There are three such sites on Arranmore; Ard an Aifrinn in Poll an Mhadaidh, Béal A’Chaisil in Goirt Gearra and Malaigh na hAltóra in Plochóg."
Click on any of the photographs to enlarge.
THE ARANMORE DISASTER
Inside the church there is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Aranmore Distaster of the 9th of November 1935. A group of islanders were returning to the island from the nearby port of Burtonport, many of them returning home after a season spent working in Scotland on farms. Fifteen people lost their lives on that winters evening, the youngest of whom was only 16 years of age. The man steering the boat, Edward Gallagher died along with four of his sons and two of his daughters.
Above the list of names of those who died is the words:
"The lonely waves wash o'er their graves near the shores of Aranmore"
The picture to the left shows the memorial and a close up of the names is in the photographs above.
Above the list of names of those who died is the words:
"The lonely waves wash o'er their graves near the shores of Aranmore"
The picture to the left shows the memorial and a close up of the names is in the photographs above.
ST. CRONE'S AND BEAVER ISLAND, CANADA
Inside the church there is a hand carved wooden cross on one of the walls together with an information piece which reads:
"This cross was presented by the people of Beaver Island to St. Crone's Church, Arranmore Island, during the weekend of festivities and ceremonies in March 2003 which twinned these two islands and their people who share a common heritage. The cross is hand carved from a single piece of cedar wood, which also came from Beaver Island. The cross was presented along with a set of vestments and a painting of the church on Beaver Island. St. Crone's Church in turn presented the church on Beaver Island with a hand carved replica of an Irish harp and a photograph of the stained glass window of St. Crone in St. Crone's Church. These exchange of gifts signify not only the friendship but the unity that now exists between these two Island communities." To read more go to our Arranmore page.
"This cross was presented by the people of Beaver Island to St. Crone's Church, Arranmore Island, during the weekend of festivities and ceremonies in March 2003 which twinned these two islands and their people who share a common heritage. The cross is hand carved from a single piece of cedar wood, which also came from Beaver Island. The cross was presented along with a set of vestments and a painting of the church on Beaver Island. St. Crone's Church in turn presented the church on Beaver Island with a hand carved replica of an Irish harp and a photograph of the stained glass window of St. Crone in St. Crone's Church. These exchange of gifts signify not only the friendship but the unity that now exists between these two Island communities." To read more go to our Arranmore page.