Kilkee to mark 50th anniversary of parish churches

KILKEE Parish will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of their churches from next Monday to Monday, July 22.
In the early 1960s, a decision was taken to build two churches in new locations in Kilkee, replacing the existing churches of the parish. On Sunday, July 21, 1963, Bishop Joseph Rodgers dedicated the two new churches, stating, “This will be a memorable day in the story of the ancient parish of Kilferagh, now better known as the parish of Kilkee”.

Masses will be celebrated at four of the parish cemeteries next week and a two day mission will take place on Thursday, July 18 and Friday, July 19, led by Fr Tom Ryan PP Shannon and Fr Caoimhin Ó Laoidhe OFM of the Friary, Ennis. Bishop Kieran O’Reilly will join with parishioners and visitors to the parish on Saturday, July 20 for the celebration of evening mass at 7pm in Kilkee Church and on Sunday, July 21, he will celebrate mass at Lisdeen Church at 9.30am.

Records indicate the presence of a chapel at Lisdeen as early as 1760, which was then the sole parish church. In 1831, Fr Michael Comyn PP, himself a native of the parish, completed a new parish church located at Chapel Street, Kilkee. With the growing number of visitors to Kilkee in the late 1800s, it was recognised that a larger church would be necessary for the town “in the future”.

Plans for the building of the new church were put on hold until the late 1950s, when a committee was formed to collect funds for the new building and at that time a decision was also made to replace the church at Lisdeen.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the two churches in the parish, a new remembrance prayer room has been created in Kilkee Church.

“This area is dedicated to the memory of all our parishioners and visitors who have handed on the faith to us down through the years. A listing of Kilkee parishioners who died over the past 50 years according to each month is displayed in the room,” Kilkee parish priest Fr Gerry Kenny explained.

“Parishioners and visitors alike have been very pleased with the creation of this prayer space in our church. Visitors to the remembrance prayer room are very welcome to list their own prayer intentions and remembrances for their deceased and on the last Friday of each month, mass is offered in Kilkee Church for all the deceased of that month from Kilkee parish and the listed intentions we receive during that month,” Fr Kenny added.