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A church in Ballymurn, built in 1774, was burned on 21st June
1798, the day of the
battle of Vinegar
Hill.
The present Church of the Assumption and St. Malachy was opened
in 1832, but was not
dedicated until 13
October 1900.
Externally the Church is a plain rendered (cement covered) single
cell rectangular
building, with a
porch, pointed
windows, Y-Mullions
(vertical posts
dividing the
windows) and raised
granite coigns
(design around the
windows). The
interior has a stone
floor (now carpeted)
pedimented reredos
(decorated screen)
with two handsome
Corinthian columns
and a late 19th
century altar with a
Pietà. The Pietà
incorporated into
the altar is a most
remarkable feature.
It is by celebrated
sculptor John Hogan
(1800-1858) in
conjunction with
equally celebrated
architect Daniel
Robertson. This was
presented in memory
of Margaret Maher of
nearby Ballinkeele
House, who died on
2nd September 1838
at the age of 30. A
tablet to her memory
can be seen to the
right of the altar.
The gallery is supported by four plain Doric columns, has a
fielded panelled
front, and two
staircases.
A window of the Assumption, from the Meyer studio of Munich,
dates from 1911, and
a two-light window
on the gallery was
installed in 1993
and commemorates the
Wexford martyrs of
1683 and some of the
Priests of 1798,
including Fr.
Clinch. Two other
windows depict St.
Brigid and St.
Thérèse of Lisieux,
St. Patrick and St.
Malachy.
A brass plate commemorates Rev. Edmund Canon Doyle who died on 20th
September 1893, the
first Parish Priest
to reside in
Ballymurn and who
spent 34 years as
Curate and Pastor in
the Parish. Over the
high altar is a copy
of one of Murillo's
paintings of the
Assumption,
surmounted by a
classic pediment
supported by two
Corinthian columns.
Adjoining the Church is the Maher Mausoleum or Chapel, a tiny mid
19th century plain
Gothic building,
full of memorials to
the Maher family.
It is built of
granite ashlar with
a stone roof, and
very good
detailing. It is
one of the smallest
churches in Ireland.
In Kilmallock there is a well dedicated to Our Lady, while
adjoining the road
from Crossabeg to
Ballymurn is a well
called Tobar
Chillín.
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