Peter (Rusty) Mallon has spent his adult life as a man on a mission. It is no exaggeration to say that he practically single-handed launched and had funded, over the past three decades the Irish-speaking schools in Newry.
Religious History
Historical Articles related to the history of the churches and religious orders in the Newry area
Newry Cathedral: concluded
More work was done to the Newry Cathedral by later generations in the twentieth century and into the new millennium. The great organ was rebuilt and electrified in 1929. During the 1950s under the direction of Bishop Eugene O’Doherty a sound system was installed, much of the seating was renewed and a new lighting system put in place.
Another generation later and flood-lighting was installed in 1979. A handsome Chapter Room was built to the rear of the Cathedral in 1984. And just last year the extensive Parish Centre and priest’s quarters was complete across the street at the ‘Parochial House’. This year of 2007 saw the granite exterior of the Cathedral sand-blasted and power-hosed to bring our the original grey granite sheen.
Much of the more recent work was undertaken to reflect the innovations of the Second Vatican Council. The base of the Sanctuary was extended towards the congregation and most of the tradition Communion rail removed to bring priest and people into closer spiritual proximity. The present marble altar was erected. The turreted Reredos of the former High Altar was reconstructed in three parts. Each section was placed on a new marble plinth, the central piece adorned with the Tabernacle and Crucifix.
The Bishop’s Throne was moved from the rear to the front of the Sanctuary to be more in touch with the entire congregation. The Baptismal Font was relocated from the base of the tower (in the side porch) to
Finally on a commission from former Bishop Brooks, Dominican sculptor Father Henry Flanagan presented a carved statue of Saint Colman to the Cathedral in November 1991. It was located at the end (the street entrance) of the north aisle of Our Ladies’ transept.
To the present day our Cathedral is ever-open in daylight hours, providing regular Mass and services for the faithful and an oasis of calm and prayerful reflection for the city’s shoppers. Daily ten-thirty Mass sees the Cathedral more than half-full on a regular basis. Visiting priests comment favourably on the faithfulness of our congregations. They are inspired to divine worship by the sheer grandeur of their surroundings.
Newry Cathedral: beginning
In its original form Newry Cathedral was significantly smaller than it is today. All the collected money and effort went into its outside construction so that the famous English novelist W M Thackeray, travelling through
Newry Cathedral
Brother Mallon’s final report published here earlier listed buildings/edifices in Newry with dates upon them. We cautioned you then that the list was not exhaustive – and here’s another.
1888 is the date in granite upon our Cathedral …
Religious & Military Dates in Down: 1
Dates (mainly ‘religious’ but also political/military) in Down’s history
432 AD St Patrick’s (second) landing in Down
493 Patrick died at Saul and was buried at Downpatrick
Fr Coigly, United Irishman
Despite the extreme conservatism of the Catholic Church (the United Irishmen were roundly condemned by the great majority of the Catholic hierarchy) there were a number of like-minded priests – including Father McGinnis of Dromintine – with whom Father Coigly could empathise, radicals forged in the liberty-equality-fraternity atmosphere of revolutionary
Archbishop Usher and time
In a modern age of advanced scientific knowledge it is easy, if facile to mock the efforts of previous scholars to date the age of the earth and the Creation. The most serious, complete, widely-accepted and longest-enduring of the latter efforts was ascribed to an early Protestant Archbishop of
Bishop Garvey of Dromore
Encased in the wall that abuts
Forkhill COI Parish Church
With the huge fall in Church attendance not just in