The Anniversary Mass
On Friday, 12 June 2026, parishioners, former parishioners, clergy and visitors gathered at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ballyoughter, to celebrate 150 years since the completion of the church in 1876.
Appropriately, the Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom the church is dedicated.
The anniversary brought together Bishop Ger Nash, Fr Tomás Kehoe, visiting clergy and members of the wider community in thanksgiving for the generations who built, maintained and worshipped in the church. It was an occasion to remember the faith and sacrifice of those who came before us while looking with hope towards the future.
Following the anniversary Mass, guests were welcomed to Ballyoughter National School for refreshments and an exhibition exploring the history of the church and the surrounding area. The displays included a specially prepared timeline, historical photographs, books, newspaper reports and records of the many donations that helped furnish and sustain the church over the generations.
A special pamphlet was prepared for the Mass of Thanksgiving. It records the hymns and responses used during the liturgy and forms an important part of the documentary record of the anniversary celebration. It may be viewed below.
Click or tap on an image below to enlarge it.
The Commemorative Booklet
A special commemorative booklet was produced to mark the Church’s 150th anniversary. It brings together messages from Bishop Ger Nash and the Parish Committee, a history of the church and its clergy, information about the architect George Coppinger Ashlin, and an account of Catholic worship in Ballyoughter before the present church was built.
The booklet was prepared as a lasting record of 150 years of faith, heritage and community and may be viewed in full below.
Messages and Addresses
The messages and addresses below formed part of the 150th anniversary commemorations. They include contributions prepared for the commemorative booklet and words delivered during the anniversary Mass.
The following message from Bishop Ger Nash appeared in the commemorative booklet produced for the anniversary.
Dear Friends,
It gives me immense joy to introduce this commemorative booklet marking the 150th anniversary of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ballyoughter. Within these pages you will discover a story of deep faith, quiet resilience and enduring community.
From the laying of the foundation stone in 1874 by Fr Henry Williams, this beautiful church has stood as a beacon of hope in the Diocese of Ferns. Designed by the distinguished architect George Coppinger Ashlin, its graceful Italianate bell tower and noble proportions speak of a community that, having endured the Penal days, was determined to offer worthy praise to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Its completion in 1876 and later renewal in 1976 remind us that the Church is always both ancient and ever new.
As we celebrate this milestone, we give thanks for the dedicated priests who have served here and for the faithful people of Ballyoughter. Your story stirs in us fresh gratitude for our heritage and a renewed mission for the years ahead.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom this church is dedicated, continue to draw you closer to His merciful love.
✠ Ger Nash
Bishop of Ferns
The following message from Ballyoughter Parish Committee appeared in the commemorative booklet produced for the anniversary.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ballyoughter, we do so with immense pride, gratitude, and appreciation for all who have shaped the life of this special place over the generations.
Since the church first opened its doors in 1876, it has stood at the centre of our community, witnessing the joys, challenges, and milestones of countless families and serving as a lasting symbol of faith and belonging.
This anniversary offers us an opportunity to honour those who came before us — the priests, parishioners, and local families whose dedication, sacrifice, and commitment helped build and sustain the community we know today. Their legacy lives on in the traditions, values, and spirit that continue to define Ballyoughter.
We hope this booklet provides an insight into the rich history and heritage of our church and parish while also celebrating the people who have made it such an important part of community life. As we gather for these celebrations, we look forward with hope and gratitude to the future, while cherishing the memories and achievements of the past.
We extend a warm welcome to everyone joining us and sincerely thank all who contributed their time, effort, and support in helping to make this anniversary such a meaningful occasion.
Ballyoughter Parish Committee
The following welcome address was delivered on behalf of the Parish Committee by Shane Eivers, a former parishioner who assisted with the historical research for the anniversary.
Bishop Nash, Reverend Fathers, parishioners and visitors, it is a great privilege, on behalf of the Parish Committee, to welcome you to Ballyoughter this evening as we gather for this Mass of Thanksgiving and celebrate an extraordinary milestone in the life of our community: the 150th anniversary of the Church of the Sacred Heart.
I am a former parishioner of Ballyoughter and, like so many who have moved away from this area, part of me has always remained here.
Many of those gathered this evening have deep roots in Ballyoughter, with family connections stretching back through several generations. Your stories are woven into the history of this parish and have helped to shape its life over the years.
Each of you will have your own memories and experiences connecting your family to this church and the wider community. Perhaps you served on the Parish Committee, volunteered in the church, visited the grave of a loved one on Pattern Sunday, were baptised here, received your First Holy Communion or Confirmation here, celebrated your marriage here, or served at the altar.
Three months ago, the Parish Committee asked whether I would help to research the history of the church for this anniversary celebration. I was delighted to assist, having already spent several years researching the church and the wider Ballyoughter area.
As you leave this evening, you will receive a commemorative booklet containing a brief history of the church. It traces the story of Catholic worship in Ballyoughter from the early nineteenth century, through the construction and completion of this beautiful building in 1876, its centenary celebrations and rededication in 1976, and the generations of clergy and parishioners who have shaped its history.
During my research, I was particularly struck by the extraordinary determination of the people who built this church.
In the census of 1841, the townland of Ballyoughter had a population of 158. By 1881, that number had fallen to just 25. Across the wider Ballyoughter Electoral District, the population was reduced by approximately half. These figures reflect the devastating effects of An Gorta Mór, the Great Famine of the 1840s, followed by further hardship and deprivation, including An Gorta Beag in 1879.
Take a moment to imagine that reality. Barely a generation after Catholic Emancipation, amid severe poverty, hardship and a declining population, the people of Ballyoughter found the determination and resources to build this church. They did more than endure those difficult years; they created a lasting monument to their faith, sacrifice and hope.
On behalf of everyone gathered here this evening, I wish to acknowledge the work of the present Parish Committee, together with all those who have contributed their time, talents and support to parish life over many years.
Following Mass, the Parish Committee warmly invites everyone to Ballyoughter National School for refreshments.
There, you will be able to explore a large historical timeline, poster exhibitions and books relating to the church and the Ballyoughter area. You can also read newspaper reports dating back to the nineteenth century and perhaps discover the names of ancestors who contributed money, statues, furnishings or other religious artefacts to the church.
Tonight, we celebrate far more than a building. We celebrate the generations who worshipped here before us, the families who sustained this church through times of joy and hardship, and all those who continue to support parish life today.
As we mark this 150th anniversary, may we do so with gratitude for the past, appreciation for the present and hope for the years ahead.
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this very special evening.
From 1876 to 2026
Completed in 1876, the Church of the Sacred Heart became a lasting centre of worship and community life in Ballyoughter. For generations, it has been at the centre of baptisms, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, marriages and funerals, as well as the quieter moments that have connected local families to the church.
In 1976, the centenary was marked by extensive renovations and a solemn rededication Mass. The work renewed the building for a new generation while preserving the faith and sacrifice of those who had first built it a century earlier.
Fifty years later, the 2026 anniversary provided another opportunity to gather in thanksgiving. The celebration honoured the generations who sustained the church over 150 years and looked forward with hope to its continuing place in the life of Ballyoughter.
Explore More
The story of the Church of the Sacred Heart extends far beyond the anniversary celebrations themselves. The links below provide further information about the building, its architecture, the clergy who served Ballyoughter and the events that shaped its history.
Church Timeline and Historical Display
Following Mass, visitors gathered in Ballyoughter National School, where a historical exhibition traced the story of Catholic worship in the area from the earlier chapel and parish registers to the completion of the present church, its centenary renewal and the 2026 anniversary.
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Posters from the Exhibition
A selection of the posters that formed part of the exhibition is presented below.
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Celebration Gallery
The photographs below capture some of the people and moments that made the 150th anniversary celebrations so memorable. They record the Mass of Thanksgiving in the Church of the Sacred Heart, the clergy, parishioners and visitors who gathered for the occasion, and the celebrations that continued afterwards in Ballyoughter National School.
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Celebration gallery photographs courtesy of Brian Murphy and the Ballyoughter Parish Committee.
Newspaper Coverage
The anniversary celebrations were also recorded in the local press. The following article, published after the event, provides a contemporary account of the occasion and includes a photograph taken outside the church before the ceremony.
Click or tap an image below to enlarge it.
The above newspaper image is reproduced with the kind permission of MediaHuis, formerly Independent News and Media plc.
The 150th anniversary celebrations formed an important milestone in the continuing history of the Church of the Sacred Heart. Together with the commemorative booklet, photographs, historical display and contemporary newspaper coverage preserved on this page, they provide a lasting record of a parish celebrating 150 years of faith, community and heritage.