Religious Order

He was born at Forestalstown in 1840, his parents being of the farming class. After some years spent in the school of his native parish, he entered Callan College; from there moved to Mount Melleray, and finally entered Carlow College for Theology in 1865. During his Collegiate course he displayed great aptitude for architectural studies Such was his application in this respect that he became distinguished during his priestly life for his sound judgement in matters related to church building and church repair. In 1867 he was ordained and in June of that year he was appointed to the curacy of his native parish of Cloughbawn. He was sent to Monageer in June 1869 and was only a short time there when he set about building a new church. The new church had been scarcely been completed when, on the death of Fr. William Purcell in April 1871, he was transferred as Administrator to the parish of Ballyoughter in May 1871. There he found the faithful performing their devotions in a poor little chapel with earthen floor and rough walls and not much ornamentations. Fr. Williams immediately set about building a new church. He also erected a new school for the district.

When he went to Ballyoughter he found Orangemen very active in several of the districts of the parish. They found in Fr. Williams an intrepid opponent and within a few months he succeeded in stamping out their public parades.

He became Administrator of Rathangan which was made a Mensal Parish on the death of Canon O’ Toole in 1875. In Rathangan his first task was to complete the new parish church erected by Canon O’ Toole. It was not long until the spire and the interior decoration were completed. The efforts of the Tenant Farmers for the reform of the land laws had his deep sympathy. 

Fr. Williams died at the parochial residence, Rathangan, on Tuesday 11th April 1882, aged 42 years. His funeral obsequies were celebrated in the church of Rathangan where he was interred.

Prior to April 1875, the parish of Ballyoughter, including Camolin, Ballyoughter, Ballycanew, Craanford and Monaseed, was a mensal parish, under an Administrator, with the Bishop as Parish Priest. In April 1875 Bishop Furlong detached Craanford and Monaseed, thereby creating a new administrative area, the parish of Craanford. The parish of Ballyoughter, with curacies at Camolin and Ballycanew ceased to be a mensal parish, with Rev. Robert Sinnott as the new Parish Priest.

He was a native of Newtown, Kilmuckridge. He was educated at St. Peter’s College, Wexford and later at the Irish College in Paris where he completed his studies. He was ordained in 1856. His first curacy after his ordination was Gorey. He spent fourteen years in Gorey and was transferred to Wexford in October 1870. In April 1875, Bishop Furlong appointed him as the first Parish Priest of the new Parish of Ballyoughter (Camolin and Ballycanew). Fr. Henry Williams, the last Administrator of Camolin, had laid the foundation stone of a new church in Ballyoughter on 12th March 1874. It was left to Fr. Sinnott to complete the new Church. Fr. Sinnott died on 12th November 1886, aged 57 years.

He was a native of Cregg, Ballycogley and was educated at St. Peter’s College Wexford. He completed his studies at Louvain in France. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Convent of Mercy, Wexford on 8th September 1861.

His appointments were as follows: He was appointed CC Ballindaggin on 29th September 1861; CC Poulpeasty on 22nd November 1863. CC Ballykelly in March 1865; CC Poulpeasty for a second time, on 20th January 1883. He became Parish Priest of BALLYOUGHTER (Camolin and Ballycanew) on 19th November 1886.

Fr. Staples died at Athy, at the residence of his brother Rev. J. Staples, where he had been staying for the benefit of his health, on 20th June 1892.

He was the son of Clement and Mrs. Roice of Churchtown House, Rosslare. His father was widely known and highly respected as an Irish Patriot, a man who took part in the campaign for the abolition of tithes and other agitations for the benefit of the Irish people. Fr. Roice received his early education at St. Peter’s College, Wexford; matriculated at Maynooth on 26th January 1858 and was ordained at St. Peter’s College by Bishop Furlong on Sunday 8th February 1863.

His first appointment was to Wexford, in February 1863. Ten years later, in August 1873 he was sent as curate to Sutton’s parish and to Galbally in October 1879. His last curacy was St. Leonard’s from 14th January 1883. He was appointed Parish Priest of Ballyoughter (Camolin & Ballycanew) in August 1892. Fr. Roice died at the residence of his niece, Mrs M. A. Ennis, Ardruadh, Wexford on Friday, 17th May 1895. He was interred in Ballyoughter.

He was born in the parish of Kilanerin. He studied at St. Peter’s College and later at the University of Louvain. He was ordained by Dr Furlong, at Enniscorthy on 30th May 1874. He was appointed to the curacy of Screen in June 1874, and to Monamolin in October 1885. On the death of Very Rev. John Roice, he was promoted to the pastorate of Ballyoughter (Camolin & Ballycanew) in June 1895. Fr. Kinsella died after a short illness, at the parochial residence, on Tuesday, 30th January 1900. He was brother of Fr. Michael Kinsella who died in 1946.

He was the son of Moses and Mrs. Doyle of Tomanerin, in the Parish of Annacurra. His father was a brother of Fr. Thomas Doyle of Ramsgrange. Patrick Doyle was educated at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, and Maynooth College, where he matriculated on 10th September 1866. He was ordained by Bishop Furlong, in the Loreto Convent Chapel, Wexford, on Monday 1st April 1872.

He served at the following places in the Diocese of Ferns: Dean at St. Peter’s College, April 1872; CC Screen, September 1874; CC Ramsgrange, July 1876; CC Boolavogue, August 1877; CC Wexford, August 1888; CC Ballyfad, 1st August 1889; CC CAMOLIN, November 1893; and became Parish Priest of BALLYOUGHTER (Camolin and Ballycanew) 25th February 1900. Fr. Pat Doyle was nearly the last of the band of Wexford Priests who were first members of the Old County Wexford Independent Club and then leaders of the people during the Land League agitation. During the Land League campaign, he did not spare himself. In Ballyfad, he championed the cause of Coolgreany evicted tenants with the same ardour that he showed in Shelbourne. It was mainly through his constant efforts that the first big scheme of Cottages in Gorey, Camolin and Kilanerin districts were carried through. He was the prime mover in the agitation made by the Courtown Tenantry to bring about the sale of Courtown Estate, and he presided at all the meetings. He was also president of the Irish Trade and Labour League, the Ballycanew Gaelic League, and many other organisations. He died at his residence at Ballyoughter, on Friday 17th September 1909. He had been ill for some time. He was interred in Ballyoughter cemetery.

He was born in the Parish of Davidstown. He was educated at t. Aidan’s Academy, Enniscorthy, under Fr. Carey, then at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, and finally at the Irish College in Paris where he was ordained , together with Very Rev. James Murphy, PP Oylgate, by Most Rev. Dr Woodlock, on 9th June 1887.

He was appointed to the following curacies: Ballygarrett, January 15th. 1888; Bree, June 1888. Ferns, January 1891. Askamore, February 1892. Enniscorthy, May 1898. Marshalstown, August 1899. He was then appointed Parish Priest of Ballyoughter (Camolin and Ballycanew) on 10 October 1909.

Like his predecessor, Fr. Pat Doyle, Fr. Mernagh was a great champion of the Tenantry in the Land League days. As Parish Priest of Ballyoughter, he was responsible for building the present church at Ballycanew, which was opened in September 1913 and of which Rev. William Fortune became the first resident curate.

Canon Mernagh retired, through ill health on 15th July 1928, and died at a Dublin Nursing Home on Monday, 5th April 1937. He was interred at Ballyoughter.

He was the third eldest son of William and Mary Pettit, Rathmore, Broadway. He received his early education at St. Peter’s College, and then went to Salamanca, in Spain, to do his theological course. On his return to Ireland, he was ordained by Bishop Browne, at the Presentation Convent, Wexford, on the 8th September 1899.
His first appointment was to Clongeen, where he served from the 5th Nov- ember 1899. Subsequent appointments were: were CC Caim, 8th December 1901. CC Monaseed, 4th October 1909; CC Murrintown, 26th January 1919; PP Ballyoughter (Camolin and Ballycanew) 23rd July 1928. Fr. Pettit erected a new set of Stations of the Cross in Ballyoughter and decorated the interior of the church. He also improved the Parochial House, and it was during his time that the curate’s residence in Ballycanew was completed. He died at a Nursing Home in Dublin on Friday 8th November 1940 and was interred in Ballyoughter.

He was born in 1886, the youngest son of Peter and Mrs. Doran of Craanrue, Edermine. He was educated at St. Aidan’s Academy, Enniscorthy, and St. Peter’s College, Wexford. Having completed his secondary education, he pursued a brilliant University Course and obtained his BA Degree. Returning to St. Peter’s College, he completed his philosophical and theological studies and was ordained in June 1912.

In September of that year he was appointed as Professor of Science at the College, a post which he held with distinction, until he became President in 1932. During his term as President, Fr. Doran undertook the gigantic task of building the much needed new wing for the ecclesiastical students of the College.
ON 12th December 1940, Fr. Doran was appointed Parish Priest of Ballyoughter (Camolin and Ballycanew) and in 1950 he became a member of the Cathedral Chapter. Canon Doran died very unexpectedly after a short illness, on 27th October 1951, and was interred in Ballyoughter.

He was a member of a well-known family from Gurteenminogue, Murrintown. Ordained in St. Peter’s College, Wexford on 20th June 1920. He served in the Parish of St. Mary of the Angels, Bayswater, London, for nearly two years. On his recall to the Diocese of Ferns, he was appointed curate in the Church Of The Assumption, Bride Street, Wexford, on 5th April 1922, where he ministered until 12th February 1945, when he was transferred to Rosslare Strand. On the death of Canon Doran, he was appointed PP Ballyoughter (Camolin and Ballycanew) on 18th April 1953. He was appointed to the Cathedral Chapter in 1968. For many years Canon Cardiff was an active member of the Gaelic League. He also was a violinist of note and competed in Feis Charman in its early years. He retired after fifty years as a priest, on 10th January 1970 and died at Ely Nursing Home on 16th January 1973, aged 81 years. He was  interred in Ballyoughter.

He is a native of Quay Street, New Ross and brother of Very Rev. Robert Nolan, was educated at New Ross and St. Peter’s College, where he was ordained on 1st June 1969.
He was appointed curate in BALLYCANEW / BALLYOUGHTER on 1st September 1969 and transferred to Askamore on 7th July 1979. He left the Diocese of Ferns on 3rd October 1987 and went to Orlando, Florida, and subsequently left the ministry.

He was born in 1951, son of Michael and Ellen Kavanagh, (née Cassidy) Bunclody. He was educated at Bunclody National School, 1955 – 1963; St. Peter’s College, 1963 – 1968; St. Peter’s Seminary, 1968 – 1974. He was ordained at St. Peter’s College on 9th June 1974. From 1974 – 1979 he was on loan to the Diocese of Down And Connor and served for four years in the parish of Derriagy, and his final year was spent in the Parish of St. John’s on the Falls Road, Belfast. On his return to the diocese of Ferns he was appointed curate at BALLYCANEW on 7th July 1979, where in 1991 he oversaw the complete restoration of Ballycanew church which was rededicated by Bishop Brendan Comiskey in March 1991. In succession to Very Rev. James L. Curtis (transferred to Clongeen), he was appointed Parish Priest of CAMOLIN on June 19th 1999, where in 2001, he oversaw the complete interior and exterior decoration of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Camolin, and the restoration of the Fr. Owen Kehoe Memorial Parish Hall in 2004 – 2005. In 2007 the entire tarmac surface in the grounds of the Church and graveyard were replaced with cobble lock brickwork, pathways at the side of the Church were widened and the cement slabs on Calvary replaced. In 2008 the exterior of the church was painted.

In 2009 lanterns from the road entrance to the rear of the Church on both sides were installed. A Shrine to our Lady was built adjacent to the front of the Church and an “Infant Memorial Garden” with the name ‘Tír na nÓg’ was erected in the cemetery. The local primary school was upgraded with the addition of two classrooms, two resource rooms, a storeroom, a library, a staff room and a principal’s office, the official opening took place in June 2009.

He was born in 1952, son of P.N. and Maureen Murphy (née Cullen) of Kilrane, Rosslare Harbour. He was educated at Kilrane N.S. 1957 – 1965; Good Counsel College, New Ross, 1965 – 1970; St. Peter’s Seminary,
1970 – 1976. He was ordained at St. Patrick’s Church, Rosslare Harbour on 28th November 1976.
After ordination he was attached to the House of Missions, 1977 – 1987; St. Senan’s Parish, 1987 – 1989; St. Peter’s College 1989 – 1994; curate at Clonard 1994 – 1999, and BALLYCANEW / BALLYOUGHTER, June 1999 – September 2005

He was born in 1970, Son of John and Ann Orr, nee Doyle, of Coolnaleen, Camolin. He was educated at Ballyduff NS, 1974 – 1982; Gorey Vocational School, 1982 – 1988, Kildalton Agricultural College, 1988 – 1989, St. Peter’s Seminary, 1994 -1998, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, 1998 – 1999.
He was ordained to the Diaconate in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, on 30th January 2000. Having spent a period as deacon in the Archdiocese of Westminister, he was ordained to the priesthood at Ballyduff Church on 24th. September 2000. Following his ordination he was appointed to St. Aidan’s Cathedral and in September 2005 he was transferred to BALLYCANEW / BALLYOUGHTER.