Original Rootsweb Co. Tyrone Community Site
Diocese of Derry - Catholic Parish Priests of 1704
There are at present 32 priests in the Tyrone district of the diocese of Derry; in 1704 there were only 10 priests for the same district. I shall give their names and the manner in which these names are spelled in the Registration List of 1704.
There are at present 32 priests in the Tyrone district of the diocese of Derry; in 1704 there were only 10 priests for the same district.
Bryan O'Haggerty was parish priest of Donoghedy (Donagheady). He was ordained in 1683 at Cragin, Galway, by
Thady MacUghho (Thady Keogh), Bishop of Clonfert and was forty-eighty years old in 1704, hence he was twenty-seven years old at the time of his ordination. He resided at Aghafad and his jurisdiction was confined to the parish of Donagheady.
John MacConnelly was parish priest of Badony in 1704. He was ordained at Dublin in 1660 by
Edmond O'Reilly, Primate of all Ireland. In 1704 he was seventy-years old, hence he was twenty-six years at the time of his ordination. He resided at Enisgodan and had charge of all the Monterloney district, which was no sinecure for an aged priest of seventy years.
James O'Kelly was parish priest of Ardstraw in 1704. He was ordained at Dublin 1674, by
Edmond Reilly, Primate of Ireland. In 1704 he was sixty-four years old, hence he was thirty-one years old at the time of his ordination. He resided at Legland. Legland adjoins Barons-court and from 1704 up to the present a priest has always resided either in that townland, or in the immediate neighbourhood.
Cornelius O'Mungan was parish priest of Termonamongan and Urney in 1704. He was ordained in 1674 at Dublin, by
Oliver Plunket ,the Primate. In 1704 he was fifty-four years, hence he was twenty six years at the time of his ordination. He resided in the townland of Ballymungan. His district was certainly a most extensive one and much of it mountainous.
The priest who had charge of the parish of Donaghmore in 1704 was also
Cornelius O'Mungan. He was ordained in 1671. by
Oliver Plunket. the Primate at Ard-Patrick. He was forty-eight years old in 1704, according to the registered return, but this must be an error, as he could only have been fifteen years old at the time of his ordination, according to this computation. He resided at Lismullduffe.
Thomas Cavel is returned in the Registration List of 1704 as parish priest of Drumra. He was ordained at Portumna, Galway, 6th October 1684 by
Thady MacOgho (Thady Keogh), Bishop of Clonfert. He was forty-five years old in 1704, hence he was ordained at the age of twenty-five.
Thady O'Lunsheghan was the parish priest of Leck in 1704. He was ordained 6th July 1662 at Brosnagh. King's County. by
Anthony Geoghegan. Bishop of Meath/ He is described as aged fifty-five in 1704. This is an error as is quite evident, for according to this, he would have been only thirteen years at the time of his ordination. He resided at a place called Fyfin.
Roger O'Morris was parish priest of Longfield in 1704. He was ordained in September 1684, at Creggan, County Galway, by
Thady MacOgho, Bishop of Clonfert. He was forty-four years old in 1704 and he was twenty-four years at the time of his ordination. He resided at Dressoge, a townland situate between Drumquin and Omagh.
James M'Calline was parish priest of Cappy in 1704. He was ordained 8th March 1690 at Galway, by
Edward Weisly, Bishop of Kildare, being forty-years old in 1704, he was twenty-six at the time of his ordination. He resided at Castle-Raddy.
James O'Devin was parish priest of Camus in 1704. He was ordained at Ballina, County Kildare, 1st January 1679, by
Mark Forstell, Bishop of Kildare. He is described as forty-eight years old in 1704, hence he was scarcely the canonical age at the time of his ordination. He resided at a place named Bernagh.
The entire Tyrone district of the diocese of Derry was under the spiritual care of these ten priests named above. The parishes of Leck, Donagheady, Camus and Drumra, seem to have been fairly supplied but, to anyone acquainted with the district, it is quite manifest the poor priests who were located in Monterloney and Termonamongan had more than a usual proportion of labour assigned to them.
