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The Good Shepherd Church Churchtown Dublin 14 |
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EXTRACTS FROM THE PARISH BOOKLET PUBLISHED FOR THE 25th ANNIVERSARY IN 1982
FOREWORD It is a great pleasure for me to write the foreword to this booklet. I wish to thank all who have helped in its production; the compiler, the photographer, the sponsors and in particular those who have written the various articles. They have painted a picture of a growing parish over the past 25 years. A parish does not come into existence on its own, different groups have to work together and be moulded by the Holy Spirit. In the life of the Church 25 years is a short span, in the life of a parish it is a whole generation. To the Priests, Brothers, Nuns and people of that generation I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation of 25 years of work well done. Thanks to that generation the seed sown 25 years ago is now a sturdy oak. Churchtown is a thriving parish with its own schools taking the children both boys and girls from infants to the leaving certificate. The faith is strong and shows itself in the attendance at the various religious services and in the many charitable organisations. The Psalmist tells us that unless The Lord builds the house they labour in vain that build it and that unless The Lord keeps the city he watcheth in vain that keepeth it, (Ps. 127). It is our duty then relying on the help of God to continue the good work so well begun by the past generation. We must do all in our power to build up the Body of Christ in this area and present the parish of Churchtown to The Lord a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:26). P. J. FitzSimons P.P. De La Salle Preparatory School CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD IN 1982 PRIESTS: Fr. Patrick Fitzsimons, P.P., Fr. Peter Kilroy, C.C., Fr. Cornelius McDonnell, C.C., Fr. John McNamara, C.C.,
This article on Churchtown is not intended to be a definitive history of the area, rather a ramble through times past, as it were. Despite its name Churchtown was never a town or village, like Dundrum or Rathfarnham, but was rather a rural area with some large houses and a few estate cottages scattered around it. It was not until the present century that this characteristic was radically changed. There are two possible origins for the name of Churchtown. The first suggestion is that it is derived from Saint Naithi who founded a Church in early Christian times on or near the site of the present Church on the hill between Churchtown and Dundrum. A large part of the original parish on the far side of the Dundrum Road took its name from the Saints supposed residence in the district, Tigh Naithi becoming Taney. This explanation certainly has the weight of time on it side. The other possible origin is equally plausible however. This one stems from the fact that in former times the Archbishop of Dublin owned large tracts of land in South County Dublin including Dundrum and Churchtown. Some of the areas were leased out to lay tenants but Churchtown was retained directly by the Church for its own use. Being basically a rural area it did not find its way on to the pages of history as much as did Dundrum or Rathfarnham. At the time of the Restoration in 1660 Dundrum had a population of 47 people of whom 14 were British, but Churchtown only had 7, two of whom were British. A few houses did develop around the junction of Beaumont Avenue and Upper Churchtown Road during the last century but this was as close as Churchtown came to ever being a town. It is perhaps ironical in this period of deteriorating Law and Order to see that one of the early references to Churchtown was in 1780 when four masked raiders broke into a house in Churchtown. They were armed with swords and pistols. It seems that towards the end of the 18th century there was a period of considerable unrest. During the 1798 Rising there was also some trouble in the area. A curious anomaly occurs here. A resident of Churchtown, Mr. Richard Leech was killed by the insurgents. It appears that although Mr. Leech was a Roman Catholic he served as a Church Warden in the local Church. Perhaps Churchtown was ahead of its time in the field of Ecumenism. Development in the area was slow and sporadic until quite recent times. The first sizeable group of houses to be planned and constructed were those by the British Ministry of Pensions on Lower Churchtown Road after the end of the First World War. When this scheme was completed Churchtown settled down again to rest for a further twenty years. After the end of the Second Great War there was a period of great expansion in house building and Churchtown’s relative proximity to the city made it a natural prime choice. Braemor Road was originally intended to be a Ring Road though it took a further quarter of century before this was achieved, much to the dislike of many who had been used to a quieter existence. As the development continued to expand Churchtown began to develop its own identity. There was also an increasing need for various services, such as schools, shops, transport and a Church, even for a while its own cinema on Landscape Road. Much of what it to-day considered to be part of Churchtown was in former years part of the Demesne of Rathfarnham Castle. This property was owned by the LeBret family from the time of the Norman Invasion until the 16th century when it passed to the Eustace family. After the Desmond Rebellion it was seized by the Crown and then granted to the Loftus family in 1582. The Castle remained in the Loftus family until 1716 when it was sold out, but in 1767 Nicholas Loftus, Earl of Ely bought it back again and in celebration of its return to his family he built the Ely Memorial Gate on the bank of the Dodder. The Castle finally passed out of the Loftus family in 1852. Much of the grounds were later taken over by the Lambs, the Jam Manufacturers, and used for growing fruit trees. A large part of the Nutgrove area was built on this ground. The Castle Golf Club also occupies part of the former grounds. The Parish of Churchtown in pre-Emancipation times was divided between the Parishes of Donnybrook, Booterstown and Kilgobbin. The Mould family of Churchtown had their own burial plot in the old burial ground in Donnybrook. After Emancipation more Churches were built and the size of parishes reduced. This left Churchtown divided between Dundrum and Rathfarnham. In the 1950’s it became obvious that the growing suburb would soon warrant a Church of its own and in due course its own parish. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built twenty-five years ago, and spent the first years of its life as a Chapel-of-Ease to Rathfarnham, becoming a Parish Church in its own right in 1965. Now Churchtown has grown into a mature suburb and has become a parent as it were, looking after its offspring of Marley. Quite a change in a few short years from the newly developing area of the early 1950’s when special buses were laid on for Sunday morning to bring the faithful to Milltown for Mass. Barry Farrell. I remember, I remember The house where I was born, The little window where The sun came peeping in at morn. Our house was on the outskirts of Dundrum at the foot of a steep hill rising past the castle into the heights and wilds of Ballinteer. The side window was at the gable end of our house and looked down from the road into a sunken area by a river. The only building visible was the Dundrum National School. My first memory is of being a pupil, or maybe at best a child of three, in this school as my mother was a teacher in one of the two rooms allocated to boys. First, second and third classes were my mother’s responsibility and all were assembled in the one room with seating accommodation available for less than half the pupils. I remember so, so many exciting incidents in the attractive village of Dundrum. However, my story is of Churchtown where we moved at the end of the twenties, a move that brought us to an area of trees and fields containing some houses and dividing Dundrum from Rathfarnham. Churchtown had no centre not even a pub. In fact, all Churchtown had really was an ancient church and a dilapidated graveyard. This Protestant Church stands very likely on the site of the original house of prayer when ancient Churchtown belonged to Christ Church Cathedral. Cromwell eventually made his impact and the civil survey of 1654 described as "English Protestants" the two landlords of Churchtown, Sir William Usher and a Dublin tailor named John Kempe.** Our home, "Meadowlands", was surrounded by non catholics but there never seemed a need for a movement towards unity or reconciliation as our neighbours were our friends, people who had time to talk, to visit and extend hospitality. Dundrum was still our village and the church our parish, but we were proud of our area and Churchtown was very much our place. I think our football team best illustrated our pride, in particular when, with our slender resources, we played, in their own territory, mighty Dundrum. We would go as an expedition all together across the fields towards the mountains. Usually we were annihilated. One day, however, we were victorious. Then our departure from the ground and our journey home was a battle for survival. It was exhilarating to know that I was part of a team all united, courageous and proud of Churchtown. Maybe we returned dirty and bloodied but our shared experience is still a warm, lasting memory. "I remember the games of my childhood, the dark and golden park peopled with Gods........ What do we learn when we return to it........ that it is into the game and not the park that we have lost the power to enter..... " - "Wind, Sand and Stars", de Saint-Exupery. Churchtown was a very clean community. The roads were well manicured by the dedicated work of a great character, Jack Ward. He spoke to me of his pride in keeping the roads clean and of his final day. "I was working on the road", he said, "and they came, put me in a car and brought me home". Jack was a proud man; he had a good reason to feel proud and when he celebrated it was usually with the enthusiasm of a victorious warrior. When we first arrived in Meadowlands a high wall across the road surrounded the home of the family Franks and Beaumont Avenue was a narrow road, then known as Nolan’s Lane. If I turned right on the narrow rural road outside my home, I soon reached, at the beginning of Braemor Road today, a small white thatched roofed house, with a divided main door. So often the jolly lady of this house would be leaning on the bottom half of this door. The important traffic then were the big carts pulled by horses bound for Hughes’ Dairy. I can still recall so well her cheery hello to the drivers, identifying each by name. Continuing left, I would have to my right a high wall surrounding fields that, during the Emergency, would become known as the public plots providing food for Ireland during the last great war. ** "Know Your Dublin", - J.B. Malone To my left, in the shadow of the present church, stood one house, majestic it its own way, and still standing. Today it a De La Salle School for young boys but I remember many happy days in this house, and treasured the kindness and friendship of Mrs. Ceannt, widow of Eamonn, one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of Independence. "Now and in time to be, Wherever green is worn, Are changed, changed utterly, A terrible beauty is born. " - “Easter, 1916” - W. B. Yeats The next house was Cosgrave’s farm, Barn Elms. Phil Cosgrave was a wonderful man. We were always welcome to his house and around his farm. He encouraged our enterprise. My best memory of Phil is of the many times he brought me with his own children by pony and trap for a swim at Seapoint. Phil Cosgrave also allowed us use of his fields for memorable boxing tournaments. We marched around Churchtown ringing a bell, calling out the news and displaying on a rake details of the contests. Each tournament attracted a big audience, but I think the majority entered free despite all our security. They witnessed some skilful boxing, hard bruising bouts, extraordinary courage, and no bitterness. Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber", was a heavyweight champion of the world. In our ring his words were often so true - "He can run but he can’t hide" We changed in Cosgrave’s pigsty and our boxing ring was situated not too far from the present position of our Church. At the end of each context the winner and loser were rewarded with a full bucket of water emptied over their heads. Eventually Churchtown received its first Catholic Church, The Good Shepherd, a daughter in those days for Rathfarnham. However, I felt from the beginning that we were a separate community and this acceptance and indeed happiness was inspired by Fr. Chris Hyland. He made all feel so welcome. I believe he was in every respect a Good Shepherd. We may have been a small community but we had as an involved member The Taoiseach. Sean Lemass, of course, was from our early days a Churchtown person and even though he had moved to a different home when he was elected Head of the Government he still was a local and the Good Shepherd was his parish. Our Church in the fullness of time was declared a separate parish and Fr. Frank Kenny appointed first Parish Priest. When eventually his companion and friend, Fr. Hyland, moved to pastures new, Fr. Kenny showed in a very human way his personal sense of loss and his depth of Christian love. We all have special memories of Fr. Kenny. I remember in particular the moment during his Mass when he would invite all to pray by raising his arms high and in a loud clear voice saying - "Now, everyone - all together - Our Father". Somehow it seemed to me at this time that we were a special community and fortunate to live in Churchtown. "Christ minds; Christ’s interest, what to avow or amend There, eyes them, heart wants, care haunts, foot follows kind, Their ransom, their rescue, and first, fast, last friend". - “The Lantern Out of Doors” - Gerard Manley Hopkins ) Never ask, "Oh why were things so much better in the old days? It’s not an intelligent question. (Ecclesiastes Ch.7 v.10.) Michael Walsh
The Little Company of Mary was founded by Mother Mary Potter in the year 1877. Mother Mary envisaged a great need in the Church for a group of women who would commit their lives totally to Christ, in union with Mary on Calvary making constant intercession for the dying, especially those souls most in need of God’s mercy. This great spiritual zeal over-flowed into action and brought forth the birth of a Congregation to care for and nurse the sick and dying. At this time too a great humanitarian movement effected reforms in nursing and hospital services. While Mary Potter rejoiced at this she felt that soul as well as bodies should be the concern of those who cared for and nursed the sick and dying. The Sisters of the Little Company of Mary honour in a special way the Mystery of Calvary. Their special spirit is the imitation of the Maternal Heart of Mary. Standing with Mary at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, they intercede for the sick and dying of the whole world through prayer, and, where possible, through personal attendance at home or in the hospital. From a humble beginning in a discarded factory building in the village of Hyson Green, England, The Little Company of Mary was founded. From here - the cradle of the institute - the Sisters gradually spread to many countries, established their Mother House in Rome as well as houses in Scotland, Ireland, United States, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Korea. A visit to the Mother House in Rome by the Most Rev. John Charles McQuaid in 1949 resulted in an invitation to the Sisters to open a Hospital. About that time it became known that the Carmelite House of Studies at Rathgar was for sale. After some negotiations the latter was purchased. The Sisters were fortunate to acquire this building which stands on seven acres of beautifully wooded grounds. Needless to say, it has since undergone extensive reconstruction and renovation. The immediate locality has grown rapidly with new housing and shopping developments. Three Sisters left Milford House, Limerick, to begin this new foundation on September 19th 1949. They were met and welcomed by Fathers McGrath and Devane, O.Carm. The help of the Carmelite Community to get the place in order was much appreciated by the Sisters. Renovations and improvements to the building got underway immediately. Central heating was installed. Meantime, some Sisters nursed patients in their own homes. On the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, August 22nd, 1950, Mount Carmel Hospital was solemnly blessed and officially opened by His Grace, the Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, the Most Rev. Dr. John Charles McQuaid, in the presence of Archdeacon Sheehan, Terenure, and Very Rev. M. Fitzgerald, O.Carm, Provincial of the Order, as well as members of the Medical and Nursing Profession in Dublin and a large number of friends and well-wishers. The Hospital was equipped to cater for thirty medical patients. Work started on building an Operating Theatre and an X-Ray Unit. This was completed in June 1951. Fr. Hyland, C.C. in Churchtown, was appointed Chaplain to the Hospital in November 1954. On July 2nd, 1958, Canon O’Donnell assisted by Fathers Hyland and Hanlon blessed the site for a new Hospital. A fund-raising committee was formed who were very active during the next few years. Thanks to their hard work and dedication and generous response of the people the initial financial burden was lightened considerable. Work on the new building progressed rapidly. The ’New’ Mount Carmel Hospital was officially blessed and opened by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Dr. John Charles McQuaid, on October 25th 1960. The patients were transferred from the original Hospital on December 8th 1960. The latter then became the Convent. When Mount Carmel was opened the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary were the first Sisters to offer a Maternity Service in the Dublin area. Many patients were apprehensive about having their confinements taken care of by religious Sisters. Some felt they would not be given any pain relieving drugs. However, the overwhelming demand for admission by Maternity patients during those first years is a special feature of the development of Mount Carmel Hospital. This demand has continued necessitating the extension of facilities and the allocation of a second floor as well as the roof top Unit accommodation originally intended for secretarial rooms and a christening suite. Once again building commenced and in 1969 a wing of two floors was added to the Hospital providing extra ward and single room accommodation. This in turn resulted in further extension to laundry, convent and the erection of a new building for household staff. The area of the Apostolic work of the Sisters is of particular interest since Mother Mary Potter struggled in Rome to get Ecclesiastical permission and approval to have Sisters trained in Midwifery care. She won a long and hard battle and opened the first School of Training in Midwifery for Sisters. Mount Carmel Hospital works in close co-operation with the Conquer Cancer Society of Ireland. Four beds are available to cater for the special needs of patients with terminal cancer. Patients are admitted as the need arises. This very pressing need is sponsored by the Society and very much appreciated by patients and their relatives. In response to yet another request - this time to relieve the long list of patients waiting for Joint Replacement Surgery in the country, the Hospital agreed to make facilities available for this specialty. In 1976 a sterile air enclosure was installed in one of the existing Operating Theatres. An air-conditioning plant was also installed at this time. In 1980 a new Physiotherapy department was opened which contains rehabilitation and gymnastic facilities. At this time also a Consultants’ Private Clinic was opened. The late Canon Kenny was a welcome visitor to the Hospital, and it was our privilege to care for him in his many illnesses. He was an inspiration to all the staff by his cheerful disposition and acceptance of suffering. May he rest in peace. We welcome Fr. Patrick Fitzsimons our new Parish Priest, and wish him many happy years in Churchtown. Sr. Brigid Canning
In 1941 Fr. Riordan who was then a curate in Dundrum asked me to .start a Junior School in the Holy Cross Parish as there was no private school in the area and people had difficulty in bringing their children into the city to school. As it was the beginning of the Autumn term when he came to me I had to start immediately and for the first month Fr. Riordan arranged that I could rent the tennis Club pavilion which was on Ballinteer Road. At the end of October 1941 we moved into Ardtona House on the Lower Churchtown Road. I always feel that I was very lucky in the first group of children because they set the atmosphere and attitudes for those who came later. Judy Inglis was one of the first group - she is still living in Churchtown and is active in the Parish of the Good Shepherd. There were two Dowling brothers who were very clever, particularly at mathematics. They both qualified as Engineers and Pat later became a Benedictine Monk. Their parents live in Ballinteer. Patricia Fry’s father had a wonderful model railway, her mother still lives in Churchtown. Hugh Hamilton has long since left Churchtown as have Grainne Saunders, Rosemary Purcell and Christopher Barry. These are just a few of the names that come to my mind from the very early days. In 1945 a friend of mine thought that I should get an assistant. She told me that she knew a very good teacher who had been teaching in a school in Rathgar which was closing down. And so came Eilish Moriarty who later became Mrs. O’Sullivan. Mrs. O’Sullivan became part of Ardtona and remained until her retirement in 1974 when she went back to live in her beloved Kerry. We were in Dundrum Parish until the Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1957. I think it was Fr. Carey - then a curate in Dundrum, now Parish Priest of Ballinteer - who came to tell us that we were being moved to the new Church which was then part of Rathfarnham Parish. At first we were sad when we got this news, but Fr. Hyland, who was the curate in charge of the Good Shepherd Church became a very good friend and helped us to make the First Communion ceremony a memorable occasion. Our children were the first to receive First Communion in the new Church. Now each year we have some children receiving their First Communion whose parents were First Communicants in the early days of Churchtown Parish and so there is a continuity which makes a friendly family atmosphere. The early forties was a difficult time - the war was in full swing, there were many shortages - tea, sugar, butter etc., were rationed and petrol was in such short supply that only doctors and a few other priority people got a small ration to be used for their work only. So there were no cars and few buses but everybody knew their neighbours and there was always lots of conversation especially on the last bus which left town at 9.30 p.m. Living in Churchtown was like living in the country, there was no Church, no school, no pub (P.V. Doyle opened the County Club about the early fifties). Rathfarnham was cut off by the narrow lanes but Dundrum had the great advantage of having a Railway Station. The last train left Harcourt Street at 11 p.m. and was always packed. It took ten minutes to reach Dundrum. The Churchtown road was very dark as there were no lights but the people walking up from the train chatted together and were concerned for each other so we all felt that we were part of a community. I am glad that this feeling of community is being revived in Churchtown. Happy memories crowd in on me whenever I enter the Church of the Good Shepherd and it is with joyful anticipation that I look forward to the Silver Jubilee celebrations. S.F. Rogerson. Twenty three years ago, a group of women from Rathfarnham, Churchtown and surrounding districts, met in Nutgrove House, one time Dower House of Rathfarnham Castle, now, alas! demolished and at that meeting Rathfarnham Guild of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association came into being. Those women, some forty three in all, had come together in response to an appeal by the late Mrs. Moira Brady, who had come to live in Churchtown from Kilkenny, where she had been an enthusiastic I.C.A. member. She believed that a branch of the Association could only benefit the women of Rathfarnham, which incidentally, was then classified officially as a rural area. At the first meeting, 3rd March, 1959, Mrs. Brady was elected President and it was agreed that members would meet on the first Tuesday of each month, this to be the Business meeting and a further meeting, a "Work" meeting on the third Tuesday of each month, where members can organise any activities they wish. A special programme is planned for each Business meeting, a demonstration of a craft or cookery, a talk on some social or topical subject, local history, Art or music appreciation, the variety is endless. Fame and popularity spread, membership increased, so bigger and better accommodation was needed. In October 1963, the De La Salle Brothers, very kindly offered the College Assembly hall, a few years later, reconstruction work in the College necessitated a further move, this time to the Brothers Primary school, Whitehall Road where meetings still take place and every need and comfort is assured, thanks to Brother Finbarr, Headmaster. Down the years, members have learned to perfect their skills and talents, others have discovered new skills, learning from each other all the time. Handcrafts flourish, the Drama and Debating groups and the Choir have won many awards. Community work is not neglected, Senior citizens enjoy an annual "party", volunteers work regularly at the local lunch club and meals-on-wheels. Wireless for the Blind, I.S.P.C.C. and Saor an Leinbh are just some of the charitable organisations which receive regular help. Recently, the Guild has raised quite substantial sums of money for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped and for St. Luke’s Hospital Appeal fund. At present, arrangements are under way for a return visit to Women’s Institute, Castlewellan, Co. Down, they came to Rathfarnham in 1980, a small but, perhaps, helpful effort to forge links of friendship with the North. In Rathfarnham Guild, meetings are always well attended, are enjoyable, lively and informative. Long may it continue so!. Eilish Cogan
Sunday, March 24th 1957 was a good day for Churchtown. It was the day of the Blessing and opening of a new Church, for a new and rapidly growing area, evidenced by the number of prams, go-carts and young families who gathered to welcome Dr. McQuaid on that day. The new Church was sited at the junction of Nutgrove Avenue and Oakdown Road, on the edge of fields and sprawling farmlands, and was part of the Parish of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham. Its then Parish Priest, Very Rev. Tom O’Donnell, had cut the first sod on the 25th September, 1954, and the foundation stone was laid on the 9th May, 1955 by the Most Rev. John Charles McQuaid, then Archbishop of Dublin. The Solemn Blessing of the Bell was performed by the Most Rev. Patrick Dunne, D.D., on the 1st July, 1956. It was a modern Church, striking in its external colouring of blue dashing, with a bold red roof - its interior using some of the best materials then on the building market. The total cost was £59,000, and the church had a seating capacity of 1,100. It was a symmetrical cruciform plan with short transepts and for its congregation an uninterrupted view of the High Altar. The Church was placed under the protection of the Good Shepherd. The senior Curate responsible for the running of the new Church was Fr. Chris. Hyland, now Parish Priest of Leixlip. The housing areas around the Church grew. The Church seceded from the also rapidly expanding Rathfarnham Parish and became a Parish in its own right on the 10th June 1965. On the following day Father Francis Kenny was appointed as Parish Priest. The new Parish boundaries extended from the natural boundary of the Dodder River at Orwell Gardens and Orwell Bridge, taking in the Braemor and Landscape areas to Nutgrove Avenue and the rear of the Grange - to the top of Beaumont Avenue, past Churchtown House, on the Weston area, and the Upper Churchtown Road to the junction of Lower Churchtown Road. New housing was, and is still being added. In the early 1970's about 600 homes were established in the Mountainview and Meadows areas. Mountainview House was acquired from the Local Authorities by Rev. Father Frank McCabe, to whom the youth of that particular area, owe a debt of gratitude. The house was acquired for the establishment of a Youth and Community Centre, and is now run by the Mountainview Tenants and Residents Association. Its committee are doing tremendous work for the youth of the area, supported from time to time, with financial support from the rest of the Parish. In the last 25 years the Parish of The Good Shepherd has witnessed the growing of its young families and has seen the majority of its Parishioners grown from babies to young men and women, now taking their places in other Parishes throughout the Diocese and County. We too have been proud to present a number of our young men and women to the Priesthood and to the Religious Life. It has witnessed too changes in the Liturgy of the Church it serves. There has been relaxation in the fasting laws, both for Holy Communion and traditional fast-days of the Church. The vernacular of the Mass has changed from Latin to English. The Altar has been changed so that the Celebrant may face his Congregation. Holy Communion is now a feature of all Sunday Masses; Evening Masses and late Wedding Masses and Funeral Masses are now commonplace. There have been minor other changes and the Liturgy at Easter and Christmas has been adapted to a greater participation and involvement of the Laity.
On the physical side we now had a daughter Church to support. From 1974 Fr. Aidan Burke was appointed to look after the development of a new Church at Marley Grange. The people of the Good Shepherd were generous in their support and subscribed £120,000. Then on December 6th, 1981, Marley Grange became independent with the opening of its own Parish Church - "The Church of The Divine Word". During the last 25 years the people of our Parish have not only subscribed to their Parent and Daughter Churches, but have given very generously to Diocesan collections, such as Share, Clonliffe College, and the Common Fund for retired Priests and Priests in new and less well-off Parishes. As is inevitable in the spread of any urban area, the old must give away to the new, and so it was in Churchtown. This is an area rich in historical interest with its share of old houses. Some of these now house the marks of the new Parish and stand proudly beside the new buildings of Schools and Congregations. The Parish has two Embassies within its boundaries, The Russian Embassy on Orwell Road and the Dutch Embassy at Churchtown House. In an ecumenical spirit, we welcome the Church of Ireland Theological College and Divinity Hostel in what was once Fetherstonaugh House beside the comparatively new Mount Carmel Hospital. The Sisters’ House, once Ardavon House, was the Novitiate of the Carmelite Fathers. When we mention these, we must not forget the help which we received from the Jesuits at Rathfarnham Castle while we were the daughter Church of Rathfarnham, and the help which we still receive from the Carmelite Fathers, at times from Gort Muire, and still from Terenure College, and also the Redemptorists in Rathgar. Singing and music in Church is as old as the Catholic Church itself and Churchtown has not been behind in its achievements. We have acquired a new Organ, and can boast three Choirs - The Childrens’ Choir from Loreto National School, The Senior Church Choir and The Folk Group who have two television appearances to their credit. On the 18th of June 1978 Our Parish Priest was appointed a Canon of the Dublin Diocesan Chapter. Sadly, however, Canon Kenny died on the 23rd July 1981. May he rest in peace, and may they also rest in peace, two Curates who died while still serving actively in the Parish - Rev. Fr. Denis Lenihan and Rev. Fr. Frank McCabe, and also Fr. John Hanlon, who died after retiring from the Parish. On the 6th August, 1981, we had a new Parish Priest - Fr. Patrick Fitzsimons, who came to us from Haddington Road. The people of Churchtown bid him welcome. Time is marching on. The last year has seen the installation of a new Organ and the moving forward and alterations to the Altar, and the disappearance of the old Altar rails. The electric storage-heaters are being replaced by modern Gas-heating and shortly our Church will boast ramps specially installed for the convenience of the handicapped. Our Jubilee Year is here. The Parish of the Good Shepherd has become a busy, thriving Community, and goes forward-with hope for the future of its Parishioners. Phil O’Keeffe THE DE LA SALLE COLLEGE & SCHOOLS AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD - Both 25 Throughout the past 25 years there has been a very close relationship between the Church of the Good Shepherd and the De La Salle College and Schools in Churchtown. They grew up together. In 1978 the De La Salle Brothers of Churchtown celebrated their Silver Jubilee and this year it is the turn of the Priests of The Good Shepherd. When the Brothers first came to Churchtown they were only three in number and their present residence at Berwick House had been a traveller’s rest with bed, breakfast and stabling facilities. It was later bought by Lady Berwick who turned it into a holiday house for working girls. Eventually the Brothers bought the property and it was from this base that they initiated a three-pronged educational attack on that little area which lies between Rathfarnham and Dundrum. It is no coincidence that to-day there exist a close relationship between the De La Salle Brothers and the Priests of the Good Shepherd; The College is built on what was once to have been the site of the new Church for Churchtown. The Land called Landscape Manor was once owned by a Mr. Ashby who was not prepared to sell the Land at that time, so an alternative (the Present) site had to be found. Later the Brothers succeeded in purchasing this site and built their College. Photographs of the official opening of the College show the Parish Priest of Rathfarnham and Dundrum, underlining the relatively youthful offspring that is the Church of the Good Shepherd. The De La Salle College, Churchtown remember with appreciation the contribution made by the Priests of Churchtown in their role as Chaplains, Fr. Crowe, the late Fr. MacCabe, and the present enthusiastic Fr. McNamara. Over the years there have been many Pupil Masses celebrated both in the schools and in the Church and pupils have always availed of a confessional service offered regularly within the schools. In the seventies this partnership became even closer with the musical contribution made by Mr. Shaun Purcell, (a past pupil of the College and at present teaching there) who initiated the music for a Sunday Folk Mass in the Church of the Good Shepherd. But the highlight of this partnership between the schools and the Church has always been the celebration of the De La Salle’s Day in the Good Shepherd Church. On this day, over 1,300 schoolboys attend Mass in the Church and the sound of their voices rising to the hymn "St. De La Salle, our dearest Father is a tingling experience which will always be remembered. It is perhaps this experience that past pupils of the College now living further afield will associate with the Good Shepherd. Long may it continue to flourish! Dave Hewson The school, consisting of eight classrooms and an Assembly Hall, opened in July 1959. There were 240 pupils enrolled on the first day and they were taken in charge by five Brothers. Brother Aldric, who died in 1968, was first principal and Mr. Sean Cleary, who retired three years ago, was the first lay teacher to be appointed to the staff. Numbers increased rapidly and admissions to the school had to be limited. This naturally caused annoyance to many parents and embarrassment to the Brothers. The difficulty was solved by the erection of four Pre-Fabs - later to grow to eight. When the boys from Mountainview began to arrive. In 1975 work started on a permanent extension to the original building. Nine classrooms and a library were added, the Hall was enlarged and a servery provided. This latter is much appreciated by the various groups from the Parish who have the use of the Hall for meetings and social functions. Over the last few years the child population of the area has been falling. This, of course, is a feature of all the City inner suburbs. Less pupils means smaller classes. This year there are eleven teachers for 300 pupils, ten years ago fifteen teachers had to handle 600. In addition there are two remedial teachers who devote themselves to helping pupils who have difficulties with reading or Arithmetic. The School can boast of an impressive record in Games and Athletics thanks to the enthusiasm of both pupils and teachers and over the years Cups have been won in Croke Park and Trophies and medals in Santry. The co-operation of the parents, the constant help given by the Parents’ Committee and the devoted care of the pupils by the School Chaplin, Father McDonnell are deeply appreciated by both Staff and Management. Br. Fidelis McHugh Br. Finbarr O’Keeffe DE LA SALLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Shortly after the end of the Second World War Churchtown started to become the bustling suburb that we know to-day. It soon became obvious that various essential services would be needed in the developing area. Not the least important of these was the education on the young people. Consequently the Archbishop requested the Notre Dame Sisters to look after the needs of the girls and the De La Salle Brothers to do likewise for the boys. Both organisations looked at various properties in the area and the Nuns established themselves in the large house called Fernbank on Upper Churchtown Road, near the original turn-off for Dundrum, which they purchased from a Quaker family. Their choice of location was obviously considered to be very suitable for a school, because the Brothers started investigating the possibility of purchasing the neighbouring property of Woodstock from the Switzer family, who owned a high-class drapery emporium in Grafton Street. A problem soon arose however, because the Archbishop thought that it would be unseemly for the Nuns and the Brothers’ schools to be in such close proximity and to avoid giving possible scandal, he suggested that the Brothers should look elsewhere for a site for their school. This the Brothers duly did, and soon they were negotiating with Mrs. Aine Ceannt, widow of the executed 1916 Leader, for the purchase of Inish More House and grounds. Eventually the Brothers bought the house and most of the grounds. Mrs. Ceannt and her son retired to the extended Gate Lodge retaining portion of the grounds for her own use, and a new gateway was constructed to give access to the new school. In 1952 amid great celebrations the school was blessed and officially opened by Dr. McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin. As the population of the area grew it soon became obvious that the house would not be able to cope with the increasing numbers attending the school, and the present College buildings were erected on the site of the former Landscape House. In 1957 the College moved to its present location and the Prep School became a separate entity in its own right. Around this time also the Brothers opened their Primary School on Whitehall Road. The house which forms the main block of the Preparatory School has a certain air of mystery about it. The official name of the house is Inish More though often the name Inish Ealga is applied to it. These names were used by the Ceannts who took over the house in 1915. The latter name being used in Irish literature as a sort of Poetic name for a Gaelic Ireland. A Literal translation would be the Island of the Brave. Prior to the purchase of the house by the Ceannts the property was known as Barn Elms, a name that is now more associated with the smaller house up the road. This name is recorded in deeds as far back as 1768 when the property was transferred from Francis Minchin to James Towers. The present house does not date back that far. Although I have not been able to trace exactly when the house was built I think it is safe to say that it would have been built during the first decade of the last century. It is possible that it replaces an earlier house on or near the same site. The name of Campberly house which is on the old gate piers does not seem to appear in the official records. It may have a connection with Mr. Frederick Campbell of Blackrock who acquired Barn Elms from Alexander Orr and then disposed of it to William O’Neill of Bellvue House, Dundrum, on the same day, i.e. 31st January 1860. The Ceannts seem to have acquired the property from the O’Neills. One of the most intriguing aspects of the house to me is the fact that apparently they did not use the back door as a servants entrance, but rather used a separate hall beside the main front door. The bell on the other side of the door is marked "Visitors". It is obvious from the style of the door and locking mechanism that the door was never intended to be opened from the outside like our modern doors with their Yale-type locks. Obviously the builders never conceived a situation where the house would be totally unoccupied, there should always be a servant in attendance. How different things are to-day! I wonder what the reactions of the early residents would be if they returned to the place to-day. It is perhaps appropriate that this year which is the Silver Jubilee of the Parish is the thirtieth year in the life of the School. It demonstrates the high priority that the education of the young is given in our society. A feature that is now starting to recur with increasing frequency is the attendance at the school of sons of former pupils. This is surely a vote of confidence in the efforts of the Brothers in Churchtown. I regret the fact that there are gaps in this short history of the Prep School. If there is anyone who can help fill them I would be delighted to hear from them. Barry Farrell St. John Baptist De La Salle founded his Congregation of Teaching Brothers in 1680. The great St. Benedict, Father of Western Monasticism, founded his Order - Brothers also - just about 1,000 years previously. De La Salle was a Priest. Benedict lived and died a Brother. The Benedictines, some 200 years after their foundation and at the request of the Holy See, became Priests - Religious Priests - The point I wish to make is that Brotherhood was not something new and strange in the Church when De La Salle founded his congregation. The un-ordained Disciple existed in the Church from the dawn of Christianity. Indeed the true prototype of the Religious Teaching Brother was none other that the great Precursor: St. John the Baptist. His mission and the mission of the Teaching Brother are identical. "You shall go ahead of the Lord", said John’s father Zachary, "to prepare His way before Him". - meaning that John was to prepare the minds and hearts of his listeners for Christ and the Redemption he was to win for them. John was also to "make known to the people their salvation through the forgiveness of their sins". De La Salle, in one of his ’Meditations’, instructs the Brothers "that being with the students in the schools they must lead them to God by word and example". They must enlighten them through their words and inspire them by the holiness of their committed lives. The work of the Baptist did not end with his death. It must go on as long as new generations are born into the world. The teaching Brother is one who is called to continue the work of the Baptist. He is not a Priest. Neither was the Baptist a Priest - Herod had his head chopped off three years before the great sacrament of Orders was instituted. But the Brother is one, who, like John, gives his all, in the Religious Life, in order to devote himself completely to the glorious work of saving souls. "Of all divine works, the most divine is to co-operate with God in the salvation of souls". Br. Malachy Buckley
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