Looking Back: The Catholic Church, Kilcullen

Yesterday a very imposing religious ceremony took place in the beautiful church of Kilcullen, county Kildare. This was the dedication of a new side altar in the church of St Brigid. The altar is the gift of a generous resident in the locality.

The altar is of Portland and Caen stone, skilfully covered with natural and conventional flowers, every attention being paid to detail. It comprises in its structure a reredos and frontal piece, and is quite in keeping with the beautiful edifice in which is erected. Messrs O'Neil, of Great Brunswick Street, were entrusted with the work, which is in all respects admirably executed.

The church itself is in the early Gothic style, and was designed by the late Mr. McCarthy, who also designed the high altar which is an exquisite piece of workmanship. The design for this also executed by Messrs O'Neill. The reredos is beautifully carved, the figurines being delicately traced, while the ornamentation on the frontal stone is worked out with much care and finish.

At half-past eleven High Mass was celebrated. After the first Gospel the very Rev PJ Tynan, DD, preached an eloquent and impressive sermon. After Mass there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, which was followed by the Forty Hours Adoration. An immense congregation assisted at the sacred ceremonies with unedifying devotion.

The esteemed pastor, the Rev Mr. Langan, and his zealous assistants have ample reasons to be proud of the genuine Catholic spirit evinced by the people of Kilcullen.

— Freeman's Journal 01.10.1883.

(Credit to Dave Byrne, who trawled through the old newspapers to find reports about Kilcullen.)

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