Ballela - All Saints.


The Very Rev Patrick J Murray Parish Priest	All Saints’ Church, Ballela. The church, reopened in 1994, enjoys an elevated site overlooking the remains of the old church and the cemetery around it.

Dromore - All Saints' Ballela

Ballela, near Dromore.

Parish Priest: The Very Rev Patrick J Murray

Telephone: 9269 2218

MASS TIMES
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday	7.30pm
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday	10.00am

Website: St. Colman’s web Site

HISTORY

It is believed that an old Mass House existed at Ballela, from around 1770, on the site of the original All Saints’ Church. The construction of this latter church was begun during the pastorate of Fr. Hugh McConville P.P. in the year 1822. The building, with a small cemetery to the rear, was further extended, re-roofed and eventually completed during the years 1846-1849, under the direction of Fr. John Sharkey P.P. It was dedicated to ‘All Saints’ by Bishop Michael Blake on 20th May 1849. The church was thoroughly renovated, raised in height, and the sanctuary reordered by Fr. James Murney P.P. in 1950. The architects were McLean and Forte of Belfast. A simple rectangular edifice, All Saints’ served the Ballina area well for 172 years. It needed replacement, however, by the end of the twentieth century and the construction of the new church was undertaken under the direction of Fr. Patrick G. Conway P.P. in 1993. The new church was designed by McClean and Forte, the same architects who had worked on the renovation of the old church in 1950. The church was opened and dedicated by Bishop Gerard Brooks on Sunday 8th May 1994 and the old church was demolished.

Sadly the new church was firebombed a few months after opening, on the night of Monday 22nd August 1994. As well as severe smoke and floor damage, the altar was considerably harmed. With the necessary repairs and restoration carried out at a cost of £70,000, the church was reopened and a new altar was dedicated by Bishop Gerard Brooks on Thursday 8th December 1994.

A National School that existed at Ballela in 1837 was described as “a small cottage” with 100 Catholic and 10 Presbyterian pupils. A new school in the townland of Shanrod was opened in 1859 and extended in 1861. It became the Catholic school for the Ballela for several generations. A new school at Ballela, opened in September 1969 and closed in June 2006. It was situated between the curate’s house and the Parochial Hall.

A curate’s residence built at the rear of the church was replaced with a new one on a site almost opposite the church in 1927. Fr. Michael O’Hare was the first curate to occupy this new residence on 7th July 1928. During his early years at Ballela he oversaw the erection of the Parochial Hall near the curate’s house. After major renovation in 1986 it was reopened on Sunday 8th March 1987.

The present Parish Priest, the Very Rev Patrick J Murray, was installed at St Colman’s, Dromore, on Sunday 27th August 2006, replacing the Very Rev Patrick G Conway who retired a few days earlier. Fr Murray’s Parish area also includes St. Colman’s Church, Dromore