St Bernard's Church
Tuam County Galway
Who we are
Abbeyknockmoy (or Abbey), is a parish, 7 miles south-east of Tuam, and partly in the barony of Clare, but chiefly in that of Tyaquin, Co. Galway. The name 'Knockmoy' signifies 'the hill of the plain;' and the abbey which shares with it in the designation of the parish, was anciently called 'Monasterium de colle victoriae.' The establishment is said to have been founded and endowed in 1180, by Cathal O'Connor, monarch of Ireland, in commemoration of a victory obtained by him at its site over Almericus de St. Lawrence. Considerable ruins of the edifice, which still exist, contain some frescoes, which, though rude in design, and faded in colour, possess uncommon interest for the antiquary, as the most authentic memorials anywhere to be found of ancient Irish costumes.
The Cistercian Abbey of Knockmoy (in the village of Abbeyknockmoy) was founded by the King of Connacht (Cathal Crovdearg O Connor, who was buried there in 1244) in the years 1189-1190. Knockmoy is rare in that it has a fresco still (barely) visible on the wall of the chancel. The monastery was plundered in 1200 (by William De Burgo) and in 1228, and the Abbot was censured in 1240 for having his hair washed by a woman. In 1483, the abbot was accused of setting fire to the abbey.
(source: http://www.tuam-guide.com/abbeyknockmoy.htm)
Â
The Cistercian Abbey of Knockmoy (in the village of Abbeyknockmoy) was founded by the King of Connacht (Cathal Crovdearg O Connor, who was buried there in 1244) in the years 1189-1190. Knockmoy is rare in that it has a fresco still (barely) visible on the wall of the chancel. The monastery was plundered in 1200 (by William De Burgo) and in 1228, and the Abbot was censured in 1240 for having his hair washed by a woman. In 1483, the abbot was accused of setting fire to the abbey.
(source: http://www.tuam-guide.com/abbeyknockmoy.htm)
Â
Church Website
St Bernard's Church on Social Media
Facebook Video: St Bernard's Church Facebook Video
Leadership
Leader Name:
Fr. Ronnie Boyle Â
Leader Position:
Parish Priest Â
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Fr. Ronnie Boyle Â
Administration
Admin Name:
Marie Greaney Â
Admin Position:
Parish Secretary Â
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Marie Greaney Â
St Bernard's Church Mass Times
Mass Times
Abbeyknockmoy - 106 FM - Sunday 10:30am
Brooklodge - Sunday 11:30am Parish Webcam
Ryehill - 104.5 FM -Saturday 7:30pm
Check the Parish Newsletter for weekday mass times.
It's been more than 2 years since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Abbeyknockmoy - 106 FM - Sunday 10:30am
Brooklodge - Sunday 11:30am Parish Webcam
Ryehill - 104.5 FM -Saturday 7:30pm
Check the Parish Newsletter for weekday mass times.
It's been more than 2 years since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
PRINT
ZOOM
ICAL
SUBSCRIBE
Other information
St Bernard's Church History
The Parish gets its name from Knockmoy Abbey, a Cistercian monastery, which was founded 1189. The parish church is dedicated to Saint Bernard and replaced a church which was situated at the entrance to the Old Abbey.
The new church was built 1826 of stone quarried in O’Rourke’s field in Newtown and was much smaller than nowadays with only one door. Landlord James Kelly donated the site on which this church stands and he is buried with various members of the O’Kelly family in a tomb behind the altar gable.
The church was extended and refurbished by Fr John Greally in 1932 and again by Fr Thomas Morley in the 1960’s.
Canon Mooney made annual pilgrimage to Knockroe by celebrating mass on St Bernard’ Day 20th August and this has continued each year since.
Fr William Diskin came to parish in 1982 and welcomed the late Cardinal Tomas O’Fiaich to the parish for the 800 years celebration of the Cistercian Abbey in 1989.
Another ecclesiastical visitor to our church was the late Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York, whose father, Michael Cooke from Cuillagh, emigrated to America in 1908. Cardinal Cooke visited the parish as Monsignor in 1962, as Bishop in 1967 and later as Cardinal in 1969.
Our present parish priest Fr. Joe O’Brien, a native of Turloughmore, has brought extraordinary changes in the involvement of the laity in various celebrations in the Church. He is responsible for the building of new sacristy, car park, Our Lady’s Grotto and landscaping of the church grounds.
Â
The new church was built 1826 of stone quarried in O’Rourke’s field in Newtown and was much smaller than nowadays with only one door. Landlord James Kelly donated the site on which this church stands and he is buried with various members of the O’Kelly family in a tomb behind the altar gable.
The church was extended and refurbished by Fr John Greally in 1932 and again by Fr Thomas Morley in the 1960’s.
Canon Mooney made annual pilgrimage to Knockroe by celebrating mass on St Bernard’ Day 20th August and this has continued each year since.
Fr William Diskin came to parish in 1982 and welcomed the late Cardinal Tomas O’Fiaich to the parish for the 800 years celebration of the Cistercian Abbey in 1989.
Another ecclesiastical visitor to our church was the late Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York, whose father, Michael Cooke from Cuillagh, emigrated to America in 1908. Cardinal Cooke visited the parish as Monsignor in 1962, as Bishop in 1967 and later as Cardinal in 1969.
Â
"Prayer is the acid test of devotion."Samuel Chadwick
St Bernard's Church listing was last updated on the 30th of May, 2021
