St. Mary's Church
Claran County Galway
H91 A030
Who we are
St. Mary's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Claran, County Galway.
We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
Church Website
St. Mary's Church on Social Media
Christmas Eve 24 December 2020
Facebook Video: Sunday March 3, 2024 Claran, Co Galway
Leadership
Leader Name:
Fr Raymond Flaherty PP
Leader Position:
Parish Priest
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Fr Raymond Flaherty PP
Administration
Admin Name:
Sharon Brady Ryan
Admin Position:
Parish Secretary
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Sharon Brady Ryan
Driving Directions to St. Mary's Church
Travel/Direction Tips
Galway to Claran - 32 minutes (18.1 miles)
Galway, Co. Galway
Take R336 and Sandy Rd to Headford Rd/N84
6 min (1.2 mi)
Head northeast on Williamsgate St/R863 toward Rosemary Ave
Continue to follow R863
0.1 mi
Merge onto Prospect Hill/R336
292 ft
Continue straight to stay on Prospect Hill/R336
Continue to follow R336
0.6 mi
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sandy Rd
0.4 mi
Continue onto Headford Rd/N84
Continue to follow N84
19 min (13.4 mi)
Continue on Caisleán Laighean to your destination
8 min (3.5 mi)
Turn left onto Caisleán Laighean
1.5 mi
Turn right
1.4 mi
Turn right
0.7 mi
Turn right
33 ft
Claran, Clerhaun, Co. Galway
Galway, Co. Galway
Take R336 and Sandy Rd to Headford Rd/N84
6 min (1.2 mi)
Head northeast on Williamsgate St/R863 toward Rosemary Ave
Continue to follow R863
0.1 mi
Merge onto Prospect Hill/R336
292 ft
Continue straight to stay on Prospect Hill/R336
Continue to follow R336
0.6 mi
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sandy Rd
0.4 mi
Continue onto Headford Rd/N84
Continue to follow N84
19 min (13.4 mi)
Continue on Caisleán Laighean to your destination
8 min (3.5 mi)
Turn left onto Caisleán Laighean
1.5 mi
Turn right
1.4 mi
Turn right
0.7 mi
Turn right
33 ft
Claran, Clerhaun, Co. Galway
St. Mary's Church Mass Times
Mass in Headford
Saturday 7:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am
Mass in Claran
Sunday 10:00 am
Parish Radio 108FM
St. Mary's Church mass times last updated on the 6th of March, 2024
Saturday 7:00 pm
Sunday 11:30 am
Mass in Claran
Sunday 10:00 am
Parish Radio 108FM
St. Mary's Church mass times last updated on the 6th of March, 2024
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Other information
St. Mary's Church History
St. Enda built a church at Cill Einne, or Cloughanover c.484, and St. Brendan built a monastery c.552 in Inchaquin. It survived into Danish times under the saintly Meldan, Maenann and other abbots. An ancient church at Kilcronan is believed to be that of St. Cronan and there is a 10th century church at Cargin a ‘parish in the Barony of Clare’, as described by Samuel Lewis in 1837.
St Fursa, a celebrated visionary, was born on Inchaquin and had his church at Killursa, where he was joined by his brothers, St. Foilan and St. Ultan. As a missionary in East Anglia c.633, he suffered visions of hell, which, as recorded by the Venerable Bede, may have inspired Dante in the Divina Comedia. Fursa reached Peronne in France and became Bishop of Lagny. He died c.652 and was buried at Peronne where his relics are venerated to this day.
The Francisan monastery at Ross Errilly, founded c.1351, became a focal point for two hundred uninterrupted years. It was suppressed in 1538 but a Richard de Burgo returned it to the Friars. In 1612 the Friars were expelled again. They returned in 1626 but in 1656 the Cromwellians ravaged the friary. The friars were sheltered by local people and in 1664 they restored the friary. However in 1704 all regular popish clergy’ were banished and the friars fled again, some to foreign parts, others assuming the guise of servants in local houses. They returned in 1715 but were finally ejected in 1753. However, they occupied some huts in Friars’ Island in the Black River and returned to the Abbey on Sundays to celebrate Mass until 1804.
During Penal times people built a camouflaged church Seipeal na Bhfoidin, the church of the sods in Carrownacrogh. It remained in use until St. Mary’s Church was built in Claran. Both St. Mary’s Church in Claran and St Mary’s Church in Headford were built by Fr. Peter Conway – Claran in 1859 and Headford in 1865.
In 1906 the presentation sisters came to Headford and in 1942 began a secondary school, which has brought immense benefits to the area since then.
St Fursa, a celebrated visionary, was born on Inchaquin and had his church at Killursa, where he was joined by his brothers, St. Foilan and St. Ultan. As a missionary in East Anglia c.633, he suffered visions of hell, which, as recorded by the Venerable Bede, may have inspired Dante in the Divina Comedia. Fursa reached Peronne in France and became Bishop of Lagny. He died c.652 and was buried at Peronne where his relics are venerated to this day.
The Francisan monastery at Ross Errilly, founded c.1351, became a focal point for two hundred uninterrupted years. It was suppressed in 1538 but a Richard de Burgo returned it to the Friars. In 1612 the Friars were expelled again. They returned in 1626 but in 1656 the Cromwellians ravaged the friary. The friars were sheltered by local people and in 1664 they restored the friary. However in 1704 all regular popish clergy’ were banished and the friars fled again, some to foreign parts, others assuming the guise of servants in local houses. They returned in 1715 but were finally ejected in 1753. However, they occupied some huts in Friars’ Island in the Black River and returned to the Abbey on Sundays to celebrate Mass until 1804.
In 1906 the presentation sisters came to Headford and in 1942 began a secondary school, which has brought immense benefits to the area since then.
"Effective prayer is prayer that attains what it seeks. It is prayer that moves God, effecting it's end."Charles Finney
St. Mary's Church listing was last updated on the 6th of March, 2024
