St Bernard's Church
Tuam
County Galway


St Bernard's Church - Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway
St Bernard's Church - Abbeyknockmoy, 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)

Location of worship / Church Address

Lisch Rd
Abbeyknockmoy
Tuam, County Galway
Ireland
Phone: 093 43510

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Church Pastor

Fr. Ronnie Boyle
Parish Priest
Lisch Rd
Abbeyknockmoy
Tuam, County Galway
Ireland
Phone: 093 43510

Download Parish Priest Fr. Ronnie Boyle vCard

Quote of the Day

Psalms 31:3

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

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Leadership

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Fr. Ronnie Boyle
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Parish Priest
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Marie Greaney
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Parish Secretary
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St Bernard's Church - Lisch Rd Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway
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St Bernard's Church Tuam 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.

Mass Times last updated on the 30th of May, 2021


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St Bernard's Church - Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway
St Bernard's Church - Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, County Galway



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.


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