Arranmore Island gathers to celebrate 200 years of St Crone's Church

Arranmore Island celebrated 200 years since the opening of St Crone's Church with a series of concerts and a special Mass held at the church.

A special Mass was held at the church on Thursday, August 7, led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Donal Roche, to celebrate the bicentenary of when St Crone's Church was first built in 1825.

Also at the service were Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, Father Pat Ward, Father John Attoh, and other clergymen who have been linked to the parish.

Priests who served at St Crone's Church were honoured with a presentation near the end of the service. Bishop Roche was presented with his honour by Arranmore Island’s oldest resident, Bridget Ward (99).  

Beginning the service, Fr Ward thanked Fr Attoh for his “stellar work” in helping organise the bicentenary celebrations. He said: “He has been really hands-on, making sure that this is a celebration worthy of this beautiful building.

“Thank you to everybody who took part and became part of the team to prepare the chapel for such a great day.”

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Bishop Roche spoke of his admiration for Arranmore Island and reminisced about his 40-year connection to the island. 

Bishop Roche praised previous priests for the work they did to continue the legacy of the church, particular Fr John McIntyre, who was noted for the work he did in helping to build the modernisation of the church in 1917, and Fr Seamus Hargan, who died at the time of An Gorta Mór, and is buried in the church grounds. 

“It is amazing to think of the number of people who have come here and have celebrated all sorts of events here,” said Bishop Roche.

“Their work and their prayers are part of this place.”

Bishop Roche said that there was “a holiness and sacredness” about St Crone's Church itself, and that it lent itself to prayer.

He spoke of leading youth groups in Arranmore. “It was really a community prayer, and it was the same for the parish Masses. 

“There was a lovely, lively, vibrant sense of community here.”

The Arranmore Disaster, which happened in 1935, was also highlighted by Bishop Roche.

“It is just so incredibly awful, the terrible disaster that it was, but what came from it and the way the community galvanised around those families.”

Monsignor Gillespie gave thanks to Fr Attoh, near the conclusion of the service, stating that it was very obvious to see his “priestly work” as well as his “drawing together the community for this happy occasion.”

After the Mass, a rededication of St Crone's Church was held at the gate, where a plaque was unveiled. The last time the church was dedicated was in 1917, when the extension of the building was constructed. 

The Pipe Band was ready outside the church as the congregation and priests made their way out of the buildings, and celebrations continued in the community centre.

There is a fundraising page set up for the repair work to the stained glass buildings, which can be found through this link. All proceeds from donations and all the fundraising will go towards work on the church.