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What are the oldest post Reformation Catholic churches in Ireland?
Following the Williamite victory in the war of 1689 to 1691, the Penal laws were enacted which disenfranchised Catholics. They were ultimately repealed in 1829 although the process had begun decades earlier.
With that in mind, what are the oldest RC churches in the Country?
Not far from me here in Fingal there's a church in Rush which dates from 1760. Waterford Cathedral was built in 1793 and is the oldest Cathedral.
St Mary's in Belfast was built in 1784 but it was changed and enlarged so much in 1868 that its scarcely the same building.
That brings me to Ballintubber Abbey in Co Mayo. Built over 800 years ago its very much an anomaly in that despite it being suppressed by Henry 8th, the abbey was never used by the Church of Ireland and in its roofless state was still used by Catholics throughout the penal times.
Its the only original Christian church in Ireland that I can think of that belongs to the RCC and not the COI.
Following the Williamite victory in the war of 1689 to 1691, the Penal laws were enacted which disenfranchised Catholics. They were ultimately repealed in 1829 although the process had begun decades earlier.
With that in mind, what are the oldest RC churches in the Country?
Not far from me here in Fingal there's a church in Rush which dates from 1760. Waterford Cathedral was built in 1793 and is the oldest Cathedral.
St Mary's in Belfast was built in 1784 but it was changed and enlarged so much in 1868 that its scarcely the same building.
That brings me to Ballintubber Abbey in Co Mayo. Built over 800 years ago its very much an anomaly in that despite it being suppressed by Henry 8th, the abbey was never used by the Church of Ireland and in its roofless state was still used by Catholics throughout the penal times.
Its the only original Christian church in Ireland that I can think of that belongs to the RCC and not the COI.