The Scathlán in Brockagh served as a Church until the old Church here in Kiltyferrigal was opened in 1825.

Dónal á Chin, the local prophet, claimed that the 1825 Church would need replacement, and that a priest named Gallagher would start the building but would not live to see it completed. His words proved prophetic - Fr. Anthony Gallagher died during the construction of the new Church.

The 1825 Church Building Fund had subscriptions from people of different faiths. The building was supposed to accommodate 800 people.

Sir Charles Styles the then landlord, offered a site plus £100 on condition that the Church would be built on the Brockagh side of his residence, Cloghan Lodge - even in the field across the main road, opposite the plantation. When it was decided to build in Kiltyferrigal, Styles objected, but eventually paid £50 and later on he paid the remaining fifty. The Church had an inscription recording the fact that Catholics and Protestants helped to build the Church. It was in that Church Yard that O'Donovan in 1835 met what he described as 'A crowd of the long-headed natives of Glenfin '.

The contractor was Mr. McDonald from Dundalk, and the architect a Mr. Brennan, a Derry man. Many Dundalk men worked here during the construction. One of them - Neil Colburn, took to himself a Glenfin woman as his wife, so did Michael Copis. Others were Peter Matthews, Plunket McGahon, and a Mr. McGivern. Some of them boarded in Moys' of Cloghanmore. Of all the Glenfin men who assisted in the construction work, the only survivor is said to be the still hale and hearty Jimmy Carlin, Tonduff. He was reputed to have a good head for heights - and is said to have assisted in placing the Cross over the main door in position. Because of his long association with the then parish priest, both in Glenfin and later on for many years in Fanad, Jimmy became affectionately known as 'Jimmy the priest'.

Mountcharles freestone was used in the building. It was brought from Cloghan railway Station to the site by horse and cart.

When the contractor arrived on the site in 1925 to survey the site, he required that some excavation be carried out at either end. The late John Boyce and Mick McGinty (Micky Neddy), still happily with us, carried out the excavation.

Canon Patrick Molloy seems to have been the last surviving priest of the large attendance of priests on the occasion of the Official Opening. He died in July, 1977.

The late Bishop MacNeeley, assisted by Fr. Murray and Fr. Gallagher performing the blessing. Also included are two of the altar-boys, Liam and Jim McMenamin.

A man named Boyce from Aughaveagh was said to have been at the opening of the old Church in 1825, and was still alive in 1928. Dr. Gormley offered to bring him along to the ceremony, and remain with him in case he required medical aid. The offer was declined.

Fr. Murray, parish priest, invited Rev. Dr. Doogan C.C., then curate in Edeninfagh, to come here to Kilteevogue on the day prior to the opening to coach us altar-boys. He was an authority in matters rubical, and he put the altar-boys through their paces. Fr. James Gallagher and Willie T. McMenamin came along on the eve of the opening to see how things were progressing.

Fr. John McMenamin, later to be a curate in Kilteevogue, was ordained on the day of the Dedication, at Maynooth. I remember the wonderful rich baritone voice of the late Fr. Joe Sheridan, a parish priest of Carrigart, as he sang the Solemn High Mass. I recall that Mrs. James McCool, Kinaderra, was buried on that day.

I also recall that before the Mass, we, the altar-boys, had a problem with tall candlesticks on a tall Altar, but Fr. Peadar McGlinchey - himself a tall man - came to our aid and solved the problem. I remember distinctly, kneeling before the princely figure of Bishop McNeely with the thurible at the ready. Among the altar-boys were Tony Sweeney, Brockagh; John McMenamin (John Peter); Jim McMenamin, and myself.

Monsignor Hannigan of the Menevia Diocese was the first child to be baptised in the new Church, and was also the first priest to be ordained there in 1954. At the rear of the Church is a commemorative plaque.

Father Coyle, a stern and forbidding member of the old school of Redemptorists, preached the Dedication sermon. These are some of my reminiscences.

Liam McMenamin N.T., 1978