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When Tragedy Stunned Community At Rostrevor
(Part 2)


“They seem almost to rank with the American savage, except that they have some notion of making the sign of the Cross, and stand in awe of their priest. And yet there must be times when the master and mistress make merry and jolly, for one sees cabin doors, crowded with naked boys and girls.”

The writer also referred to the fact that “annual pilgrimages still take place to Mass-rocks, where massacres took place in Penal times. The savagery of the conflicts of those times was matched by the depth of poverty.”

Less then 50 years later, the United Irishmen were active in the Kilbroney region, led by Thomas Dunn, in whose barn pikes were manufactured for the 1798 rebellion. The ruins of the barn are still visible on Dunn Hill, while his headstone can be seen in the old graveyard. Meanwhile, President McAleese has been patron of the Thomas Dunn Summer School at Rostrevor.

Incidentally, Ballyedmond Castle was once the residence of the Nugent family, one of whom commanded the King’s forces against the United Irishmen at the crucial battle of Ballynahinch.

This region was under the control of the Magennis clan until 1618, when it was sold to Sir Edward Trevor by Brian Og Magennis, in settlement of gambling debts. The Ross family then took over, the most famous member being General Robert Ross of Bladensburg, a hero of the Napoleonic wars.

Appointed Commander of the British forces during the American war, he marched on Washington, ordered the burning of the White House, but was fatally injured at the battle of Baltimore. Buried at Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, an obelisk in his honour stands at the entrance to Rostrevor.

Though champions of the Protestant and British Ascendancy over the centuries, the Ross of Bladensburg family was converted to Roman Catholicism in 1870, - Sir John and Lady Ross, who took up residence at Carrick Ban, which later became the Rostrevor Hotel. There they created the greatest collection of acclimatised plants in these islands.

To the west of the village was a house named Carpentham, owned by the Duke of Wellington’s brother-in-law. Along the shore was the Wood House, which played host to Church of Ireland archbishops and bishops. Meanwhile, John Martin who, like his brother-in-law of John Mitchel of Newry, was transported to Van Diemans Land, spent much of his youth in this locality.

And it was from Killowen that Lord Charles Russell took his title. Though born at Queen (now Dominic) Street in Newry, this famous lawyer, - who became the first Catholic Lord Chief Justice of England, - recalled his boyhood along the shores of Carlingford Lough, in describing himself as Lord Russell of Killowen.

On the religious front, the most famous figure was, of course, St Bronagh. The “Virgin of Glenseigh” held sway in the 6th century, until she and her community were butchered by marauding Vikings. A cross of Mourne granite stands over the traditional site of her grave in the old cemetery.

Ruins of a pre-reformation church are still visible, covered in ivy. The building suffered damage during the 1641 Rebellion, as well as in Cromwellian times. Then, in 1737, a new church was erected, known as the Crag church, dedicated to St Paul. Its walls are still visible.

The present Parish Church was erected in 1822, at what was known as Barrack Square in Rostrevor. It was the last church to be dedicated by a Protestant Bishop of Dromore, - from then on the dioceses of Down and Dromore were amalgamated. The chancel, transept and bell were added between 1860 and 1880.

Meanwhile, in “Papal Taxation” of 1306, the local parish was described as “The church of Glentegyrn,” and 100 years later as Clonseye. The present name of Kilbroney means, of course, the “church of Bronagh,” In 1427, Agholyn Mc Dermoyden was appointed Keeper of the Staff of St Bronagh.

During the Penal times, a Report on the “The State of Popery in Ireland” in 1731 stated that Catholics had been worshipping, every Sunday and holy day, at two Mass-rocks in the region, - Altnasaggart and Crockshen. Sentinels were placed at the approaches to those secluded places.

But a new era dawned in 1808, when a small “Mass-house” was erected on the site, presently occupied by the Church of St Mary, Star of the Sea. The land was donated by the owner, Rev Thomas Ross, Episcopalian minister from 1800 to 1819.

Then, in 1848, the structure was demolished and the present edifice erected, - the foundation stone being laid by Fr Bernard Mooney P.P., who featured in the famous Yelverton marriage case. The church was dedicated six years later, in the presence of Bishop Leahy, making his first appearance since being appointed Bishop of Dromore.

Finally, Canon McGinn “beautified and improved the church beyond all recognition,” according to a Press report. Since then, some outstanding pastors have ministered in the parish, including Monsignor Timothy Boyle, Fr Anthony Davies, and the present incumbent, Monsignor Arthur Bradley.

In 1870, the church at Killowen, in which the Yelverton marriage had taken place, was closed down, and the building converted into a primary school. A new Church of the Sacred Heart was erected to serve the local population.

Seldom has a village like Rostrevor produced such a wealth and diversity of talent in so many spheres, - business, sport, music, drama, the law, literature, medical and educational, religious and political, social and community. And it looks as if this proud tradition will continue to flourish in the valley of Kilbroney!

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© Fabian Boyle 2001-2008