Ballaghaderreen native's last resting place to feature in new heritage guide
A new heritage guide for the east Galway town of Ballinasloe is to feature among its many points of interest the place where Ballaghaderreen native Thomas Costello, a former Bishop of Clonfert, is buried.
Dr. Costello (1742-1831) was the son of a publican and his family is associated with the townland of Creggane.
Trained in Rome, he became Vicar-General of Achonry diocese before being appointed Bishop of Clonfert in 1786.
While it was customary for bishops of Clonfert to take up residence in Loughrea, Lady Letitia Moore of the house of Clanricarde had her own preferred candidate as bishop, one Fr Miler Burke, and out of spite at Costello`s appointment, exercised her family`s ancient prerogative to install Burke as Parish Priest of Loughrea.
As a consequence, Bishop Costello was forced to take up residence in what was then the small district of Creagh just on the outskirts of Ballinasloe and so became an exile of sorts within his own diocese.
He is buried within the sanctuary of a church in the precincts of Creagh Cemetery and the spot is one of over 100 points of interest which will feature in a new heritage guide for Ballinasloe to be launched at the end of this year.
The creator of the new heritage guide, entitled ‘Rediscovering Ballinasloe’ is local archaeologist Declan Kelly who believes that the old church, most of which was pulled down in the 1950s as the building had become unstable, was also Bishop Costello`s place of residence.
“I am a native of Creagh myself," Kelly said, “and people were always aware that a bishop once lived in the area, but were just never sure precisely where."
Noting that the Tithe Applotment Books record that Bishop Costello held 38.5 perches of land in Creagh, Declan drafted in the help of Gavin Treacy, a quantity surveyor friend, to measure the area the old church occupies along with the sliver of land surrounding it.
“The result was as I had expected,” stated Declan.
“We measured it twice and came up with 39 perches both times. There is evidence of a fallen boundary wall and that probably accounts for the slight over-run in measurement.
"There is also documentary evidence that the old church once had living quarters above the sacristy and so I`m confident that this is where Bishop Costello made his home.
"Furthermore, it is believed that Dr. Costello used Kilconnell Abbey as a Cathedral Church in the early years of his episcopate and a number of bishops of Clonfert are buried there, among them the Donnellans.
"One has to ask therefore why Bishop Costello wasn`t buried there as well. It makes sense that he would wish to be interred within the church he lived above and ministered from."
The new heritage guide has also received the endorsement of Councillor Dr. Evelyn Parsons, who is an enthusiastic supporter of local heritage.
“I am delighted that in ‘Rediscovering Ballinasloe – a heritage guide’, Declan Kelly`s archaeological and archivist expertise, along with his accessible writing style serve to illuminate the abundant riches of Ballinasloe`s ecclesiastical heritage and wider geographical connections to our collective past while nurturing a sense of belonging in our own community," she stated.
Declan Kelly added: “What is quite interesting is that Dr Costello could have returned to Loughrea after Fr Miler Burke died in 1816 but chose to stay in Creagh.
"That decision might be interpreted as his way of showing his disdain for the Clanrickarde family, but more likely reflected the fact that by that time, he considered Creagh his home and was happy here.
"We are honoured to have this distinguished son of Ballaghaderreen associated with our district."