Mayo memories: Foundation stone for Balla Church was laid in 1913
By Tom Gillespie
IN the edition of August 23, 1913, The Connaught Telegraph gave extensive coverage to the laying and blessing of the foundation stone of the new church in Balla by his Lordship, the Most Rev. Dr. Higgins, Auxiliary Bishop of Tuam.
The newspaper reported:
The new church, which Rev. J. McDermott, the revered and zealous pastor, is having built to meet the increased requirements of his parishioners, will be a noble structure and worthy in every way of the hallowed traditions of the ancient and historic parish whose religious history is of the most chequered and interesting kind.
In the herculean task he set himself of providing a suitable church worthy of the parish and the great Archdiocese, he had the unstinted support of his Grace and of the children of the parish at home and abroad.
For many years past its need has been felt but to him fell the gigantic and laborious task of providing it.
It will consist of naive, aisles, baptistery, mortuary, chapel, chancel and two side chapels, with sacristy, organ gallery, etc., the chancel being 26 feet deep.
There is no clerestory, the nave arcade going up the full height of the nave. The length will be 177 feet, width 48 feet, and 57 feet high at the gables, and the tower and spire will be 95 feet high.
On the right side of the entrance will be the baptistery and on the left the mortuary chapel and between them will be placed the organ loft, and a hot water installation will provide the heating.
The materials used are a fine local blue limestone, with dressings of the same.
The nave arcade will be carried out in fine axed Newry granite. The roof will be covered with rustic Delabole slates, from the Old Delabole Slate Quarries.
The flat roof of aisles will be covered with Ruberold. All the wrought iron work will be executed by Messrs. John Fagan and Sons, Crown Alley, Dublin. The architect for the work is Mr. R.M. Butler, and the contractor is Mr. James Wynne, Dundalk, who has a big staff engaged, and judging by the great progress already made, it is expected that the work will be completed 18 months hence (February 1915).
The site has been admirably chosen - on the rising ground close to the parochial residence - and when completed will command vast stretches of rich, undulating country.
Everything connected with it will be of the most modern type, and its external and internal appointments will go to make it one of the finest churches in the Archdiocese.
The attendance at the laying of the foundation ceremony gave proof of the desire of the people of the parish to sustain Fr. McDermott in his noble undertaking, and this is an absolute essential, because without the unstinting support of the people it would be utterly impossible for him to provide the large expenditure necessary.
The first outcome of his labours - the deeply solemn and impressive ceremonies in connection with the laying of the foundation stone - must have cheered him, filled him with hope and imbued him with additional courage in the perseverance of his task, and we hope with all sincerity that the time will pass quickly and pleasantly for him until we have the fruition of his noble work when the great Archbishop of the West will dedicate it for Divine worship.
In the interregnum we hope all who can will generously respond to the appeal made for funds, and that lack of them will not be allowed to press on him.
The people of the town and the entire parish seized the occasion to show their appreciation for his noble work for them.
The town was gaily decorated with arches, streamers, flags, bunting - 'Welcome to our Bishop', ‘Cead Mile Fáilte’ - and other appropriate inscriptions marked some of the arches and scrolls.
Every house in the town was decorated.
The brass band of Castlebar Total Abstinence Association, under the conductorship of Mr. J.P. Mullins, attended and played a splendid programme of music. At 10 o’clock some rain fell and continued until 11 a.m., but the outside ceremonies were carried out in favourable weather.
His Grace the Archbishop of Tuam, who was to have presided at the ceremonies, and blessed the foundation stone, was unavoidably prevented from attending, but wrote a very encouraging letter to Fr. McDermott and enclosed another cheque for a handsome sum.
At 11 o’clock the sacred ceremonies opened in the parish church, there being an overflow congregation, and we understand a very generous amount was subscribed.
His Lordship, the Most Rev. Dr. Higgins, preached an eloquent and impressive sermon in the course of which he referred pleasingly to the history of the parish.
The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. Constantine Cunningham, Tuam Diocesan Inspector; deacon, Rev. M. Kinnane, sub-deacon, Rev. W. Heavy, C.C., Belcarra; and Rev. John Blowick, master of ceremonies.
In the choir were: Very Rev. John Canon O’Grady, P.P., Bohola; Rev. M. Murphy, P.P., Mayo Abbey; Rev. J. McDermott, P.P. Balla; Rev. P.J. Maden, C.C., Castlebar; Rev. J.B. Jennings, C.C., Balla; Rev. T. Barrett, Macon Missouri, and Rev. Patrick J. Moberly, Missouri.
The music of the Mass was rendered by a local choir, specially trained for the occasion by Mrs. McWalter, who presided at the organ. The choir was composed of Misses Maggie Derrig, Mary Prendergast, Annie Leddane, Annie Mary Murphy, Aggie Murphy, Annie Roughneen, Mamie Roughneen, Maggie Roughneen, Lizzie O’Callaghan, Kathleen O’Callaghan, Delia Prendergast, Maggie Murphy, Katie Murphy, Mary Harvey, Mary Jennings, Bessie McGreevey, Baby Golding, Maggie Geraghty, Mary McGee, Kathleen Armstrong, Maggie Larkin, Delia McDonagh, Brigid Dowd, Masters John E. McEllin, James Reilly and Thomas Gavin.