Donaghmore Parish Church, Castlefin, County Donegal, Ireland Historical Notes

Extracted from Derry Clergy and Parishes – James B. Leslie (Enniskillen, 1937) p. 195

Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com

This file of HISTORICAL NOTES FOR DONAGHMORE PARISH CHURCH, CASTLEFINN, COUNTY DONEGAL, forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to DONAGHMORE PARISH , COUNTY DONEGAL on this website can be found at the foot of this file.

---

(V.B.) = Visitation Book

(Parl. Ret.) = Parliamentary Returns

Donaghmore = Great Church. As the name implies, its foundation was ascribed to St. Patrick, who placed over it a disciple, Dubanus – whose Patron Day was Nov. 11. To distinguish it from others of the same name it was known as Donaghmore of Magh-Ithe” The Four Masters record in 1064 the death of the herenach Eochaidh O’Deery. In 1397 the rent of the lands was 3 marks, and the Episcopal thirds 3 marks. In 1609 the rent out three quarters of herenach land) was 40/- and 80 meathers of malt and the Episcopal thirds 26/8. The herenach also paid to the temporal lords of Clanfyn in 1609, 4 meathers of butter and 8 meathers of meal cosheringe. The tithes were paid in kind equally to the parson, vicar and herenach. The O’Deerys were herenachs of Columbkill in Raphoe Diocese.

The Parish is in Co. Donegal.

In 1622 “the Church is much decayed having neither cover nor good walls saving that the inhabitants have covered one end of it and made it fit for the celebration of Divine Service.” 150 acres of Glebe allotted, lying in the parish of Urney.

In 1661 John Kerne and Thomas Bell, churchwardens (V.B.)

In 1686 Andrew Kennedy was Parish Clerk, John Kennedy, Schoolmaster at Cavan and Ferdinand McGloghlin at Castlefinn; Nicholas Parmenter of Killygordon and John McGarraly of Castlefinn, Churchwardens; John Moore and Wm. Young, Inquisitors (V.B.)

In 1693 (V.B.) David Jones was Parish Clerk, and Daniel Brown, Schoolmaster; John Parmiter and John Graham, Churchwardens 1692-3; Wm. Short and Nicholas Parmiter for 1693-4; Wm. Craig and Robert Cronard, Inquisitors 1692-3; and John Cook and Wm. Stewart for 1693-4. Incumbent is resident and also holds Bodoney [Co. Tyrone]. About 100 Conformable parishioners. Parish is next in value to the Deanery. “Church was ruined by King James’s Army but is now tolerably repaired and has Utensils. Glebe in extent 150 acres, but in survey 491 acres. Patronage is disputed, but Bp. is in possession.”

In 1718 Peter Coleman was Clerk and Chas. Donaldson and Edmund O’Hara, Schoolmasters; Samuel Maney and Alexr. McConell, Churchwardens 1718-1719. Patronage in dispute, “Bp. King who bought his peace (sic) for £200 on ye collation of Mr. Collyer has yt.” (V.B.)

In 1768 Church in good repair, a Glebe and a good house. The Rector Nicholas Spence and Curate, Charles Wray, both constantly resident. (Parl. Ret.).

The Church situated near Castlefin is described by Lewis (1837) as a plain old edifice.

In 1861 there were 1,284 Church People and 1,980 Protestant Dissenters [Presbyterians].

In 1867 the income was £1,687.3.0d including about 750 acres Glebe, let for £624.15.0d.

The Patrons – the Trustees of C. Irving – got £19,000 compensation for the loss of the advowson in 1870. The Rev. John Graham wrote that Archbishop King purchased the alternative right of presentation and intended to leave it to his successors in the See of Derry, but forgot to mention it in his Will, so that it descended to the heirs of his sister and was subsequently sold by Rev. Nicholas Spence, her descendant, to the Lighton family. A suit between Rev. Wm. Bryan and Rev. Sir John Lighton re. the advowson in 1819, was decided in favour of the latter.

The old Glebe house was built in 1865. A new Glebe House was built in 1930-1.

---

Further records for DONAGHMORE PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL can be found at:

Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy

Donaghmore Parish Records, County Donegal

---

Can’t find your ancestor?

Search the Every Name Index

and

CoTyroneIreland.com Every Word Search