Séipéal Breith na Maighdine Muire

Bhí séipéal ar an láthair seo, leis an ainm céanna, chomh fada siar le 1839, roimh an Ghorta Mhóir i 1845. Bhí cruth na croise ar an struchtúr, cosúil le go leor séipéil ón am úd. Bíodh sin mar atá, le himeacht ama, go maith ós cionn an chéid, thit an séipéal as a chéile ar shlí, agus bhíothas den tuairim ag an am go mbeadh sé níos fearr séipéal nua a thógáil agus gan tabhairt faoi athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar an sean-fhoirgneamh. Osclaíodh an séipéal atá ann anois sa mbliain 1971. Is foirgneamh galánta simplí é atá maisithe ar bhonn álainn, ach atá nua-aimseartha chomh maith, le cloigtheach ar leith chun tosaigh. Tógadh an cloigín, St Michael’s Bell, ón sean-shéipéal, bhí sé sa tséipéal is sinne sa pharóiste, i mBaile an Aicéadaigh, sar a thit an séipéal úd as a chéile. Bhí an t-umar uisce beannaithe, atá anois os comhair an tséipéil atá ann faoi láthair, ag feidhmiú mar umar baiste sa tsean-shéipéal, ciallaíonn sé sin gur baisteadh roinnt mhaith de phobal an pharóiste san umar áirithe sin.

Cuireadh an dealbh marmair de Mhuire atá os cionn an umair uisce choisricthe suas i Mí na Nollag 2011 chun comóradh 40 bliain ó osclaíodh an séipéal a cheiliúradh. Cruthaíonn an solas bog gorm a lastar ann san oíche atmaisféar urnaitheach iontach ar an láthair. Tá atmaisféar spioradálta iontach sa tséipéal agus is ionad adhartha é sa pharóiste le bréis is 170 bliain. I bhfocail an iomainn iontach sin ‘All are welcome in this place’.

The original church, bearing the same name, on this site dated back to 1839, which pre-dated the great Irish Famine of 1845. The structure was in the shape of a cross like many of the churches of that time. However with the passing of time ,well over 100 years, it became rather dilapidated, and it was felt at the time that rather than attempt repair work that it would be more fitting to build a brand new church. This present church was opened in 1971. The building is one of simple elegance which is currently beautifully decorated, and has all the modern conveniences required to-day, with a separate bell tower to the fore. The bell, known as St.Michael’s Bell, was taken from the old church, and it also served the worshipers of the oldest church of the parish, Hacketstown, before it fell into dereliction. The holy water font in front of the present church also served as the baptismal font in the old church, so many of the present parishioners will have been baptised in this particular font. The marble statue of Our Lady situated above the holy water font was erected in December 2011, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Church. Lit by a soft blue beam in the evening time the scene engenders a wonderful prayerful atmosphere. The church has a wonderful spiritual ambiance to it and the site has been a place of worship for over 170 years. In the words of that wonderful hymn “All are welcome in this place”