Mayo church to mark its 200th anniversary

A church in south Mayo will welcome the Archbishop of Tuam and Killala Francis Duffy as chief celebrant as it celebrates its 200th anniversary.

The Archbishop will celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Roundfort to mark the bicentenary of its official opening in 1826.

All are invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, June 7, at 11.30am and will be followed by refreshments at Roundfort National School.

Fr Mike Murphy, Parish Priest of Roundfort, Robeen and Carras, said it is a "tremendous honour" to welcome Archbishop Duffy to celebrate Mass in Roundfort. Archbishop Duffy’s visit will mark his first official engagement in Roundfort since his historic appointment as Archbishop of Tuam and Killala dioceses.

“We are delighted to be welcoming our Archbishop to our parish to mark this remarkable milestone anniversary,” said Fr Murphy. “This church has held a special place in the heart of our community for 200 years. Throughout those centuries, it has witnessed incredible joy and sadness and been a place of solace and comfort throughout the most difficult of times.

“Although Roundfort is almost unrecognisable from what it was in 1826, our church is still at the beating heart of our community and will be for many years to come.

“There is an open invitation for all our parishioners, for people who originally came from the area, or who have any connection to the area to join us for our Bicentenary Mass on Sunday, June 7, at 11.30am.” 

In the early 1820s, Roundfort parish was home to over 7,000 people. Many of them lived in deep poverty and could neither read nor write.

At the time, Mass was said in a church at Cregawatta, which was little more than a thatched, barn-like structure that was far too small for the growing congregation.

In 1821, Fr James McHale, a native of Turlough and former President of St Jarlath’s College in Tuam, was appointed Parish Priest.

Under Fr McHale’s stewardship, fundraising began to build a new church. Built by the parishioners and funded by donations from near and far, the new church’s foundation stone was laid in 1825. It was opened around a year later and officially consecrated on June 7, 1826 – exactly 200 years before the upcoming bicentenary Mass.

For years after, the church was referred to as the parish chapel of Hollymount.

Originally dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, the church was later rededicated as the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in 1962.

As well as being a place of worship, the church held large meetings in support of Daniel O’Connell’s campaigns and also doubled as a school.

Enormous suffering visited the parish during the Great Famine, by which time the population had grown to over 7,400. Over 30 funerals a week took place in the parish, overwhelming the local clergy, some of whom succumbed to disease after attending the sick and starving.

Despite this hardship, the faith remained strong, with 320 people being confirmed on September 29, 1856, in Roundfort alone.

The church has undergone significant changes throughout its 200-year history, beginning in 1886, when it was repaired and enlarged with local donations and levies after it was found to be structurally unsafe.

Around the church’s centenary in 1926, the church was extended, and a new bell was installed.

The church was rededicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception after undergoing major renovations in 1962.

By 1965, Mass was celebrated in English for the first time; the priest now faced the people, families began to sit together, while new elements like microphones and revised liturgies were introduced.

The church also boasts a seven light stained glass window depicting the ascension of Jesus into heaven. The window was created by the renowned Harry Clarke and is regarded as one of the finest examples of his work.

Events will continue throughout 2026 to mark the bicentenary of the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Roundfort.