The Church of the Irish Martyrs is a

Catholic church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

in the parish of Aughaninshin in the

Ballyraine Ballyraine ( ga, Baile Raithin) is a district of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, located in the parish of Aughaninshin. Ballyraine Linear Park is found here. Ballyraine National School, a co-educational primary school which is under joint ...

area of

Letterkenny Letterkenny ( ga, Leitir Ceanainn , meaning 'hillside of the O'Cannons'), nicknamed 'the Cathedral Town', is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, a county in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. Letterkenny lies on the R ...

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

History

In 1990 plans were drawn up for a new church project to cater for the growing population of the town. At the time it was estimated that a church capable of holding 800 people would be required. The church project was initiated by Bishop Anthony McFeely and opened in 1994. It was the first church in Ireland to be named after the

Irish Catholic Martyrs Irish Catholic Martyrs () were 24 Irish men and women who have been beatified or canonized for dying for their Catholic faith between 1537 and 1681 in Ireland. The canonisation of Oliver Plunkett in 1975 brought an awareness of the others who d ...

. An old abbey in the parish dates back to the 13th or 14th century. In 2000 it was decided to create a new parish and call it after the abbey. The site of the abbey is visible from the church, and its graveyard, which dates from 1756, is still in use to this day. The parish has a Catholic population of 6,500.

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

broadcast televised masses to a national audience on Holy Thursday and

Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...

during

Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...

1997, with coverage also in the '' RTÉ Guide''. the parish priest is Fr. Ciaran Harkin, assisted by Fr. Dominic Thoomkuzhy. Maurice Harron carved a stone cross on the church altar, and local sculptor

Redmond Herrity Redmond Herrity ( ga, Réamann Ó hOireachtaigh) is an Irish sculptor from Letterkenny, County Donegal. Redmond Herrity, who works from his home place of Letterkenny in County Donegal, Ireland, has traveled extensively, creating private and pub ...

created a jubilee stone that can be seen on display outside the church. Fourteen new

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...

were publicly unveiled at the Church of the Irish Martyrs on

Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent (the six weeks of penitence before Easter). It is observed by Catholics in the Rom ...

2020, purchased at auction from St Mary's Convent in

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

and described by Quinn as "the most significant piece of artwork to come into the church". The stations, consisting of oil and gold leaf on canvas and laid down on eight metal panels, date to the late-19th century. One is inscribed Studio J Lintbout St Croix,

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...

, Belgium. The church's original stations were simple crosses above Donegal Irish, by Hugo Bonner. Then, when the Loreto Convent in

Milford Milford may refer to: Place names Canada * Milford (Annapolis), Nova Scotia * Milford (Halifax), Nova Scotia * Milford, Ontario England * Milford, Derbyshire * Milford, Devon, a place in Devon * Milford on Sea, Hampshire * Milford, Shro ...

shut, the Church of the Irish Martyrs received their stations.

References

External links

Church website

Church page
at Raphoe Diocese website {{coord missing, County Donegal 1994 establishments in Ireland Buildings and structures in Letterkenny Religion in Letterkenny Roman Catholic churches completed in 1994 Roman Catholic churches in County Donegal 20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Ireland 20th-century churches in the Republic of Ireland