Corofin is a
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
in
County Clare
County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,81 ...
and part of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
The Diocese of Killaloe ( ; ga, Deoise Chill Dalua) is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland, one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and Emly.
The cathedral church of the diocese is the Cathedral of S ...
. The parish is an amalgamation of the medieval parishes of Rath and Kilnaboy (or Killinaboy). At least since 1731 both parishes are administered by one priest.
co-parish priests are Damien Nolan and Pat O'Neil.
The main church of the parish is the Church of St. Brigid in
Corofin, completed in 1823. This is possibly the first Catholic church in County Clare designed by an architect.
The second church of the parish is the "Church of St. Joseph" in Kilnaboy. This church was built in 1967. It replaced a
barn church built in 1846 (now a garage). Tradition wants that this barn church was a replacement of a mass house built in 1725.
Third church of the parish is St. Mary in the
townland
A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic ori ...
Roxton, part of the former parish of Rath. This church was built in 1869 and replaced an older church in the townland Liscullaun.
Parish of Rath
The ecclesiastical parish of Rath was rather peculiar, as it had never any settlement but was entirely rural. The correct name was Rathblathmaic as it derived it name from de
rath of
St. Blathmaic. It comprised the
Túath
''Túath'' (plural ''túatha'') is the Old Irish term for the basic political and jurisdictional unit of Gaelic Ireland. ''Túath'' can refer to both a geographical territory as well the people who lived in that territory.
Social structure
I ...
of the
Ui Flaithri, subtribe of the
Dal gCais.
[ p. 5]
Gallery
;Parish of Kilnaboy (renamed Corofin)
Corofin - St Brigid's Church - 20190902144920.jpg, St. Brigid's Church, Corofin
Kilnaboy Church.jpg, Church of St. Joseph, Kilnaboy
Kilnaboy Church, front.jpg, Main entrance of the Church of St. Joseph, Kilnaboy
Barn Church Kilnaboy.jpg, Barn church in Kilnaboy, predecessor of Church of St. Joseph. Now a garage.
Kilvoydan, remains of monastic site.jpg, Remains of the early monastic site in Kilvoydan, close to Corofin
County Clare - Coad Church - 20190930155523.jpg, Ruin of Coad Church
;Former parish of Rath
County Clare - St Mary's Church - 20190927165235.jpg, St. Mary's Church, Roxton
Church of Rath Blaithmaic.jpg, The Church of Rath Blaithmaic
File:Church of Rath Blaithmaic south wall 15th century, with older stones at bottom.jpg, The present ruin of the Church of Rath Blaithmaic is mainly 15th century, but the big stones at the bottom are reused stones from an earlier church.
File:Church of Rath Blaithmaic Nave and chancel.jpg, Nave and chancel
File:Church of Rath Blaithmaic sheela-na-gig (upside down).jpg, A Sheela na gig, often seen as a fertility symbol. Placed upside down.
File:Church of Rath Blaithmaic carved head.jpg, Carved head at the inner wall.
References
Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
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