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    1. WEADICKS STIRRED MEMORIES OF CASTLETOWN.
    2. Cara_Links
    3. It would have been a wise move to have asked Jim Rees his source on these names Peggy, but it is interesting to note that the area you speak of( Castletown) has so many Arklow men and women who reside in its Graveyard. But things I have found recorded are not about the *Wagoners* .... But back to Castletown The Wexford People Recorded that the Church in Castletown had been destroyed by fire 28th November 1798 by Castletown Yeomanry.... It has also been recorded down through the chanels of history that their was indeed 10 churches burnt in the North Wexford-South Wicklow area and of course this Catholic church just happened to be one of them.........these facts were recorded in the Wexford People in 1884 when an Advertisement appeared, which was to say St Patricks Chapel, Castletown Co Wexford, TO BUILDERS Proposal will be received from competent persons for building a Nw Catholic Chapel at Castletown, Co Wexford, Parish of Arklow In accordance with the drawings and specifications to be seen at the Parochial Residence Arklow and at the Offices of William Hague Architect 62 Dawson Street Dublin Sealed tenders to Rev James Dunphy P.P.Arklow, Or William Hague Architect, to be delivered on or before Saturday the 1st March 1884. So it came to light that Rev James Dunphy was the leader in the building of the present church, Money was collected from Dublin to Cork, mainly from fishing ports and the Arklow Fishermen dug deep into their pockets and gave also to the buidling fund of this church. Interesting enough the stone was carted by horse and wagon from Aughrim and an Aughrim Builder name Thomas Kelly, was the man who must have won the contract to build the church, because he is listed as the builder of Castletown Church. The land the church was to built on had been donated by Lord Granard and his eminence Cardinal McCabe laid the foundation stone in 1884. 14th November saw another Advertisement in the *The People* which said, Castletown Arklow, The new church of St Patrick's Castletown will be solemnly dedicated by, The Lord Rev Dr. Walsh, Lord Archbishop of Dublin Primate of Ireland. On SUnday November 15th High Mass will commence at 12 O'clock First Gospel by Rev Dr. mCarthy, Professor of Clonliffe College Dublin. A procession from Arklow was lead by their Most Rev Dr. Walsh and their parish priest Rev J Dunphy and the parish priest from Rathvilly, Rev J Phelan, the old church ( 1806 ) was deconsecrated and became the St Patricks Hall and the New building was blessed at 12 p.m. The old hall stands with no roof, (as age has caught up with it ) in the middle of the graveyard, so after much wondering I now realise that Casteltown, Inch by Gorey were all once linked to Arklow either by the diocese or in fact just by the generosity of people............but if one looking for certain graves of Arklow people one should never forget to stop off and take a look at this, tidy well kept graveyard that holds many a name, with the native home of Arklow, Avoca and no doubt many other places that surround the area. I enjoyed my time there, except there was this bull in the next paddock, and he was keen to come into where I was, and not being as fit as I once was, I couldnt imagine me shinning up the nearest tree, so I returned when he had been moved to another paddock, he just seemed to friendly for my liking, as Peggy can vouch for it, I dont particularly like these over friendly animals with hooves..........they stand on you, and from my old memory that hurts. Cheers for now Cara

    06/27/2005 11:41:33