Diane (and Kay, Sam, and other interested Listers) Here it is. Diane's research adds substantially to our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between Kiltoom and Athlone. Her family story also gives a human dimension to these places--which COULD be the sites for my Rattigans. I will be posting them separately. Best, Rosemary ---- Original Message ----- To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 4:15 PM Subject: Re Parish of Kiltoom vs. Athlone, Co. Roscommon > Hi Rosemary, > I was reading your note on the Roscommon listserv and thought I'd help clarify something about Kiltoom vs. Athlone parishes in the Counties Roscommon and Westmeath. I am writing only to you, but feel free to share with others if you so choose. > > My own family, great-grandfather and great-grandmother,came from St. John's parish and Kiltoom parish, respectively. St. John's is the next parish north along the main road towards Roscommon town. The families had many dealing in Athlone and often went to Mass in Athlone at St. Peter's and Drum parish. So I've been priviledged to do detailed research in this area over the last five years. Hope this helps. > > The Local Government (Ireland) Acts of 1898, placed the whole city of Athlone, both sides of the river firmly in County Westmeath for governmantal administrative purposes. (Even today though, when writing to a cousin on the Roscommon side, I am instructed to address it to "Athlone, Co. Roscommon".:) > > However, the Catholic parishes were and remain separate on each side of the river. The Athlone [and in the 1800s included Drum] parish was and is St. Peter's (old and new churches)RC Church on the Co. Roscommon (Connaught province) side of the Shannon River. The LDS film of Parochial registers of St. Peter's, Athlone and Drum, 1789-1881 is #989750. > > On the Co. Westmeath (Leinster province) side, St. Mary's was and is the RC parish on that side of the Shannon River. LDS film for the Parochial registers of St. Mary's Athlone (Westmeath), 1813-1984 is 1279225 and 1279226, split between baptisms and marriages. > > Just by the way, in town there was and is a Franciscan friary with it's own chapel. In days gone by, many rural folks from the surrounding area made a point of going to Confession at the Friars while they were in town doing their shopping because going to the Friars instead of their own local parish priest (P.P.) insured a certain annonymity.:) > > The parish of Kiltoom (historically was Kiltoom and Cam at one time) was and is a completely separate Roman Catholic parish of its own with the church located at Ballybay townland just off the main Athlone-Roscommon Road. The LDS film of the Parochial registers of Kiltoom and Cam, 1835-1865 is #09897512. > > Here's a quote from the Athlone site: "The Connaught side was a hive of bustling activity with St. Peters at the epicentre in the Square. St. Peter's church was originally on the Dean Crowe Theatre site. It was built in two phases, the first as early as 1795 when it would have been no more than a small chapel; it was then enlarged in 1809. This building served as the parish church until the completion of SS. Peter & Paul's church in the Square in 1937 under the stewardship of Dean John Crowe. We know that the priory of Saints Peter and Paul existed at Athlone before 1200. There is a tradition, recorded by a seventeenth century author, that Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair founded it about 1150, as part of a twelfth century ecclesiastical reform movement." > > Enjoy and all the best > Diane Rose Dunnigan > Descendent of St. John's and Kiltoom Parish families > > > >