Important Dates in Our Parish
400s- Kilpatrick church founded by St Patrick
600s- St Feichin arrives in Fore
700s- Church on the brink of Lough Lene established
1176- The Normans under Hugh De Lacy destroy the town and church of Fore.
1180s- The Benedictine De Lacy founded the Norman Benedictine Abbey staffed and controlled by the monks from the monastery of Evreux in Normandy
1450s- Renaissance in Religious life at Fore Abbey1539- Fore Monastery is suppressed
1566- The Devlin Nugent’s take ownership of Fore Abbey
1627- A Dease was prior of Fore
1649- Cromwell arrives in Ireland and the churches of Fore are left in Ruins.
1750s- Very basic Catholic chapel erected in Fore, by 1790 it was in a ‘ruinous condition –disgraceful to the flock’.
1780s- Present day St Mary’s church evolves through a series of renovations and improvements. Feast Day 25 March.
1829– Gallery in church in Fore collapses killing Anne Fagan of Corbally
1829- Catholic Emancipation
1830s- Hedge School founded at Kilpatrick. There are records of Hedge schools in Collinstown (3), Cummersown, Glenidan(3), Drumcree (2), Fore, Corbally.
1831- The National school system is founded.
1837- St Mary’s church redecorated
1845–49- The Great Famine
1848- Cummerstown school is opened
1854- Collinstown School opened beside the church.
1886- The Parochial House is opened on 23 August
1884- The foundation stone of St Feichins church laid on 15 July
1885- Present day St Feichin’s church opened on the 25 October by Bishop Nulty.
1887- Glenidan School opened1886/88- Stained Glass around the altar of St Mary’s church is installed.
1896- St Feichin’s school is opened
1909- St Mary’s church renovated- outside approach to the galleries replaced with staircase inside, a new porch, a choir gallery and confessionals
1910- St Mary’s church rededicated 9 October.
1912- Spire at St Feichins church completed.
1920- Stained Glass behind the altar in St Feichin’s is installed.
1936- Electric lighting was installed in St Mary’s church and Parochial House.
1937- New school in Collinstown replaces the school beside the church.
1938- Collinstown Cemetery blessed on 9 October.
1943- Ceiling and woodwork of St Mary’s church was treated and varnished.
1975- Opening Mass on Palm Sunday (23 March) in St Feichin’s church after renovations
1976- Opening Mass in St Mary’s church on 30th May after renovations.
1976- Glenidan school is closed on 20 February.
1979- Chimneys on Parochial House were taken down and rebuilt.
1979- Fr Mullen was the last curate to serve in the parish.
1980- New school opened in Collinstown on 13 November
1983/84- Fore School is renovated
1984- First burial in the new cemetery in Fore 20 October.
1985- Extension in Collinstown school.
1987- The altar area in St Mary’s church is reordered. The exterior of St Mary’s church and Parochial House painted.
1988- Interior of St Mary’s painted. Grounds in St Mary’s renewed (railings and carpark)
1989- Work in St Feichin’s church undoing some of the work of 1970’s around the altar area begins. The interior is recarpeted, new lighting, new seating. The spire is repointed.
1996- Collinstown School renovated
1999 – The grottos to Our Lady of Lourdes were erected
.2000 – Deanery Pilgrimage to Fore Abbey on 21 May attended by 2300 People.
2001- New altar replaces existing 1970s altar in St Feichin’s church.
2001- New stained glass panels fitted in main body of St Mary’s church.
2002- Parochial House re painted and windows replaced.
2002- New stained glass windows installed in main body of St Feichin’s church.
2003- Exterior of St Feichins church washed due to build up of fungus
2003- New Bell System installed in both churches. A New Crucifix in St Mary’s church is erected, it is originally from Bilboa in Spain and can be dated to mid-1600’s
2005– Extension to Fore N.S opened 28 October
2013– Extension to Fore N.S opened in September
2013– Interior of Parochial House renovated
2014- Rebuilding of chimneys and reslating of Parochial House
2015- Parish Pastoral Centre opened for use in November
2015- Skylights in St Feichin’s church installed in 1970’s removed and roof restored to pre-1970s form
2017- Healing Garden opened on Divine Mercy Sunday. ‘For all those hurt by the church. May all who enter find peace and healing’
2017- Extension to Collinstown School opened in April
2018- St Mary’s church reslated and renovated
.2018 - Subsidence in St Feichin’s church repaired and stain glass window behind the altar is restored
.2018- Rededication of St Mary’s church on Thursday 7 June by Bishop Micahel Smith
2018- Rededication of St Feichin’s church on Friday 8 June by Fr Padraig McMahon