Beauparc to mark 40 years of Church of the Assumption

The community of Beauparc and Yellow Furze will celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Church of the Assumption in Beauparc on Monday night next. Forty years ago on Monday, the church was dedicated by Most Rev John McCormack, the then Bishop of Meath and since then there have been 400 funerals, 296 weddings and 960 baptisms there. Current parish priest, Fr Peter Farrelly, will be joined by parishioners past and present to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Monday night at 7.30pm and this will be followed by light refreshments in Seneschalstown GFC Centre. There will also be a display of photographs and mementos relating to events that have taken place in the church over the past 40 years, including a book of signatures of everyone present at Mass in othe Church on the eve of the Millennium 2000, marking the end of a century and the passing of two thousand years of Christianity. Entertainment will be provided before Mass by the award-winning K & S Accordion Band, who will also then play a selection of music at Seneschalstown GFC Centre. Beauparc Church serves approximately 400 houses in the northern section of Beauparc Parish. The other half of the parish is served by the recently restored church in Kentstown and both churches are dedicated to Our Lady, under title of the Assumption. The church is in the townland of Seneschalstown, on a site donated by the Aylmer family towards the end of the 18th century. It is the third church to be built on that particular spot. In 1826, Fr James Sheridan replaced the original church with a new church and this turn was renovated in 1862 by Fr Thomas Lynch. In 1959, Fr Bernard Plunkett formed a committee to make plans for the extension of the church and on 31st March 1969, workmen began the task of dismantling the old building. There followed two years where Mass was celebrated in the old Yellow Furze School. Fehily Associates, Architects, drew up the plans for the new church and in 1970, local contractor Ambrose Owens and his team started work on the new building. Sadly Fr Plunkett died on 7th March 1970 before the completion of the new church. Fr Patrick Bartley was appointed to succeed him and found the work well underway but there were severe financial difficulties, complicated by a prolonged bank strike. The work continued and at Easter 1971, Fr Bartley opened the new church, which cost £84,000, for public worship. On 15th August of that year the church was solemnly blessed and dedicated by Bishop John McCormack. At this stage funds were scarce and it was decided to leave the completion of the belfry to a later date. Fr Bartley died 0n 26th October 1986, and in 1987, Fr Peter Farrelly was appointed parish priest. Under his guidance, extensive renovation work was carried out in 1991. The architect was David Duignan and builder was another local firm, Tommy Mulvany. The worked involved repairs to the roof, the provision of a belfry on the unfinished tower and replacement of felt based cladding with natural slate. Landscaping was done under the direction of Meath artist, Betty Newman Maguire. The building is striking in appearance and typical of a style of architecture prevalent at the time of construction and is now a listed building. In 2006, the church was further enhanced by the construction of a Garden of Tranquility which was donated in memory of the five girls who lost their lives in the school bus tragedy of the previous year. This garden, based on her award winning entry at the Chelsea Flower Show, was designed by landscape artist Elma Fenton. It was blessed by Most Rev Michael Smith after Mass on the 1st anniversary of the tragic crash. The quote on the stone featuring the names of the girls is taken from Wisdom 48 and reads "Length of days is not what makes honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life". Beauparc Parish has several teams who assist with the organisation of the parish - these include the Liturgy Committee, Parish Council, Servers Committee, Do This in Memory Committee for First Holy Communion, Walk in the Faith Committee for Confirmation, Legion of Mary and St Joseph's Young Priests Society. Younger parishioners attend Yellow Furze National School, where they enjoy the facilities of a large bright airy modern building, extended and refurbished in 2004 and further extended in 2009. The parish is also home to several social and sporting organisations including Seneschalstown GFC, Knockharley Cricket Club and an Active Retirement Association - a dynamic group who meet weekly and organise holidays and day-trips, as well as weekly bowls, cards, rings, tea and chat. Some of the well known people with links to Yellow Furze include Christy Moore whose mother came from the area, Niall de Burca, storyteller - his mother was also a native of the parish, the actor Pat Laffan whose family resided in Dollardstown. This is a significant year for the parish and as well as looking back at events of the past 40 years, it will also look to the future and light a candle to launch a Year of Faith in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress in 2012. Every month the parish has a theme, linked with events to remind parishioners that they walk with Jesus every day. The Year of Faith will be launched on Monday by lighting a candle which will then be lit at each subsequent Mass in the parish throughout the year and on 3rd September the Eucharistic Congress Bell will be welcomed to the parish.