A Catholic Chapel for Renmore Barracks

Western News, 20th September, 1884

Up to the present the soldiers stationed in Renmore Barracks have to walk to Galway to attend religious devotion. Colonel Hercy, who is commander of the Connaught Depot, considered this a very great hardship on the men, more especially in the winter season, when rain, hail, or snow have been falling all the time of their long and unpleasant march, and then having to remain all the time of service in their wet garments. With a due sense of humanity, to overcome this unpleasantness, Col. Hercy, who is every inch a soldier, as he shows by his consideration for his men, conceived the idea of building a chapel on the ground at Renmore, adjacent to the barracks. In accordance with this desire a site was selected in a fine park on the north side of the road approaching to the barracks from Galway by the railway line, enclosed by walls on three sides. The ground being laid out and all preliminary arrangements made, the Right Rev. Dr. Carr, R. O. Bishop of Galway, attended by the Rev. Father Carolan, Chaplain to the forces, laid the chief corner stone on Tuesday last, surrounded by a number of ladies and gentlemen specially interested in the ceremony. There was no special announcement, consequently the ceremony was, to a certain extent, private. There were only a few of the military present, who were deeply interested in the matter, and amongst the number we may notice Colonel Hercy and party, Capt. Maher and friends, Sergeant—Major D'Arcy and friends, Sergeant—Major Passmore and friends, Sergeant—Major O'Callaghan, and the other sergeants of the Connaught Rangers, whose names we could not ascertain. Mr. Thomas Griffin has the management of the erection, and as we know, from experience, he will execute the work in a most creditable and workmanlike manner, we know the building, when complete under his supervision, will be an ornament to the place and a credit to his workmanship and skill. The structure, when completed, will be 60 by 80, and capable of accommodating 260 men. It is being built with black limestone, peculiar to the locality, and when completed will be a handsome structure viewed from the railway, and reflect great credit on Colonel Hercy, the donor, Mr. Griffin, the builder, and all concerned.