St. Ninnidh's

History

In 1797 Captain Smith from Callowhill gave a lease of one acre to Mrs Gunn, on which Fr Michael Wynne PP oversaw the building of a thatched church. That building was used until 1837, when Fr Edward McHugh PP facilitated the building of the present church. Mass was first celebrated in the present church in 1839.

The church stands in the parish of Knockninny, which takes its name from the Irish Cnoc Ninnidh, meaning the Hill of Ninnidh. The parish records that St Ninnidh was born at the end of the fifth century and is regarded as one of the twelve apostles of Ireland, and that he was accustomed to spend the season of Lent in solitude and prayer on the Hill of Ninnidh, since known as Knockninny Rock.