The Bicentenary of Powerstown Church which was built in 1810 was celebrated on Sunday 27th June. A special concelebrated mass was held with Bishop Lee, assisted by Fr. Peter Ahearne, current Parish Priest of Powerstown & Lisronagh and Fr. Sean Nugent (former Parish Priest). The specially prepared liturgy was enhanced by the dramatisation of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, written by Gwen Noonan and performed by the children of Powerstown, Lisronagh and Rathkeevin national schools.

Pastoral Council members launching
the book on the history of the Parish

Among the gifts presented on the day was a chalice dating back to 1781 and bearing the inscription “I belong to the Parish of Powerstown”. The priest at the time was Rev. J. Walsh, Pastor, who died in 1796. A special anthem was composed for the occasion by Susan Robinson and Gwen Noonan. It was beautifully interpreted by the Powerstown Parish Choir led by Choirmaster, George Barry.

Mural of the baptism of
Jesus by John the Baptist

In his homily, which was addressed to a packed church, Bishop Lee highlighted the role of the church in our community, as both an anchor and a focal point, drawing people together Sunday after Sunday, welcoming them at baptism, rejoicing with them at marriages and mourning with them at times of bereavement.

Members of South Tipperary Art Group
with Bishop Lee who painted the mural

He praised people like Fr. Felix Cleary, who built Powerstown Church as being a man of his time. “By flair and imagination and no little courage, he and others created a space for the Gospel message”. At the end of mass, a mural depicting the Baptism of Jesus on the river Jordan, was unveiled by Bishop Lee. This was painted by Maureen Purcell, Lesley Lynch, Frances Delahunty and Michael Burke assisted by Ian Purcell and Mark Hickey of South Tipperary Art Group (S.T.A.G.).

The congregation who attended
the special bicentenary mass

This painting was commissioned by the pastoral Council to commemorate the Bicentenary. A plaque was also unveiled commemorating the occasion.

Celebrations continued into the evening with a social at Monroe Sports Complex which was attended by over three hundred people.

During the evening a commemorative history of the parish was launched entitled “Powerstown Church Bicentenary 1810-2010, A Commemorative History”.

Powerstown Church
Bicentenary 1810-2010

This book is the collaborative endeavour by several parishioners, who covered a variety of topics, ranging from the geographical (town lands, civil parishes, catholic parishes, place names) to the historical (tower houses, holy wells, ecclesiastical antiquities).

Included with the latter, is a special feature on priests, religious nuns and brothers born in the parish.

Individuals and groups associated with the church are highlighted, as is a short history of the three primary schools of Lisronagh, Powerstown and Rathkeevin.  Family nomenclature is also covered. Other historical occasions featured include: The O’Connell Tribute 1844, the story of the Hope Diamond, the failed abduction at Rathronan, as well as memories of social activities of days gone by, such as thrashings and attendance at “the Stations”.

Other social activities in the parish are also mentioned, such as sporting organisations, Moyle Rovers, Community Games, Clonmel Rugby Club, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, I.C.A., to name but a few.

Powerstown choir singing at the Bicentenary Mass

The book is produced in colour and contains many hitherto unseen photographs.

It was typed and formatted by Jenny Hayes.

The book was formally launched by Denis Holland, a member of the Pastoral Council, who contributed articles of ecclesiastical significance to the book.

The book sells for €20. Anyone who wants the book sent to them can do so by sending €25 which includes the cost of packaging and postage to the Parochial House, Rathronan, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.