ST MURA’S CHURCH,
FAHAN (1833) - St Mura’s Church or the “Parish
Church” as it is called, is the oldest of our churches,
having been built in 1833. The Most Rev Dr Maginn
built the present parish church in the town land of
Castlequarter. Extensive work was done to the roof
in 2000 and the car park was extended in 2007.
THE CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FAHAN
(1946) - The Church of the Immaculate Conception
or the “Chapel of Ease” was built in Fahan village
in 1946 at a time when summer visitors came in great
numbers by train from Derry. The building began in
February 1946, local people raising most of the money
required, and the fact that it was completed in such
a short space of time was a tribute to the administrative
ability of the Parish Priest Rev Joseph O’Doherty.
The Chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
and was officially opened on 8 December 1946 by Most
Rev D McDowell.
The architect was Frank Corr, the main contractor
J Hegarty, Buncrana, and clerk of works James McGrory,
Tooban.
ST AENGUS’ CHURCH, BURT (1967) - St
Aengus’ Church or the “round church” was built at
Speenogue in 1967. The site of St Aengus’ Church is
on the shore of Lough Swilly, about 6 miles from Derry.
On a hilltop overlooking it is the stone-built Grianan
Fort, a circular pre-Christian structure where King
Eoghan was baptised by St Patrick in AD 441. Eoghan’s
grandson Aengus built the first Christian church at
Burt and became its patron saint. It survived until
1700 when it was destroyed, and for 80 years afterwards,
owing to the Penal Laws, there was no church at Burt.
A primitive church was built in 1780 which was improved
and renovated over the years and served the parishioners
until the new church was opened in 1967.
The circular design and stone outer walls of the new
church echo the shape of Grianan Fort. Liam McCormick,
of Corr and McCormick, architects, Derry, assisted
by Oonagh Madden, was responsible for the design which
won the Gold Medal for Architecture 1965-1967 and
was also awarded ‘Building of the Century’ by the
Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland in the year
2000.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, INCH (1923) -
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was built
in 1923. Prior to the building of this church the
Catholics of Inch had a church which served as a school
during the week. Only 30 feet long before an extension
was built in 1858, it served as one of the parochial
churches of Inch and Burt prior to the amalgamation
with Upper Fahan in 1864. The last parish priest was
Fr McAleer who was appointed in 1847.
Before any church was built in Inch people attended
open air Mass at Moress Point, the priest coming from
Fahan, probably from Baile an tSagairt (Priestown)
in Inch Road where there is a height called Ard Aifrinn
(Mass Hill).
