After
my return from the Year 2000 Carroll Family Reunion in
Thorndale
,
PA
,
USA
, I was honoured to meet Father Charles O'Connor, whose grandfather was Charles
Connelly of Carrownacib townland, in the parish of Killursa near Headford in Co.
Galway
. Father Charley, as he is affectionately known, was at that time a priest in
the Diocese of Kansas in the
United States
and he was visiting his family in Headford, Co.
Galway in September 2000. Charles Connelly, his grandfather, and Henry
Carroll, my grandfather, were first cousins by virtue of the fact that their
mothers ( Kitty and Bridget Lally respectively ) were sisters.
Father
Charley's great-uncle was Rev. John J. Connelly, first pastor of
St. Thomas
the Apostle parish in
Wilmington
,
DE
and who in turn was a nephew of Rev. John J. Lally – a brother of the
aforementioned Kitty and Bridget Lally. He served as pastor in the Diocese of
Scranton for over forty years.
Father
Charley related a wonderful story to me about his priestly ancestors.
In
1896, on the occasion of Rev. John J. Lally's 25th year as a priest, his nephew
Rev. Connelly presented him with a beautiful chalice. It was obvious he held his
uncle in high regard. We know also, after Rev. Lally retired from his parish in
1911, he moved to
Wilmington
and shared the rectory at
St. Thomas
' with Rev. Connelly. Both were subsequently buried close to each other in the
church grounds.
After
Rev. John J. Lally's death in 1919, the chalice passed back into Rev. John
Connelly's possession. He decided to bring the chalice to
Ireland
, which he did and gave it as a gift to the parish of Killursa, the place of his
birth. In 1922, during political upheaval and civil war, the priest’s house at
Headford was burnt down by the 'Black & Tans' ( auxillary police brought in
by the British to quell republican guerilla activity ). The parochial house in
Killursa parish however escaped the same fate. The chalice was 'stored away' for
safe-keeping and was placed in the attic of the house at Claran.
Years
went by. Rev John Connelly died in 1925, various parish priests came and went at
Killursa. The chalice in the attic at Claran was long forgotten.
A
few years ago, a major renovation of the parochial house in Claran was
undertaken and in the process of clearing the attic, the chalice ( still wrapped
up safely ) was discovered. It had lain undisturbed for almost eighty years. As
luck would have it, the chalice had been inscribed by Father Connelly and on his
next visit to
Ireland
the then presiding parish priest at Killursa gave the chalice to Rev. Charles
O'Connor, the great-nephew and great-great-nephew of the two priests.
Father
Charley brought the chalice back to
Kansas
with him and it is one of his most prized possessions. He now only uses it to
celebrate Mass on family or special occasions. The chalice is as beautiful and
functional as ever. The chalice has recently been brought back to
Ireland
again where I have had the honour of viewing it and photographing it for
posterity. It is now over 110 years old!
Thus
is the tale of the chalice and three priests, Fathers Lally, Connelly and
O’Connor spanning three different centuries!
