Celebs abound in this sedate Irish parish

Statesman Charles Parnell, composer Percy French, TV series Ballykissangel call Avoca home

St. Patrick – March 17

- Photo by Ted Fitzgerald The parish church of St. Mary and St. Patrick in the Irish village of Avoca welcomes parishioners, tourists and TV film cameras alike.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
Avoca, Ireland

Tourists leaving the historic church of St. Mary and St. Patrick in the sedate little village of Avoca after the 6 p.m. Saturday Mass can't escape an interview with the genial pastor.

Since there's only one small gateway in the metal fence surrounding the fieldstone church they won't pass through it without divulging to father their name, place of residence and reason for being in Avoca.

Garden of Ireland

At the same time, they'll learn that his church is one of four in a parish that serves some 2,000 families. From the town of Woodenbridge to the juncture of the Avenmore and Avonbeg streams at poet Thomas Moore's Meeting of the Waters, this part of Wicklow County, the Garden of Ireland has close historic ties to the church and the arts.

Among others, Moore's Sweet Vale of Avoca has contributed a Dublin archbishop, and Charles Parnell, Irish politician and statesman. The familiar melody, The Mountains of Mourne was composed by Percy French, married in Avoca and area resident Mrs. Cecil Alexander wrote many hymns, among them the familiar All Things Bright and Beautiful.

The present parish church was built in 1862 at a time when the area was prospering economically as a result of copper mines and is a successor to a series of regional sanctuaries dating from the 13th century.

Long before this, area residents like to believe that St. Patrick himself passed here along the gentle Avoca stream. More factual history is at hand about nine km from Avoca where the important seventh century ruins of Glendalough attest to the early missionary work of St. Kevin and provide a popular tourist destination.

Visitors to St. Mary and St. Patrick can't help but be impressed with the large stained glass windows in the sanctuary wall behind the altar.

Beneath a dove representing the Holy Spirit and Christ seated holding the globe are four panels depicting St. Patrick, Mary, Joseph and St. Laurence O'Toole, Irish patriot and Glendalough resident.

Patrick is also honoured with a statue in one of four prominent niches adjacent to the sanctuary where he wears his traditional green vestments with bishop's mitre and crozier.

Ireland's patron saint

Ireland's patron saint is well known for his activities in converting the island after being a slave there in his teens. Consecrated a bishop in France in 432, he returned permanently and despite many setbacks was, by his example of prayerfulness and compassion, able to establish Christianity throughout much of the country. His writings and prayers are some of the earliest recorded.

In 1996, the tranquil linear village of Avoca began a new life when it became the location of the BBC TV village of Ballykissangel for their successful comedy-drama series about life, loves and schemes in an Irish village.

Since Kieran Prendiville developed the idea for the program in 1992, it's been enjoyed by millions of viewers worldwide who have sweated and prayed with the town's denizens.

Avoca's parish church has become familiar to television audiences as St. Joseph's, domain of a series of youthful pastors overseen by irascible Father MacAnally (Niall Toibin).

Down the street, Fitzgerald's Bar is the focal point for the town's intrigues, a watering-hole for such as veterinarian Deidre Donnelly, Dr. Ryan (Bosco Hagen), entrepreneur Quigly (Tony Doyle) and local characters Liam and Donal.

Despite the periodic influx of 100 or so crew members during irregular shoots, the village retains its pastoral ambience and is a welcoming place for travellers.

Once past the friendly cleric at the church gate, visitors to the Vale might wish to visit the famous Avoca Hand weavers mill here or the nearby Irish Sea beaches.

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