Blessington Church
The earliest centre of Catholic worship in the parish was a chapel at Woodend, active until the late 1700s. The area, part of the Downshire estate, supported local quarry workers. Fr Roger Miley ministered here and later built Miley Hall at Crosscoolharbour.
A simple thatched church was later built at Crosschapel on land donated by the Neville family, with support from the first Marquis of Downshire. During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Fr Miley worked to maintain peace and was widely respected. He remained at Miley Hall until his death in 1801.
In 1852, Fr James Hamilton led the construction of a new stone church, designed by JJ McCarthy and dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, marking renewal after the Famine.
The first Catholic church in Blessington town began as a school built in 1882. When a new school opened in 1936, it was converted into a church and officially opened on 30 May 1946 by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. Dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament, it served the growing community for decades.
By the 1970s, a larger church was needed. A new building, designed by W. & J. Wejchert, opened in 1982. Its triangular layout ensures all seats face the altar. It includes a statue of Our Lady by Fergus O’Farrell and artwork by Turlough O’Donnell representing the sacraments. The Coimín Centre, opened in 2015, continues to support parish life.
