About Us
St Ignatius Church
Jesuits worked in Galway since the early 1600's, and in 1645 they had a school in the city. In 1768 the Galway Residence was closed, and in 1862 a new school and church were built at the present site of Sea Road. Today the church is a church of ease in the parish of St Joseph's, and all parish records of baptisms and marriages are kept at St Joseph's.
The Bermingham Chalice 1620
In 1620 a Galway Jesuit, John Bermingham SJ, lived in the Jesuit Residence at The Four Corners, where Powell's Music Shop is situated today. After John's death the chalice in 1651, the chalice continued to be used in Galway, during the fall of the city to Cromwell's forces in 1652, and the supression of the Jesuits in 1773. The chalice is in regular use in St Ignatius, and to mark its 400 years, it was exhibited in the Galway City Museum until the December Covid Lockdown, and we hope that it will be exhibited there again in 2021.
Fr Paul Brassil SJ
In August 2020 Fr Paul Brassil SJ moved to Cherryfield Lodge, Milltown Park, Dublin, D06 V9K7, for respite care. Paul had spent much of his life working in Zambia, and when he returned to Ireland he settled into working at St Ignatius church, and as a confessor and a Spiritual Director to many people. He remains in regular tourch with many people from Galway.
Fr Charlie Davy SJ
In January 2020 Charlie took a short sabbatical at the Jesuit community at La Colombiere, 19 Rue Pasteur, 71600 Paray-le-Monial, and he returned there in September for a full year. Paray is one of the most visited religious sites in France, since the visions of Saint Margared Mary Alacoque in the 1600's, and Charlie ministers at the Jesuit church, and in the region. Charlie has recently been appointed by the Irish Provincial to be Assistant Tertian Director from August 2021. Tertianship is a spiritual year for Jesuits who have completed their studies, and the European Tertianship is at Manresa in Dollymount, in Dublin.
Fr Paddy Tyrrell SJ
Paddy Tyrrell first worked in Galway as a scholastic in the 1960's, and he returned as Headmaster from 1970 till 1980. He had been Prefect of Studies in Mungret College SJ, and later he taught at Crescent College Comprehensive and he worked in Parent Effectivness Training, and in teaching Scripture to Adult Education groups. In the 1996 he went to Chicago to work in Youth Ministry, before returning to Ireland in May 2020. Paddy looks forward to meeting family again when the Covid 19 Lockdown ends.
Fr Connla O Dulaine SJ RIP
Fr Connla O Dulaine SJ died in Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin on 10th January, aged 90 years. He remained a member of the Galway Jesuit Community from the time he taulght at Colaiste Iognaid, Later he went to live and work in the Aran Islands. His great love of the Irish language and culture meant that he was very much at home on Aran, and he made great friends there. Fr Martin Curry, the Superior in Galway, celebrated Connla's funeral Mass, in Irish, in Gardiner Street Chruch, and it was broadcast on closed circuit TV. In paying tribute to Connla, Murt said that 'Connlla lived a very full and varied life. He had a world vision. He was not limited by circumstances of where he was physically or geographically. He was a man of inspiration, unafraid to lead or do whatever he thought of at each moment'. May he rest in peace..