Parish Priest's of Cloone

The Parish of Cloone is a very ancient parish and once included within its boundaries the Parishes now known as Gortletteragh and Aughavas. It appears that the Parish of Gortletteragh was established before the Parish of Aughavas. Aughavas became a Parish sometime before 1820 some suggest even as far back as 1760. The original parish of Cloone was split up due to its size, the growth in population and also due to the increase in the number of Clergy.

The earliest records for Cloone date from 1822 and for Aughavas from 1845. Parochial Houses were few and far between until the early nineteen hundreds. Up till then the priest took lodgings in private houses and this certainly did help in maintaining accurate records.

 The information below on the Priests of Cloone Parish is based on Parish Records, The History of Ardagh by James McNamee, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois and from the "Index of Clergy 1836- 1980" (Based on the Catholic Directories compiled Longford Historical Society)