Website launched - April 2008.
Website : http://www.greencastleparish.com
Greencastle was originally part of Lower
Badoney but in 1892 it became a seperate
parish. It is bounded to the south by
Carrickmore and Killeenan parishes and
to the east it touches Ballinacreen at
the County Derry borders.It is one of
the most elevated parishs in the Diocese
with the lowest land around 500ft and
houses located at up to 860ft. It is renowned
for the tradition of of music and song
and was one of the last Irish-speaking
areas in the Sperrins.
The townland survey of Tyrone 1837-1839
shows Greencastle Chapel on the same site
as today with the graveyard adjoining.
There is an oral tradition which claims
there was an earlier chapel on the opposite
side of the road, the remains of which
could have been seen up until the present
car park was constructed. St. Patrick's,
Greencastle was extensively renovated
in 1988, the work being commenced by Fr.
Seamus Shields. St. Mary's Church, Broughderg
was opened in 1885 on ground that had
been given to the parish by Daniel Conway.
Prior to this, people in the parish were
buried in Badoney graveyard, their remains
being carried over the mountain via Casàn
na gCorp. The outline of some of the paths
and a stone on Glenlark Mountain where
the coffins were rested can still be seen
today. St. Mary's was replaced by the
Church of Our Lady of the Wayside, on
a new site, in 1985.
Coneyglen School closed in 1961 and the
schools at Cashel, Greencastle, Crock
and Broughderg all closed in 1980. Our
Lady of Lourdes School in Greencastle
replaces these. Some primary pupils, who
live at a distance from Greencastle, atten
schools in neighbouring parishes.
Thomas Bradley and Finbar J. Madden
(1995)