Headford Church
St. Mary’s Church, Headford, Co. Galway
Priest: Fr. James O’Grady, Presbytery, Headford
Co. Galway.
Contact numbers: 093 35448
Mass Times
Weekend
Masses: St Mary’s Headford:
Saturday 8pm.
Sunday 9am / 11.30am
St.
Mary’s Claran: -
Sunday 10am
Holydays: same as weekends.
Weekdays: see parish newsletter.
St. Mary's Parish – Claran/Headford
The Roman Catholic parish of Headford/Claran is one of fifty-six parishes
in the Archdiocese of Tuam of which Dr. Michael Neary D.D. is Archbishop.
The parish is serviced by two churches; one in Claran and one in Headford.
Both St. Mary’s Church in Claran and St Mary’s Church in Headford
were built by Fr. Peter Conway – Claran Church in 1859 and Headford
Church in 1865.
Fr. Conway was well known in the Archdiocese as a builder of Churches
and he was the driving force behind the building of a number of churches
in the parishes where he worked. The Presentation Sisters founded a convent
in Headford in 1906 and served the community in a variety of way mainly
by their involvement in our schools both at a primary and secondary level.
Because of a decline in vocations the convent closed in 1999 and it is
now being used as a “Day Care Centre” by the Western Health
Board. The parish Priest of Headford/Claran resides in Headford beside
the St. Mary’s Church. There are approximately 700 homes in the
parish and a population of 3000 people. Headford is growing in population
because of its closeness to Galway City. A lot of new houses have been
built in the area in recent years and this trend is expected to continue
for some years to come. The resulting increase in population has consequences
and significance for our schools and parish but it a welcome challenge
and we as a parish community extend a cead mile failte to all new comers
into our parish and hope that they feel at home and welcome in Claran/Headford.
The parish is an active vibrant community catering for the educational
and spiritual needs for all members of all age groups. It is served by
five national schools under the patronage of Bishop Neary, which cater
for children for children up to the age of twelve and one secondary community
school, which has an enrolment of almost 700 and caters for our young
people up to the age of eighteen. Every age group, every standard, every
need is catered for by caring and committed teachers in all our schools.
The sporting needs of our young people are catered for by a wide variety
of sport and cultural clubs and societies in our parish.
There is a parish hall / community centre both in Headford and in Claran
which is used extensively by people of all age groups - catering for such
things as; - parish prayer groups, I.C.A meetings; Sean-Chairde (old peoples
meetings); Ballroom dancing; Women’s group, Cubs and Scouts, Music
lessons and many more.
There is an excellent community spirit; where everyone feels a sense of
belonging and welcome, and where people genuinely have the care and interest
of each other at heart. The Parish community come together to celebrate
our faith and to worship God on a daily basis and at weekends and many
more are actively involved in church ministries such as ministers of the
Word, Eucharist ministers, Ushers, Senior Choir, Youth Choir, Alter society.
People are always welcome to volunteer their talents and their service
to the parish community at any time.
The Patron Saint of our parish is St. Fursa who can be dated back to the
middle of the sixth century. He was born in Inchaquin and ruins of his
church at Killursa survive to this day. We place all members of our parish
community at home or away in his care and in the care of Mary the Mother
of God in whose honoour or two Churches and in Headford and Claran take
their name.
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