Easter Altar - 2010
Fr. Howard and sactristan Kathleen Condron
Fr. Howard enjoys his 1st Christmas - 2008 - in Ballon
Seen here with sacristan Kathleen Condron at the crib...
and with a balcony view of the altar.
O Holy Night - Christmas 2007
O Holy Night - Christmas 2006
Christmas
Altar 2005
(photo by Thomas Sutherland)
Christmas Altar 2004
The history of this
church is scant. According to John Duffy in his excellent book, 'The
Churches of Kildare & Leighlin, 2000 AD' the following is given.
The original rectangular church was built in stages from 1714 to 1731
during Penal Times and was thatched; it consisted of the present two
side - aisles. The walls in the present church are built with granite
from Ballon Hill. The stone is very hard and has a green tint. Now cruciform,
the church's long aisle was built by Rev. John Kehoe P.P; in the 1870's.
He also roofed the church with slates. A bust of Fr. Kehoe is placed
in the main aisle.
In October 1901 the new High Alter was consecrated by Bishop Patrick
Foley in memory of Fr. P.F. Nolan P.P. Atop the four gables are four
granite crosses, each one a different style. Internal refurbishing took
place 1977 - 1978, with further renovations in 1996 - 1997.
 |
 |
Virgin
Mary |
The
Sacred Heart
|
 |
 |
St.
Anthony |
St.
Joseph |
The statues are of excellent quality
Some additional
notes have been made available from Nancy Abbey, of Ballon Hill,from
her childhood copy book.
The entrance to the original church was on the hill side and the door
is where the vestry is now. It is the only church still in use in the
Diocese since the Penal days apart from Duiske Abbey.
In 1873 Fr. Kinsella left £2000 in his will to start a Christian
Brothers School. This didn't materialise as there was no resident priest
in Ballon and therefore they couldn't have Mass every day.
Within the graveyard stands a small portion of the walls of a church.
A tombstone inside this ruin marks the grave of a person named Byrne
who died in 1708. This is said to be the grave of a priest.
There was a Mass house built in Ballon since the first year of the reign
of George 1st in 1714 and it was located somewhere around the position
of the present Confessional Box.
 |
 |
 |
 |
St.
Teresa of Lisieux |
Jesus
with the Blind Man |
Jesus
with the Centurion |
St.
Anthony with Baby Jesus |
Above are some fine examples of the stained glass windows