Saint Mary‘s RC Church
Previously, the congregation worshipped in the field immediately to the east i.e., ‘Chapel Fields’. The Parish of Drumgath was formed at the Synod of Kells in 1152. The first parish priest of Drumgath Parish was Father Myles McStay 1407.
On 10 November 1829, the triangular plot between the former Quaker Meeting House and the Newry Road was given to the Rev Laurence Morgan PP with two of the Committee, Patrick McConville and Patrick Gilmore by Mr Brush, Agent of General Meade, on lease for 500 years free of rent. Patrick McConville acted as Treasurer of the Committee, formed to raise funds for its erection, and Richard Bell of Rathfriland was a member of the Committee. The Church was erected in 1831 and constructed in 1832 by public subscription at a cost of £250 and capable of accommodating 400 people. Over the doorway is a large rose window with quatrefoil centre and radial glazing framed by stone mullions. Inside are several stained-glass windows, one of which is from the Harry Clarke Studio (1947).
The older portion of the adjoining cemetery is contemporary with the church. The newer portion was acquired in the 1970s by the Rev Thomas McGivern, DD, who was then Parish Priest of Drumgath. Up until the year 1913 the Parish Priest resided at Barnmeen. In the same year, the first curate to be in residence at Rathfriland was Rev Daniel Toman, a native of the town. Those following include the Rev James Murney (later Canon Murney), Rev J McCorry, Rev M McCartan, Rev D Fegan, Rev J McEvoy, Rev J Murtagh and another curate Rev J Mooney, formerly of Loughbrickland. The church was extensively renovated by the Rev James Canon Fitzpatrick during his term of office as Parish Priest, and a few years later a curate’s house was erected adjacent to the Church. The land was sold in 2006 to become the present Brontë Court.
Opposite the Church stands the current Parish Centre. Built in 1829, it was a former Protestant National School, until 1938 when Iveagh Primary School opened. It has changed purpose many times over the years, being used as an army billet during the war before becoming the local Technical College in the 1940s and then a Banbridge District Council Enterprise Centre It was purchased by the Diocese of Dromore as St. Mary’s Parish Centre in 1996.