History of Cloghan & Banagher Parish

St. Rynagh's Church Banagher	St. Mary's Church Cloghan

Cloghan and Banagher

Cloghan and Banagher, known also as Gallen and Rynagh, is the most southerly parish in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.  Gallen takes its name from the site of Gallen Priory, formerly home of the Armstrong family near Ferbane, and later the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny. 

St. Canoc and St. Rynagh were the early founders.  St. Canoc came from Wales and brought with him a distinctive form of christianity.  St. Rynagh was sister of St. Finnian and she seems to have moved from Clonard to Clonmacnois and later came to Banagher to be abbess of a religious house.  After her death c.563 her mother Talacia took charge.