Church of St John the Baptist, Newcestown

Church of St. John the Baptist

The laying of the foundation stone of the new Church at Newcestown inspired the following poem, said to have been written by Owen Sean Óg McSweeney of Coolenaugh.

Come all you gentle readers and listen to my rhyme,

And all of your succeeders I hope they’ll do the same.

`T is all about a building of honour and renown

St. John the Baptist’s Holy Church, in charming Newcestown.

On a certain Sabbath morning, `t was in the month of June,

When solar beams adorned that village in full bloom,

I roved along for pleasure the landscape up and down,

To view that sacred treasure in charming Newcestown.

Vast numbers there assembled all on that holy day

From Cork, Kinsale and Bandon, Macroom and Dunmanway.

And several hearty young men from East and West Carberie

Came to shake hands and bid good luck to their friends in Muskerrie.

The glorious bells of Heaven aloud for them were rung,

And the Holy Psalms of David by the Angels were all sung.

And the Blessed Virgin Mary looked from her Holy Throne

At the Reverend Father Cummins laying the foundation stone.