Welcome Messages:
Christmas 2025: We welcome everyone to our new website. We hope it will be used by everyone who has a connection with our parish of Kilmactigue/Tourlestrane.We extend Christmas greetings to you all, all over the world. We have had about 10,700 contacts on our webcam during the year, from 31 countries. Our world is getting smaller!.
We welcome and wish a happy Christmas to all emigrants from our parish. It can be a lonely time being away from home over Christmas. If you are suffering from homesickness we hope that this website will give you a lift. If you have returned home for the Christmas, you are most welcome. We hope you will enjoy your time on holiday.
To all who have settled in Ireland away from our parish, we also wish you a happy christmas. You may have come back to be with family for the feast day. You are very welcome. Our website may be a way of checking on what is going on in your absence.
To all attending 3rd level education,.Some will be travelling from home each day. Some will be returning home at weekends. Student life can be exciting and challenging.Your horizons are expanding .It's always good to hear from you. Keep in contact with your church.
There are some who start work directly after 2nd level education. This can be lonely too as a lot of your friends are no longer around. It will be a time of learning about work.
We welcome young people who are attending second level education.. We would love to hear more from you. Please do keep in contact with your parish church.. Use the website.
We have about 170 children attending our three national school. We welcome you and value your enthusiasm and yest for life. We especially remember those making their first Communion and Confirmation in 2026. Have a happy Christmas!
To our young couples who are starting out in life together. if you are blessed with children, it is a particularly busy time for you.Christmas has it's own magic and you will be graced in making your own traditions as a family. We hope you will teach your children to pray.
We welcome those who are newcomers to the parish. It can be difficult for some to make new friends. It is hard to remember names or to hear what people are saying. Be patient with your self and with your new neighbours. It all takes time. The website might be a way of learning what is happening. Coming to church can be a way of meeting people.
We welcome all immigrants to the parish. We hope your life wll be less stressful and you will be able to adjust to a new culture. We have much to learn from you.
We wish a happy Christmas to all parishioners. Most of us were born in the parish or have been here for years. We are living in a time of change in our church and country. The dioceses of Achonry and Elphin are beginning to merge. Our parish has been clustered with three surrounding parishes. We are introducing new structures in our parish. We need to keep asking God that his will will be done in this work.
The great message of Christmas is that God sent his Son to us, not to condemn us, but to save us from our sins. It is rue that most of us are luke warm and reluctant in our responce to such love, However, if the circumstances are right and the approach is well made, most of us will respond to the Lord's will.
Happy Christmas to all.!
Where are we:
Kilmactigue (Cill Mhic Thaidh) “The church of Teige’s son” is the ancient name of the present parish of Tourlestrane. We are a rural parish, situated in South Sligo, bordering the parishes of Tubbercurry, Curry, Killasser, Attymas, and Bonniconlon. We have about 500 homes and around 1400 people live in the parish. We are served by three churches in the parish, -St Attracta’s in Tourlestrane, The church of the most Holy Rosary in Kilmactigue, and the church of the Sacred Heart at Lough Talt in Largon. We have three national schools at Drimina, Castlerock and Banada. About 160 children attend the schools. Aclare is the main built-up area of our rural parish.
Our Parish Vision:
Kilmactigue/Tourlestrane Parish sees its overall purpose as evangelisation, that is, to make the invisible Christ more visible, and to help bring about the kingdom of God. We see ourselves as a prayerful community with Christ at its centre, which welcomes, appreciates and reaches out to all people. We hope to be a parish marked by the joy, energy, strength, resilience and compassion which comes from our relationship with Christ. We hope to be united around the Lord, attractive to younger people who wish to become involved, and able through modern means of communication, as well as old-fashioned talking, to reach out to bring the good news to all willing to listen.
Church / Parish Groups:
Altar Societies/Flowers, Baptismal Preparation Teams, Choirs, Collectors, Counters Eucharistic Ministers, Mass Readers, Parish Finance Committee, Parish Pastoral Council, St Vincent De Paul, Lough Talt committee, Kilmactigue committee, Tourlestrane committee, National Schools communities (3,) Board of Management of three National Schools.
Other Organisations / Committees in the Parish:
Board of Management of St Attracta's Community School, Aclare Development Committee, Banada Abbey Hall Committee, Banada Development Association, Banada Tourlestrane Community Development, Cancer Care ,CES Schemes ( FAS), Chernobyl Working Group, Community Text Alert, Community Alert, Corpus Christi Village Committee, Darkness into Light, Defibrillator Committee, Drimina Community Group, GAA, Graveyard Committee, History and Memories of Kilmactigue, ICA, IFA (Aclare branch), INHFA (local Branch), Kilmactigue Community Hall, Ladies Club, Local Children's Irish Music, Meals on Wheels, Mens Shed, Ox Mountain , Heritage Committee, School Parents Committees, Senior Citizens Committee, Shooting Clubs, Soccer club, South Sligo Anglers Club, Tidy Towns, Walking Groups Initiative. Church of Ireland.
Community Buildings in the Parish:
There are four very active development groups in the parish, providing facilities for young and old, which aid the development of the sporting, cultural, pastoral and economic aspects of life. A community centre in Kilmactigue, an astro-turf pitch, with a children’s playground , a child care cheche centre and meeting rooms in Aclare, a large sports hall in Banada which hosts bingo weekly, and a meeting room attached, a building that houses the men’s shed, a community village in Tourlestrane for the elderly with a museum are in full operation, and a building for adventure pursuits and heritage interests in Drummartin. Tourlestrane GAA is very much at the centre of the parish.
Special Places:
St Attracta’s well in Glenavoo is the site for a pattern mass in August of each year. The well reminds us of the home based sacraments and spirituality of a people that is long gone. In Tourlestrane church there is a beautiful little statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Pius IX had presented the statue to Fr Daniel Jones sj in 1850. The Sisters of Charity came to the Parish and they prayed before the statue in Banada Abbey from 1862 to 1988. Perhaps this statue with the title “Our Lady of Banada” and whose feast day is 8th Oct reminds us of another kind of spirituality based more on churches, devotions and priests, a spirituality that is disappearing. Please God we will find what God has now in mind for our parish and diocese. Fr John Glynn is the Parish Priest.
Schools:
Drimina NS:
Drimina National School is a Catholic Primary School under the patronage of the Bishop of Achonry, Paul Dempsey. While we promote primarily a Catholic ethos, we warmly welcome children of all faiths and beliefs and none. Located in the Parish of Kilmactigue, we aim to promote the full and harmonious development of each child in our care. We provide primary education to girls and boys from Junior Infants to 6th class. The school has been situated on the current site since 1955, with two extensions forming the building as we know it today. One was completed in the early 2000’s and a second in 2006. Children in Drimina NS now enjoy the benefits of receiving their education in a state of the art school environment. Our school is supported by a very proactive Board of Management and an extremely hardworking Parents' Association who liaise with the staff continuously on many aspects and initiatives pertaining to school life.
Here in Drimina National School we work collaboratively to ensure our pupils receive positive and enjoyable learning experiences in a vibrant, inclusive and welcoming environment. We aim to provide best practice in education for all children attending our school. Each child is encouraged to work hard always and to strive to reach their full potential. We respect all of our children for their uniqueness. Each child’s positive well-being is our main priority. All children are encouraged to develop independence and self-esteem, as well as fostering the values of being kind, caring, courteous and considerate individuals.
Email: driminans3@gmail.com
Phone: (071) 9186046
Castlerock NS:
Castlerock National school is a rural Primary School situated in the parish of Kilmactigue close by Lough Talt and the Ox Mountains.
Vision Statement
* We the staff of Castlerock National School, aim to provide our pupils with a happy and safe environment in which they will learn.
* We cater for all aspects of the child's development by providing a good all round education, which will meet his/her intellectual, spiritual, physical social, emotional and cultural needs.
* We encourage a spirit of friendliness and co-operation and work closely with other local agencies involved in child-care provision.
* We recognise the role of parents as the first educators of their children and try to facilitate that role by encouraging active participation in their children's school life.
* Our school is the setting in which our faith is lived and shared. The primary education we provide is inspired by our Catholic Faith, and Christian values are passed on to the children in prayer, in our programme of Religious Instruction and in our preparation for receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation.
* The staff at Castlerock National School are committed to effective teaching in all areas of the Primary School Curriculum and work as professionals in preparing, presenting and executing lessons of the highest standard.
* As a staff we aspire to provide opportunities for fostering good leadership qualities in staff and pupils.
* We endeavor to work together as a friendly, supportive and co-operative team for the benefit of the entire school community.
* We would like to equip each child to avail themselves of further education so that they may go on to live a full and useful life as an adult in society.
* Finally, we recognise that each child is unique with special needs and our clearly stated aims foster the personal development of every child in our care_
Email: castlerockns@gmail.com
Phone: (071) 9181234
Banada NS:
Our Lady’s National School Banada is in the tranquil village of Tourlestrane, We are a co-educational mainstream school catering for classes from Junior Infants to Sixth, with three special classes for pupils with ASD. Catholic in ethos, Our Lady’s NS has always been a multicultural learning community, where we foster an atmosphere of inclusion, respect and tolerance. Our dynamic and caring staff takes a personal interest in every pupil and values the diversity of skills and talents that our children display. We aim to be a thriving, forward- thinking energetic school.
At Banada N.S., in addition to academic achievement we also focus on the holistic development of each child. Our school offers a wealth of exciting programs and activities designed to engage students and nurture their talents.
At Banada National School, we are committed to fostering a warm, inclusive, and stimulating environment where every child is encouraged to achieve their full potential. Nestled in the heart of South Sligo, our school has a proud tradition of excellence in education, offering a rich and balanced curriculum that supports the academic, social, and personal growth of our students. We believe in nurturing a love of learning through engaging lessons, hands-on experiences, and a strong sense of community, ensuring that each child develops the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
Beyond the classroom, Banada N.S. provides a diverse range of opportunities designed to inspire and enrich the lives of our students. From sporting activities to creative arts, music, and cultural programs, we strive to cultivate a well-rounded education that goes beyond textbooks. Our dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and strong school community work together to create a welcoming space where every child feels valued, supported, and ready to embrace their educational journey.
Email: banadans@outlook.com
Phone: (071) 9181219