The Early Years
Until 1974 Ardmore was part of the Glendermott Parish that included Claudy, Faughanvale, Strathfoyle and Waterside.

Focussing on the present parish of Ardmore, tradition has it that the earliest mention of Christianity in this area was when St. Patrick, along with a disciple, St. Brecan, preached along the banks of the Faughan river that flows through the parish on his way to founding a Monastery at Clooney, the remains of which are in St. Columb’s Park.

A few centuries later there came into being a monastic settlement at Ardkill meaning ‘High Church’ in the townland of Glenkeen, near Goshaden. The settlement was bult in 987. Nearby is a narrow stretch of road leading to it known as ‘the Togher’ (Pilgrim’s Way).


Penal Mass Rocks
The Mass Rock at ‘Birchwood’ dates back to 1720 and is known locally as the ‘old altar’. It is in the townland of Glenkeen near Nicholson Gardens. During the Penal Years of the 17th Century Mass was celebrated here. In the ordinance survey map of 1837 mention is made of an altar in the ‘Birchwood’. The priests associated with the Mass rock were Fr. O. Brolchan (Bradley), Fr. O’Kane and Fr. Doherty. It is also tradition that a priest there. A local Presybyterian family provided a place of safety for the priests. They hid the priest in the hole of their chimney brace. A member of the same family carried the priest across the Faughan river on his back and saved his life.

The cross at the Birchwood Mass Rock site was erected after Mass was celebrated there in March 1928. It was made by William Patrick Treacy and paid for by Teddy Kearney. The Mass, held in 1928, had to be delayed for several more days due to bad weather and was celebrated by Fr. T. Nicholson at 6.30am for the Downside Wanderers Cricket Team. Many people also walked from the Waterside to be present. The early hour for the Mass was to allow people to get to work. The cross was pulled down and thrown into the Faughan in the 1950s. It was saved by the workers in the Bleach Green and was then secured in concrete. The Mass has been more regularly celebrated there in recent years. The local postwoman Mary O’Connell (nee Kearney) now deceased, spent much time decorating the place and keeping it tidy. Another Mass rock is located in the Fincairn Glen, its location at present is unknown as is the position of the Mass Rock not far from the present Birchwood Mass rock.


Ardmore Old Church
Fr. James McFeely Parish Priest born in 1742 in the townland of Glenkeen, the same townland as the ‘Birchwood Mass Rock’ , built the old church at Ardmore between 1784 and its opening in 1791 at a cost of £40. This Church is no longer visible and was situated in the old Ardmore graveyard. The old church was the Parish Church of Glendermott Parish. Fr. McFeely died in 1794 and was succeeded by Fr. Dan Phillips from 1794-1815, followed by Fr. Patrick Mullan from 1815-1826. These three priests are buried in the old graveyard.


Present St. Mary’s Church
The present Church at Ardmore was dedicated by Bishop O’Kane on the 2nd November 1930. At that time St. Columb’s, Waterside, became the Parish Church. The new church was built by Rev. William Boyle McFeely PP VF who is buried in the middle graveyard at Ardmore (uncle of the late Bishop McFeely of Raphoe). This church was dedicated to Mary, Help of Christians, as Fr. McFeely had a great devotion to St. Don Bosco who was canonised at this time and who was founder of the Salesians, who held Mary, Help of Christians, as their patroness.

The first wedding in the new church of St. Mary’s Ardmore was that of Donal Ward and Eileen McDermott and the first baptism was Laurence McColgan, son of Laurence and Violet McColgan (nee Gallagher).

Fr. McFeely did not allow the main door of the church to be opened on Sundays, only the side door was allowed open. He did not want people congregating there as this might give offence to the faith of people of other religious denominations. Fr. McFeely died in 1937 and was succeed by Fr. McGettigan (founder of the Derry Feis). When Fr. McGettigan became Parish Priest he said ‘Go down there and open those doors. Thank God we don’t live in the catacombs’

In 1947 Mgr, Joe O’Doherty became Parish Priest. He carried out extensive renovations and had electricity installed in the 1950s replacing the tilly lamps which the sacristan at that time, John Sharkey, used to have to pump and light before the Masses. Bishop Neil Farren came to conduct the ceremony to mark this occasion.


Recent History
Ardmore became a parish in its own right on the 8th September 1974 at a time when parishes in the Derry Diocese were being re-organised by Bishop Edward Daly. Ardmore then was a small parish, population wise, but the parishioners ensured that the parish was financially viable. Fr. Michael Conway was its first Parish Priest. He built the present parochial house. In 1986 Fr. Dan McNicholl became Parish Priest until 1999. Fr. Oliver Crilly succeeded Fr. McNicholl and was Parish Priest until August 2007. He instigated the building of the present Pastoral Centre next to St. Mary’s Church at Ardmore, the architect was Sean McLaughlin of Ardmore. It was opened on 1st October 2006. The present Parish Priest, appointed in August 2007, is Fr. Neil Farren. Mgr. Ignatius McQuillan is Priest in Residence in the parish, having served as curate in the parish from 1991-2006. Sr. Teresa Russell of the Good Shepherd Convent was an active parish sister from 1984-September 2007 when she retired.
There is good lay involvement in the Ardmore Parish, at present, with good attendances at Mass throughout the week and on Sundays. The Parish has dedicated people who are very supportive of Church activities.

There are still challenges such as keeping abreast with the large influx of new parishioners to the Parish. The Parish has grown considerably in population in recent years (3,500 approx) especially with the overflow of housing from the Waterside area around the Belt Road and the Altnagelvin side of the Crescent Link Road as far as Ballyoan cemetery at Rossdowney Road.

The Ardmore Parish has one primary school, Glendermott, which is ably managed by its Principal, Mr. Billy Doherty. The old school which was built in 1820 used to be beside the old Church. The present school was built in 1914 with extensive renovations being carried out in the intervening years and is sited only a short distance from the present Parish Church, St. Mary’s Church, Ardmore.