St Barbara's Chapel's altar returns to Mullingar
The altar that was once housed in St Barbara's Chapel in Columb Barracks has made a return to Mullingar after 10 years.
The ornate altar spent the last decade in Baldonnell but is now housed in the Diocesan Museum in the Cathedral of Christ The King.
One of the people behind the return of the altar to Mullingar was retired RSM O'Callaghan.
In a piece submitted to The Westmeath Examiner, Mr O'Callaghan explained the origins of the altar and why it means so much to have it back in Mullingar:
Our altar came from the Holy Trinity House, Ratoath, County Meath and dates back to 1865. After Holy Trinity House closed in the mid to late 90s, the altar was brought to St Barbara's Chapel by Father Robert McCabe, our Barracks Chaplain, who has a long-standing close association with the members of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment and all of the other units in Columb Barracks and their families. Indeed, he celebrated the last mass there on March 28 2012, when the barracks closed.
In 2005, the Chapel underwent restoration at local level, under the then Regt Sgt Major Noel O'Callaghan, by Cpl Noel Clyne, Gnr Mick Maher RIP, Gnr Peter Scally, Gnr Sammy Lawlor, Gnr Padraic Wilson, Gnr Ray Farrell and Gnr Charlie Kavanagh, all now retired except Peter, and members of the civilian staff of the BFW.
While they carried out the work in the Chapel, the altar was restored by retired Comdt Kieran Milner and local lady, Sabine Kettlesgerde, who brought it back to the beautiful finish you see today.
During its time in Mullingar, our altar was used during the weddings and baptisms of members of our barracks and their families and was central to our annual St Barbara's Day Mass on December 4 each year, where the choir of Loreto College brought life to St Barabara's Chapel with Col Paul Whelan on the organ for the community of Mullingar and surrounding area.
Since 2012 it has been in Baldonnell and after months of interaction it is back in Mullingar where its beauty and splendour can once again be seen by our local community.
Noel would like to thank Father Bernard McCay-Morrissey of the Air Corps who facilitated and supported the request in bringing our altar home, and to Father Paul Connell from Mullingar who facilitated its resting place in the Diocesan Museum in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.