Clonaslee Parish

"The district chapel in the penal times was that called the old
Chapel of Brittas. It stood just inside the former demesne wall..of
Brittas, the seat of the O'Dunnes of Hy Regan,-the old mountain
road from Clonaslee passing outside. This chapel, which was of
considerable size, was thatched; as was, also, the old manor house of
Brittas, adjoining. At a distance of some three hundred yards south
of this chapel, on a rising ground, and also within the precincts of the
old demesne, a place is pointed out on which, it is saicl, a monastery
stood in the times of persecution.. .,
"In 1771, a chapel was erected in the village of Clonaslee. It
is probable that the apostacy of Squire Francis Dunne, the then head
.of the family, which took place in that ,year., rendered the change of
the place of Catholic worship necessary. At the same time, there is
reason to think that the squire intended to conform only for a while,
with a view to keeping hold of his estate. All his children were
baptised Catholics. The old. chapel of CIonaslee,
like its predecessor of Brittas, was a humble, unpretentious, thatched edifice..
It stood close to the site occupied by the present Catholic church.
It was replaced by this fine, commodious church, in the year 18 I 3.

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