This year 2004, we are celebrating the centenary of our church which is dedicated to Our Lady. It was built on the site of an earlier church which was erected in 1834 by Fr. James Touhill on a site given by Lord Headley who also paid half the cost.

Two items link the present church with that of 1834, the water font which stands in the yard is dated 1838 and the foundation stone which was recently acquired with the date 1834. This church had a thatched roof, a mud floor and those who attended Mass brought their own stools.

By 1890, the church had fallen into bad repair so Fr. James Nelligan decided to build a new church to replace that built in 1834. He started to raise funds and by 1901 he had raised £5,100. A description of the church is given in the 'Kerry Weekly Reporter'. '' The nave of the sacred edifice is about 150 feet long and about 40 feet wide, with spacious aisles. The windows are ornamentally finished and the ceilings decorated with carvings....... The church has also been accommodated with pews of a most suitable kind, which are in perfect harmony with the beautifully tiled floor''.

Now that they had a beautiful new church, the parishioners of Knocknagoshel petitioned Bishop Mangan to establish a separate parish of Knocknagoshel. They had approached other bishops in the past but to no avail. At last their wish was granted in August 1916.

The church was renovated in 1991. A feature of the church are the beautiful stained-glass windows, the work of the Watson family, Youghal and the Earley Brothers. Today, as we celebrate its centenary, this church is a visible sign of the faith of the people of Knocknagoshel.