Welcome to the web page of St. Grellan’s (Ballinasloe & District) Council of The Knights of St. Columbanus.

Brief Introduction

The Order was founded as an Order of Catholic Men in Belfast in 1915 by Canon James O’Neill as a means of furthering the Lay Apostolate in Ireland. Canon O’Neill had a particular interest in the Church’s social teachings and was especially influenced by Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum. He conceived the Order as means of furthering the Catholic faith and Catholic education.

Founded in 1932 St. Grellan’s Council is one of many councils of the Order in Ireland.  Currently we have a membership of eighteen men who aspire to be true to Christ and to be of service. 

As Knights we have four main objectives:

  • To promote by personal and group action the extension of a practical Christianity in all phases of life.
  • To maintain a fraternal society of Catholic Lay leadership.
  •  To honour the Faith.
  •  To prepare its members for the Apostolate.
Current Undertakings of St. Grellan’s Council

Members are involved in many initiatives both personally and collectively.  These include:

  • support for Ballinasloe’s emerging ‘Come, Follow Me’ Faith & Fun Club for children ages 8 to 11
  • support for Ballinasloe & Distict Pioneer Youth Club (10 – 17 years)
  • support for Greater Ballinsaloe Gaza-Syria-Turkey Christmas Appeals (2022 – 2025)
  • CREIDEAMH Book Club
  • Various prayer, catechetical and retreat-style events that contribute to our own and others’ spiritual renewal.
  • bringing Holy  Communion to housebound parishioners and to persons resident in local nursing homes
  • organisation of occasional pilgrim walks / experiences
  • annual Mass at St. Grellan’s Well.
  • maintenance of this website.

In all of the above  we work in partnership with women, men and young people.

We also work in partnership with local clergy and the lay leadership of Catholic groups and organisations in the Greater Ballinasloe Area.

Fraternity is important to us and we appreciate there are times, and sometimes years, when personal, family, work and other matters need to take precedence.  All members remain welcome at our monthly meetings.  Each meeting includes a time of prayer, discussion and social time together.

Come and See!

We welcome men who seek to grow in their Catholic Faith on a ‘come and see’ basis.

We meet on the first Thursday of each month, from 8 to 9.20 pm in:

The Clonfert Family Centre
Brackernagh,
Ballinasloe.
H53 NX59.

Please contact any member listed below if you would like to come to one of our meetings.

St. Grellan’s Knights and Friends in Mission

For the twelve years of the Knights of St Columbanus’ Schools Public Speaking Competition our Council has taken a great interest in the participation of schools from Connaght.  This picture was taken by our member, Justin Harkin, following the Connaught Final in Castlerea Community.  We salute the wonderful achievement of these young people from St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakney, Ballinasloe and Castlerea Community School.  They were outstanding.  Our picture also includes our Supreme Knight (far right), Mr. John Murphy KSC.

March 2026 also brought  two of our members into conversation with this fine group of students from Clonfert College, Ballinasloe.  Four of the group will kindly serve as leaders with Ballinasloe’s Faith & Fun Club next year.

For the past three years it has been our privilege to co-sponsor with Ballinasloe Credit Union the Ballinasloe Pioneer Youth Quiz for Primary Schools and Youth Clubs in the Greater  Ballinasloe area organised by Ballinasloe & District Pioneer Youth Club.  This year’s event was held on Friday 20th March 2026.  It was a very joyful occasion and we congratulate all the young people who participated, pictured here with the event’s wonderful Quiz Master, Mr. Niall Duddy.

Damien and Sean enjoying an evenings with adults and young people linked with Ballinasloe & District Pioneer Youth Club, March 2026.

Sean enjoying a quiz with  parents of Pioneer Youth Club members, January 2026.

Sean, Francis and Justin with fellow leaders of Pioneer Youth Club, December 2025.

Tom and Christopher with friends committed to the Greater Balliinasloe Gaza-Syrian Refugee-Turkey Christmas Appeal, December 2025.

Knights enjoying a night of story-telling with Moore Youth Drama Group and Ballinasloe & District Pioneer Youth Club

Francis, Donal, Padraic, Damien, Sean, Tom, John W., John H. and John C. following a meeting with brother Knights from Claremorris-Knock Council, October 2025

Tom and John getting in tune prior to 2025 Mass at St. Grellan’s Well.

Mass following pilgrim walk to Our Lady’s Shrine, Clonfert, May 2025

John, Francis, John, Sean, Tom and John with local clergy and Dr. Dan O’Connell (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick) with Frs. John Garvey, Charles Nyameh, Bernie Costello and Michael Molloy following a presentation from Dan to parents of children presenting for First Holy Communion, 2024.

Our three Johns (John Coughlan, John Harney and John Weldon) following a fundraiser to acquire bicycle helmets for Ukrainian Children, 2023.

John and John with sponsors of the Clonfert diocese’s art competition for children, 2023.

Retreat day with friends in St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakney, 2022.

Michael, John, Justin M, Michéal, Padraig, Sean and Jim following a fundraising evening in 2020 in support of St. Patrick’s Academy (Secondary School), Jalingo Diocese, Nigeria.

Sean and John C. with Greater Ballinasloe Area & Elphin Diocesan Pilgrims in Lough Derg, June 2018.

Further Enquiries

Please contact any of the following members:

Damien Farrell
Laurencetown parish
085 878 0443

Francis Donohue
Abbey-Duniry parish
087 150 2350

Michéal Cregg
Moore-Clonfad parish
086 261 8152

Sean Kelly
Clontuskert parish
086 164 7970

Justin Harkin
Ballinasloe-Creagh parish
087 617  1526

 

Click on this link if you would like to read more about The Order of the Knights of St. Columbanus

 

Updated: 15/3/2025