The beautiful Parish of Maghera is one of 88 parishes in the Diocese of Down and Connor. Situated at the foot of Slieve Donard the parish enjoys some of, if not the best, scenery in Ireland where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
St. Donard was a follower of St. Patrick. He built a church "Rath Muirbuilc", now called Maghera, at the foot of the mountain near the sea, but he also had an oratory on the very summit of the mountain. His death is given as 507 AD. There has been the a faith community in this part of County Down since the 6th century.
The Parish of Maghera is a faith community rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The parish is centred around its two churches, Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Newcastle and St. Patrick's Church in Bryansford which serve the people of Newcastle, Bryansford and
surrounding rural area.
