Ballyea Church looking resplendent last week as the children of the local National School received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion

St John the Baptist Church in Ballyea village is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Ballyea/Clarecastle parish in County Clare.

The church is located next to the primary school and it is surrounded by a graveyard.

The church dates back to 1858, but the building of it was begun in 1841.  It took many years to complete the building due to the lack of money and famine at the time.  The church website has a very comprehensive history about the beginnings of the church which has been researched and written up by Dr. Joe Power.

The altar of Ballyea dates back to 1775 where it was used in an old Catholic chapel in Ennis.  It was later moved to Springfield House in Ennis where the Diocesan College was located.  In the early 1900s, the parish priest of Ballyea had the altar placed in Ballyea church where it remains today.