Parish priests often wished to do something special in their community by which they hoped to be remembered. Rev. Roger Miley fulfilled that wish and with great distinction. If we go by his plaque at Crosschapel he died in the year 1801, after 30 years as Parish Priest of Blessington, suggesting he arrived here in 1771 or so. He and a colleague had been serving in a small chapel at Woodend, presumably caring for the quarrymen’s settlement close by.
He introduced himself to his new Parish with some panache, purchasing a large farm on the Red Lane, and building an impressive house on it for the Priests of the parish. It’s a matter of some interest as to how he could raise the finance required for these projects.
Re. Miley built the first chapel at Crosschapel. The ‘Cross’ part of the name suggests there was a cross of some sort here to indicate the boundary of the Archbishop of Dublin’s property. On the other side the Earl of Kildare held sway. Even to this day the divide exists there between the Counties Wicklow and Kildare. The Chapel was a simple structure.
