A church has stood sentinel in the village of Knockboy, Ballygunner, for centuries, and has always been a focal point for its community. Of equal importance are the adjacent cemeteries, old and new, which are hallowed places in the hearts of people, both in personal and communal terms.

Over the past 30 years the village has witnessed a great amount of development, with consequential increases in population. Inevitably other services had to be developed to provide for the needs of the people.