(St. Malachy's) THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS PARISH date to the mid 1830s with the arrival of settlers from Ireland. Over the next few years more Irish immigrants came. In 1847 the people built a pretty little church, dedicated to St. Malachy, a twelfth century Irish bishop. It is probable that this name was also connected to Father Malachy Reynolds , their first regional pastor. In 1872 the church was considerably enlarged. The first rectory was constructed in the 1850s and the present one in 1886. Parish priests have lived here since at least the 1860s. In 1901 the present handsome and spaciotis church opened its doors, leaving the old one to be used as a hall. This is another of the "Harris churches" of P.E.I , and very much resembles the church at Indian River . The Sisters of Saint Martha established a convent at Kinkora in 1921. In 1935 the\' purchased the M.J. Mclver residence which they later enlarged and used for a girls' boarding school for many years. In 1941, under the leadership of the sisters, Kinkora began a high school program, the first on the Island outside Charlottetown and Summerside . It was really a combination of grades XI and XII , set up under the Maritime Board. Over the years this parish community was known as Southwest , referring to a branch of the Dunk River . For a time it was known as Somerset. The present name is probably taken from "Kincora" in Ireland. The parish contains some of the Island's finest firm lands. Across its sweeping hills and valleys can be seen some of the choicest rural views on the Island. St. Malachy's is a parish of about 250 families. Adjusting to the faith needs of a multigenerational community in changing times is a priority in pastoral outreach.