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A LARGE CHURCH in Finglas is set to close its doors just over 50 years after it first opened, and will be replaced by a much smaller church on the same site.
The large site occupied by the Church of the Annunciation on Cappagh Road in Finglas West will be primarily used for social housing after the current building is knocked down.
Falling attendance at the church, as well as structural problems with the church building itself, have persisted in recent years.
The large site can accommodate over 3,000 parishioners, but there will only be room for 350 in the new, much smaller building.
In a statement on the parish website – first reported by the Irish Times this morning – local priest Father Eamon Cahill said that the parish had “struggled for many years with the extensive building problems” in the church.
He added: “Following recent research, discussion and much analysis, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, and the Parish Team agreed that it would be best to replace the present church building with a new church.
This proposal was discussed at a public meeting where there was a clear majority in favour of building a new church. The Archdiocese agrees with this plan and has given us great support.
One local business owner told TheJournal.ie that locals in Finglas have been aware that the church would be replaced by a much smaller one for quite some time.
They added that, despite the church’s large size, it had regularly been full of parishioners for Sunday mass in the 1970s and 80s, but falling attendance and the problems with the building meant that the move was welcomed in the local community.
It is understood that some of the main issues relate to the building’s roof, which causes leaking, and issues related to the heating of such a vast building.
Father Cahill added that the new church will feature some pastoral facilities, including meeting rooms, coffee/tea dock and offices.
“Preparations are well under way but it will take time,” Cahill added. “We will need lots of support, planning permission and a budget to see us through. While it is early days yet, we have received very strong support and best wishes.”
A spokesperson for the Dublin Archdiocese told TheJournal.ie stressed that they were still at planning stage, but added that the idea made sense as the “numbers weren’t there anymore”.
They added that the cost of maintaining such a large building was “very expensive”, and that extensive contact has been made with locals to discuss the matter.
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A sign of the times we live in now I guess, atleast there’s housing included in the new plans.
@Ronan C Gantly: it will have a better use as social housing, plenty of churches not enough houses
@Hello there friend: you are encouraging group think yourself there buddy, let people alone to make their own choices. If there is one thing worse than an over enthusiastic religious person, it’s an over enthusiastic atheist.
Joe it’s called sarcasm, is that not allowed in religion? Most atheists actually support and would the rights of individuals to practice religion (the opposite is not so true).
Actually John my experience is that both are always busy telling you why they are right
Joe my point is that Hello my friend was clearly being sarcastic, and he never actually stated his religion anyway.
@Hello there friend: myself and my family are practicing agnostics, every Sunday we go to a church that isn’t necessarily there
@Joe Smith: Atheists seem unnaturally obsessed with God. They probably talk more about God than most believers. Now why would anyone be so obsessed with something they do not believe even exists? Crazy!
John O’S, empathy is something that atheists seem to have more of then religious believers ironically. I recognize the right for religious people to have the freedoms to believe as they wish and not have other believers impose their beliefs, atheist or otherwise. Unfortunately believers dont think the same. And therefore atheists do talk about religion because religion is forced upon atheists. For example, through tax reliefs for religion, indirectly my tax is supporting your organization. My children will be indoctrinated into a state funded religion. Imagine if your children had to embrace Islam or a faith different to yours as the only means for them to receive an education. Would you speak up about it? Remember atheists have more in common with believers than they will admit. I’m sure you are an atheist when it comes to Islam and many other religions, similar to full atheists and yet would have no issue speaking up if Islam was affecting you, despite your lack of belief.
It always amazes me how religious people seem to care less about others than atheists.
Wow, judging by the amount of red thumbs, sarcasm is a dying genre.
To roughly quote Ricky Gervais, ” there are about 3000 known Gods in recorded history, so technically you’re an Atheist to the other 2,999.
Atheists spend more time talking about and bashing church at every opportunity that it can only be described as their own religious crusade
Tom, trying to enlighten people and free minds might be considered thus, and I’m happy if that is the case. Remember, it is only in the last couple of decades that truly people can freely admit they are atheists.
John do you not think that a truely free mind would not sit in either the religious or atheist corner ?
Joe smith actually not really. A free mind would analyze the evidence and make judgements from that. There is no actual evidence for the Judeo-Christian religion other than really old and unreliable books. I think the most open frame set is the agnostic-atheist: they are those who believe that currently there is no evidence for a supernatural being but are open to the idea if someone presents good evidence.
I want referring to any specific religion/god/belief, simply that there may or may not be more to life than we can or so understand. Personally I’m happy to keep an open mind. Don’t think there’s some god pulling strings, or chosen people etc but neither do I think that science can or will explain everything. I’d like to know what was happening a fraction of a second before the big bang, not after it etc etc. Our minds are not capable of understanding much, such as infinity. That’s why we invented time.
Replace the word science with humans. Humans might not ever be able to explain everything, however remember, if there was no new knowledge to strive for wouldn’t the world be a boring place? Either way, science which is really just a method of investigation, is the only way we will be able to discover how the universe works or came into existence (that’s not saying we ever will). Religion will not because it is static and was devised when people thought he world was flat. Ps we didnt invent time in the same way we didn’t invent matter. However if you refer to the intellectual concept then yes we did invented the concept, but the physics property of time will proceed with our without us, just like the rest of the universe will! I’m happy to face the universe and let it tell us the answers.
We did invent time, if you think about it how can time exist in eternity ?
Also if you think about travelling faster than the speed of light it shows the fallacy that time is, unless you believe in time travel
Just because human minds cannot comprehend it, doesn’t mean we are required for its existence. Think about how time is currently measured? We use atomic clocks. Time is something we use to measure change. Those atoms will continue to decay whether or not we are hear. Time is a dimension of measurement, no different to length or mass. We invented the terminology so we can interpret them but we didn’t invent those physical properties themselves. Perhaps even Stephen hawking himself has difficulty truly comprehending what happens at the speed of light, but again, our presence is not required for those physical phenomena to occur.
We made time to help us comprehend the here and now, where the universe is coming from since the big bang and to scale things. It’s only real in our tiny little existence. Matter is real, energy is real, eternity is a reality and time can not measure it, our brains can’t comprehend it. Back to my point of keeping an open mind on “god” (a word I don’t like) Something has always been and always will be, I imagine as I can’t understand. Energy ?????? Matter ?????? A fella with a white beard and a notebook keeping a record of what we do…. no I really don’t think so. But I don’t know how anyone can rule out what we don’t understand. Personally I think a big part of the problem is religions saying they do understand and also science saying it can explain, neither is true in my mind
If you think science can explain, tell me what you imagine was happening just before the big bang or a billon years squared a billon times before the big bang etc etc…… nobody can and what we don’t know we can’t rule out, trying to explain and understand, whether from a religious or scientific point of view can (and I’m not saying always) be a block to appreciating how amazing each individual life is, human, plant etc etc. Science is fantastic and has helped humanity in many ways ( even if it doesn’t always help in the bigger picture of what’s happening on earth) Religions or a lot anyway have at their core a lovely message (unfortunately humans, religious people, love power & distort the message for their own gain, using and abusing others). An open mind is best I think, as soon as you think you know something your mind is closed to other possibilities, I don’t know is one of the most powerful things we can say. Anyway have a good day, I enjoyed debating with you and I still don’t know, perhaps you are right in everything you said :)
Joe you misunderstand me. As an agnostic atheist, if evidence is presented then I will believe, not reject, a supernatural being. As for science, again you misunderstand me. I did not say humans through the scientific approach, will ever discover what happened before the Big Bang, I merely stated that the scientific method (remember, science is just a method) is the only way we might figure it out. We can sit and dream of gods or whatever but in a million years it will not bring us close. Also, the universe does not owe us an explanation. Yes we tend to view things from an anthropomorphic viewpoint but that doesn’t mean we are entitled to nor will ever received an explanation.
Also, you seem to be unable to separate human intellectual constructs from reality. Matter is a construct in our brain, we don’t even know what it is yet. But the actual real stuff exists outside. Same with time. Theoretical physicists are pretty clear that time exists, it may not be a fundamental , but it does exist, and will exist with or without us. If you just refer to the idea in our brains hen perhaps you are a solipsist and didn’t even realize it yourself!
50 years old – I remember when it was being built. Now I feel old!!!
The church , which is only around the corner from Dunsink Lane , has structural problems mainly with the roof……..mmmm !
It’s interesting that it was built 50 years ago and has structural problems yet standing all across the country there perfectly serviceable churches hundreds of years old perhaps we are not as far on as we would like to think
@seanging:
Good point.
Do think those other churches haven’t had work done on them in that time? 50 years is the typical design life of buildings. We tend to put in extra effort to keep buildings we see as special standing beyond their design life. Architecturally you’re right though. If this church looked as good as those old churches we’d probably want to fix it’s problems so we could keep it.
A lot of the churches built back in the late 50′s and into the 60′s were designed ahead of their time. Construction methods in Ireland weren’t really up to the task. Lots of glass , “odd roof design” , etc. led to them leaking like sieves only a few years after construction. I suppose there was a reason why the basic parish church design hadn’t changed much before that for centuries…
@seanging: parishioners have been shown not only estimates for the roof and structural work we’ve also felt the rain coming through the roof!!!! Many sections are now blocked off where the roof damage is most serious, for fear the roof will come down.
Sad to see this church go have some nice memories around it but it makes sense.
Far to many Catholic churches around, considering the diminishing attendances.
@Mahmoud O’Connell: Imagine the faux outrage there would be for demolishing a Mosque here…. I haven’t seen Clonskeagh full yet either
@liam kenny: Might become a mosque?
Can’t compare mosques in Ireland to churches, how many more churches then mosques is there?
@willypearson: Mny Churches in the UK are being turned into homes and into mosques?
@Ciarán FitzGerald: It is only a matter of a few years , with the influx of the Allah brigades they will be out the door. We get rid of the dominance of the RCC God Squad, and we are in danger of the growth of a more evil God squad. This planet would be a more peaceful harmonious place to live if all the various God squads folded their archaic tent’s and disappeared into the dustbin of history.
I was Baptised in The Church of Annunciation. It will be wierd passing by and not seeing it standing anymore.
Why? Because you have great memories of the day?
Its a beautiful church with a much dedicated lot of parishioners. The hope is that some of the church will be brought to the new building i.e. the stain glass window at the front, the tabernacle, stations of the cross. Many memories there but time to make new ones. By the way journal.ie its Father Eamann! He’s very particular about the spelling!!!ha
@Beverley Gannon: ugh just like the other churches build in the 70s and 80s they are nothing but concrete or glass eyesores. Good riddance!
Going for quality congregation rather than quantity
Only the die hard deluded people left
If the church gave up some of their land to help elderly parishioners or youth centres, they would find more people would have interest in church and its teachings. If they don’t change how they interact with the community, they’ll die out.
It says it in the article just above that they are.
All I read was offices and coffee docks!
@john Appleseed: “…will be primarily used for social housing after the current building is knocked down.”
Only seeing what you want to see?
Oh what an idiot. Mea culpa
When I saw that it accommodated 3,000 parishioners I legitimately thought it said pensioners. Which is probably more appropriate anyway.
It won’t be the last. Donnycarney church is going the same way and just a matter of time.
Sad news
fit it out as a homeless facility let that horrible church give something back after the damage they did to the country.
Hate is not a strategy
@the truth: Give your hatred a day off and chill out.
Ugly monstrosity, it’s about time they pulled it down. It’s an eye sore!
Are the Journal funded by George Soros
@cormac o neill:
That’s a good question. The content of this site suit what he funds. Recent euthanasia articles are popping up too which show how extreme libertarian is running this crap. Judy read comments that’s what I do. Articles are sh@te
He’s also taking on the bankers here involved in the repossession of homes http://www.independent.co.uk/news /business/news/george-soros-open-foundation-irish-bankers-fight-home-foreclosures-mortgage-arrears-missed-payments-a7559661.html
That’s the start of it, religion slowly going with young people having no interest, can’t really blame them to be honest after how the Catholic Church has behaved over the years.
Too many churches and not enough priests to cover them all. Makes sense to knock some of them and amalgamate parishes. Lot of them are huge buildings that would free up some much needed land for development.
I suppose Atheist Ireland Inc will be banging on about this for the next six months.
If you were to believe the census this church should be full. The population is larger now so despite the drop in belief they should still be able to pack it out like the 70s and 80s.
Kinda sad to see this church go but not surprised. Although, why not put a Primary Care Centre into the area instead of more social house, which the area is already crammed full of. The Primary Care Centre can help all the community including the growing elderly population.
Sad day for the church
Wait! Dwindling attendance? Yet the Church seeks to not reliquish management of national schools. I’m conflicted.
Comments being removed?? Do you not want to offend the religion of peace?
The people of Finglas paid for the building of that church, with door to door collections every week for years. My father was one of many men that donated their time and effort in the collection and counting of that money
Paddy what was it all for, who owns the property now,!! Not the people who gave the money. So those now selling it will keep the money, i.e.; Catholic Church.
@Paddy Cullen: If they knew where the money was really going they might have thought otherwise. But hard to criticize them given the lack of info and complete power the church had then.
Catholic Church alive and well.
It will survive.
Looking at the 40 death notices in today’s paper. All funerals going to churches.
People wander from the church but they always come back.
Well they don’t really have a choice, do they, Tom? In fact, there’s not many given a choice about joining in the first place.
Tom, the vast majority of remaining churchgoers are elderly. This same group naturally account for the vast majority of deaths. Hence the fall in church attendance is not yet reflected in church-based funerals. But give it a few years.
@Tom Burke: What absolute tommyrot.
This particular church isn’t well Tom & won’t be alive for much longer.
Obviously I don’t know how any others are faring.
Trishia
You and I are alive for what is only a blip in the lifetime of the church.
The fact is that Jesus is perhaps the most influential human being to have ever lived.
Do you really think that the church doesn’t have much longer to survive?
Really?
It will be here long after you and I are gone.
Now Tom, you know that I have no problem with Jesus but the church is a different story. This church is being knocked down & replaced with a much smaller one because of declining numbers. Most churches will stay standing but the numbers attending will steadily decline. Neither of us will be around for me to be able to say I told you so.
Outdated shop selling an outdated product. Inevitable really.
Can’t beat outdated jokes.
I got married in the the old tin chapel Jan 29 th 1966. 51 years ago to Patty still going strong. Then the people of west Finglas collect all the cash to build the new chapel. Sorry to see it go but that life.
Good riddance .
Win-win!
All churches will be closing down, no one interested in listening to a man dressed in black who is prevented from marrying, talking about marriage and the family. They ( Dressed in black) need to live the real life, then they can talk. ‘ Walk the walk’, easy when everything is provided i.e., house,car,wages, how can such a person ( man dressed in black) know the real life. What it’s like not to be able to afford mortgage, heating for the house, lose your job, tax and insure the car, ‘ Stress’ of living . ( Men in black) don’t live the real life, they get paid to say masses paid to Christin children, paid to bury someone, paid to pray for dead relatives, paid to sign Mass cards, paid for house calls, and many more I’m sure. We don’t need them anymore,( men dressed in black).
@Mairtín: You missed your vocation – you would have made a mint…
@Mairtín: The greatest scam that was ever inflicted on mankind.
I just wonder is a protected building. I was involved with the Architect… McCormack…. he created some amazing projects amongst some is the meteorological building just down the road
@Maurice Frazer: HAhaha Protected building. Its an eyesore and a failure! If that’s protected then I assume liberty hall is also protected.
Catholicism is dieing and rightly so
One less eyesore.Hopefully the land can be put to better use and give people a place to live instead. I guess the money they pocket form the land sale will “go into building a new church” Which means the other 90% of it is going straight to the Vatican bank as per usual, before the state can get any to pay for abuse victims.
They’d want to lock it up before ogle and eirigi see it as a chance to make another €170k.
meh. not that funny
Faster religion dies the better unless its the worship of sasha banks
Should be made into a council house
Funny thing is… Once it’s gutted most of the bits and pieces will probably end up being sold for use in expensive private houses and to pubs…. It’s not as if there’s much else they can do with them. Maybe send things like the stations and statues to the Philippines or somewhere but things like the pews, flooring, lights etc will go to the auctions…actually there’s a market for religious kitsch on the Continent so the statues might go there. On the upside for the Catholics.. at least JD Witherspoons didn’t put in an offer on the building….
@Billy Big Ballz: The only reason for living – a council house and I suppose free water
@James: No danger the publicity-seeking and hop-head ‘celebrity’ political type squatters will take it over- they would probably shrivel up in a church…
My cousin, who was an apprentice coppersmith and only 19 years old was killed in a fall while working on the roof.
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