This article is from page 36 of the 2007-05-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
THE Kilrush Parish Finance Com- mittee is hoping to tee off the next stage in fundraising for the refur- bishment of St Senan’s Church with a golf classic on May 4.
It 1s hoped that the tournament, which will be held at Kilrush Golf Club, will raise £10,000 towards the massive €5.2 million renovation of the church.
Pat Shannon, chairman of the fi- nance committee, listed out the extensive work that must be done before the church is finished in late Summer.
“A new roof is needed, the stained glass windows have been removed for repair and storm glazing and
the stone around the Rose Window has been re-cut. New central heat- ing is needed, the altar has been re- positioned and there is a new front entrance, boiler house and toilet fa- cilities. It is a complete upgrade,” he Sr AKOe
Mr Shannon added that the project has been several years in the making with a two year planning delay and appeals to An Bord Pleanala slowing down the building but not the fund- enh b Ores
He said that the continuing local contribution to the project has been excellent.
“We have raised nearly €2 million in the last few years. The house to house collections and general appeal raised €200,000 alone. We have a
parish draw and lotto as well. Dif- ferent organisations in the parish have also had their own money-rais- ing activities. We got some private donations and bequests in wills too. There has been a big drive in the lo- cal community.”
The committee has borrowed the remaining €3 million and has ap- pealed to the Government for fund- ing to make up the shortfall.
“We applied to the Department of the Environment for grants. We met with the Taoiseach and Ministers Cowen and O Cuiv. We already re- ceived verbal support from them but as yet there has been no financial as- sistance,’ he added.
Parish services have been held in the community hall since Septem-
ber, but Mr Shannon said that the church’s structure already shows an rboah ey en{er0 slo 01
‘The interior has dried out tremen- dously. From what we’ve seen so far St Senan’s will be one of the finest church buildings in the diocese, if not in the country.”
It costs €500 to enter a team in the golf classic and anyone interested can contact Denis Nagle on 065 9051138. Donations can also be sent to Father Michael Sheedy, The Paro- chial House, Toler Street in Kilrush.