Ardee workers painting the town red...and blue...and olander...
TWO Ardee painters are helping to transform Drogheda - leaving their mark on churches, bridges and old buildings.
Tommy Murray and Ken Reid, who are responsible for the fine work on the West Gate House and St Dominick’s Bridge, are also in the process of painting the interior of the Dominican Church.
It’s the third ‘church job’ they’ve done, following on Reaghstown and Tallanstown.
The funds to do the job and also repair the roof came from donations from the people of Drogheda and Fr Jim Donleavy said he was a proud man watching the work last week.
‘ This is down to the wonderful people of this town,’ he stated. ‘We asked for help with the roof as it was leaking badly and they delivered and then we needed funds for the paint as the walls were peeling and again they got behind us. It shows how important the Dominican is to the town.’
The newly- Orlander clad church will be a busy spot this year with Archbishop Eamon Martin celebrating mass there in September to mark the 140th anniversary of the first mass said there by another archbishop, McGettigan.
Niamh Kavanagh will perform in the church on September 21 in an acoustic set while she is back in the Westcourt for a Christmas dinner and show on November 23.
Fr Jim also revealed that the proceeds towards the church painting fund were helped by a horse racing punter. Clearly praying for a big win in the Grand National, they duly picked the winner - Tiger Roll - and donated part of the winnings to the Dominican, still wrapped in a betting slip!