60 years of Our Lady of Lourdes church

2019 marks the 60th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Church at Beechgrove and they are on the lookout for any memories people have of the church down the years.

They hope to include the images on their website so contact ollchurch@saintpetersdrogheda.ie.

Of course, I had a look at our own paper of that time and the Mayor of the time, Eugene Hughes attended the opening in April 1959 with the likes of His Eminence, Cardinal of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland; Most Rev. William Conway as well as His Eminence; Most Rev. Dr. John Kyne, Bishop of Meath

The church could seat 1,200 it was stated and also part of the day was a Guards-of-Honour from the F.C.A., under the command of Capt. Sean Murray, and the Oliver Plunket Troop of Catholic Boy Scouts, under the command of Scoutmaster, Mr. William Martin.

The ceremony was the fulfilment of a dream for Right Rev. Monsignor J. F. Stokes, P.P., V.G., St. Peter’s, and his parishioners.

It was built in Irish granite and Portland stone and unusually at the time, had no pillars.

The very fine sculptured representation of the Apparition at Lourdes is by Irish artist, Albert Power, of Dublin. The Stations of the Cross and fresco painting of the apse are by another Irish artist, Bernard McDonagh of Sligo.

The main contractors were Messrs. C. Creedon & Sons, of Newmarket, Dublin, and the 25 cwt. Church Bell was supplied and installed at the Church by the Bell Foundry, of James’s Street, Dublin.

Messrs. Josqph Rock & Sons, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, supplied and erected the magnificent marble High Altar and the Communion Rails.

I presume the improvements on Bachelor’s Lane, at the side of the Augustinian, are just the start of works around the back lanes. Large one-way signs have been painted on the road, so there’s no doubting the right way to go. But further down Shop Street, at Bessexwell Lane, there’s no indication that it’s a one-way route. The majority of drivers seem to enter from the Mayoralty Streeet end anyway, so maybe now is the time to make a decision on the best options on the one-way system around these streets before there’s a tragic accident.As an aside, a concrete finish rather than tarmac would have looked a lot better (left).