BLACKROCK

PILGRIMAGE

The closing date for booking on the parish’s pilgrimage to London has been extended. Completed forms with a deposit of £50 per person must be submitted by Sunday, January 29.

The pilgrimage from Monday, May 1 to Friday May 5 will be centred around the martyrdom of Saint Oliver Plunkett at Tyburn on July 1 1681 and is being organised by the parish Pastoral Council

The pilgrimage will include three nights in London and one in Chester.

Travel will be by coach and ferry and B&B accommodation will be provided.

The cost is £380 per person sharing with a supplement of £190 for single rooms.

Application forms are available in the sacristies of both parish churches. There are 50 places available which will be allocated on a first come basis.

CHURCH WORKS

Phase two of the remedial works to Saint Fursey’s Church is set to commence early in the New Year.

Significant defects were discovered following the major renovation of the church which was completed in 2008. These led to emergency works worth €47,300 being undertaken in 2011 to the grounds and the church on the advice of insurers.

Repairs also were carried out before Christmas and now the next stage is to proceed at a cost €300,000 and are projected to be completed in 18 months.

Altogether the parish faced a bill of over €423,000 to rectify the defects found on top of a debt of €1.5m that was incurred to carry out the renovations, a statement issued by the parish disclosed.

The builder who carried out the renovations works ceased trading in 2012, resulting in the discontinuation of High Court proceedings to recover damages for the defects, according to the statement published in the parish newsletter at the latter end of last year.

The full implications of the church renovation project were revealed in the statement. The defects included the external render to the walls, internal wall linings, roof structure, external doors, sanctuary floor, vinyl floor finishes, external doors and windows, first floor office and electrical installation, the statement outlined.

The parish insurers were notified and advised that the defects arose out of defective workmanship and the parish didn’t have cover for the cost of repairs under its property insurance policy.

The statement stated that proceedings were issued in the High Court against the builder, architect and structural engineer in 2013.

On the advice of its solicitors the parish’s only recourse was against the builder and since he stopped trading it would be futile to continue.

The full remedial works are expected to be completed by the middle of 2018, and it is hoped that they can be carried out without having to close the church.

SAINT OLIVER’S CHURCH

Virtually the entire sum to cover the cost of the renovation works to Saint Oliver Plunkett has been raised.

The outstanding balance was reduced to just €435 by the end of the year. The work cost €439,000, the main feature of which was the creation of a new side entrance which entailed the construction of a new porch with a main door and two side doors into the church.

The entrance is to facilitate those with mobility issues and in wheelchairs, as well as enhance safety.

A separate porch was also built into the vestry which was upgraded with a seated area for those who do not wish to enter the main body of the church for ceremonies. A new altar server’s room also was provided.

As part of the whole upgrade new lighting, along with emergency lights and CCT were installed.

CONCERTS

The church choirs in Saint Oliver’s were involved in the staging of preChristmas concerts in the church in aid of charity.

The Vigil choir led off with a Cantata. The Sunday adult and children’s choir also took part in the Clermont Chorale concert. The children’s choir as well sang in the Marshes Shopping Centre and succeeded in raising £250 for the Maria Goretti Foundation.