Article 710- 26 September 2013

New Book – Journeys of Faith

Following on from last week’s article, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough was dedicated on Sunday 11 September 1938. A day later The Cork Examiner published an in-depth report of the dedication ceremony and a guide to the new building, which was constructed on land given by a local woman, Mrs McSweeney. There was a large attendance of parishioners for the dedication ceremony. When the time came for the public to enter the church, the accommodation for 700 worshippers was well taxed.  The bishop first blessed the outer walls and subsequently the interior after the recital of the litanies and psalms. The Bishop was assisted by Canon William P Murphy. The singing was provided by the choir of St Michael’s Church, Blackrock especially augmented for the occasion under the direction of Ms Mary Keller, with Ms Sheila Keller presiding at the organ.

Following the Gospel, the dedication sermon was preached by Fr Kieran, OFM Cap. His sermon was wide-ranging but focussed on how churches animate personal belief and faith. He spoke at length about the building belonging to the people and the people belonging to the church: “We are gathered and united in one living holy faith this morning in this beautiful little church, planned by Christ like minds and built by human hands and generous hearts”. He wove many ideas into his sermon describing Our Lady of Lourdes church as a place apart, a gate of heaven and a sacred space.. That through the building, “Catholic devotion transforms itself into stone and steel and precious metals” – that the story of Our Lady of Lourdes Church will quote: “not be written in stone but in the souls and lives of those who visit and worship it in the years ahead”.

Bishop Cohalan in his address highlighted the importance of having a temple to worship God thanked all those involved in it:

I would like to thank all who have helped to provide the means of meeting the cost of this new church. About £10,000 has been already expended and paid out on this church. That was a notable sum for the organisers and collectors to collect…there remains a debt of £1,000 and a house must be provided for the priest in charge of this church…And I appeal to the parishioners and to charitable friends to help Canon Murphy to wipe off the debt and to provide the small sum required. And not to confine myself to mere words, to appeal by example, I am myself giving the Canon £100 to meet the remaining liability.

The architects were Messrs Ryan and Fitzgibbon, 21 South Mall (originally of 44 Grand Parade). Anthony Fitzgibbon was a son of Daniel Fitzgibbon of Robertsville, Friars’ Walk, Cork. Born on 9 June 1906, he trained in the office of O’Flynn & O’Connor and was still working for O’Connor in 1929 after the partnership with O’Flynn had been dissolved. Although he was elected a student of the Royal Irish Architects of Ireland in 1927, he never became a member. In the early 1930s he lived in Bernadette Way, which would have made him aware of the church project going ahead. Very little is recorded of his later career, apart from the fact that he designed the Ritz Cinema in Washington Street, Cork, in 1939.  He later emigrated to work as an architect in London and in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) in the late 1950s. He ended his career in Cape Town, South Africa. His nephew, Dan Fitzgibbon, still lives in Ballinlough. Of the other architect Ryan, I have been unable to find information on him or her (if anyone has info give me a call).

As a building, Our Lady of Lourdes Church is in a Romanesque style and is faced externally with bricks and white cement. It was originally decorated internally in cream-coloured paints. The flooring in the nave was timber, with the centre and side passages of terrazzo and the sanctuary floor was in cream, white, brown and blue mosaic. The altar rail, altar, or predella (the platform or step on which an altar stands), and steps are of marble. There was ample room for a mortuary. The baptismal font was situated at the west end of the nave. Two recessed confessionals were provided, and space was provided for an organ.

Messrs Coveney Brothers, West Douglas, Cork were entrusted with the important job of chief contractors in the erection of the new church. Paddy Coveney, a native of Ballyfeard in South Cork, headed up that operation. His company were specialists in the work of building churches and erecting new schools. He was known for his attention to detail in making solid lasting structures. The products of Ballinphellic Brick Company, Ltd were widely known and appreciated. Their works were at Ballygarvan and their offices at 29, Watercourse Road. The owner was a brother of Barrett, a builder, living on the Douglas Road. To Messrs Lynch’s Joinery Works, Kyrl Street, was entrusted the work of the seating and other joinery works. The firm had a reputation as manufacturers of joinery of a very high standard.

For more info and to read the memories of local parishioner, Kieran’s new book, Journeys of Faith, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ballinlough, Celebrating 75 Years is available (E.15) from the church and its parish office.

Caption:

710a. Entrance hall window, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, The Little Flower – dedicated to opera singer Katie (Birdie) Conway (d.1936), sponsored by her family (picture: Kieran McCarthy)