€500k bid to restore Cork church under way

A €500,000 fundraising drive is under way to save and restore a landmark church and priory in the heart of Cork City.

Lord Mayor Cllr Mary Shields hosted a civic reception to help the Friends of St Mary’s launch their campaign to fund the repair and restoration project for the Dominican Foundation of St Mary’s on Pope’s Quay.

The iconic St Mary’s church and neighbouring priory building, both of which are some 200 years old, are in dire need of restorative repair and reconstruction.

“Both buildings are badly affected by the ingress of water through leaks in the roofs, walls, and windows,” said Tom Walsh, chairman of the Friends of St Mary’s committee.

“The situation is worsened by damp seepage through the walls of buildings. These walls urgently need much restorative work and dry-coursing to make them fit for purpose.”

Engineers and architects are assessing the full extent of the required work, much of which is required urgently. Initial estimates have put the cost of the project as high as €500,000.

The Friends have now announced details of a gala fundraising concert at Cork Opera House on Wednesday, March 18.

Produced and directed by Charlotte O’Byrne and Noel Magnier, and with Dr Kevin Goggin as MC, the show will feature soprano Majella Cullagh, the Band of the 1st Brigade, Collins Barracks, under the baton of Captain Brian Prendergast; the St Mary’s Church 50-member choir, led by conductor Sean Lehane, the Cork School of Dance, comedians Noel Barrett and Pat Sullivan, Terry McCarthy, and Donal Ring Jr, and the Montfort College of Performing Arts.

Mr Walsh said it is hoped the people of Cork will support the fundraising drive given that the foundation celebrates its 175th anniversary this year serving the city.

The Dominicans can trace their roots in Cork back to 1229, when they built a church on an island in the south channel of the River Lee, just outside the ancient city walls.

By 1729, the friars were living off Shandon St, where they built a chapel known as Sand Quay Chapel, where Nano Nagle worshipped.

In 1784, the Dominicans built a priory and church on the site on which the historic Shandon Castle stood. It would be their home for the next half a century until they moved to Pope’s Quay.

The foundation stone of the present-day church, designed by architect Kearns Deane, who provided his services free of charge, was laid in 1832. It opened in 1839.