St Brendan's Church, Birr
ON August 1st 2024 St. Brendan's RC Church, Birr, celebrated the bicentenary of its completion, on August 1st 1824.
Over 20 decades the church has been at the centre of life for the Roman Catholic population of Birr Parish. It was one of the first Irish RC churches to be completed on such a scale since the relaxation of penal laws.
In 1824 Roman Catholic and dissenter populations were tolerated if they kept things below the radar. St Brendan's however, with its gothic revival architecture and 124 feet 6-inch spire certainly was not below the radar. It was also built in a most prominent position overlooking the weir on the Cam Cor River. This was thanks to the local landlord Laurence Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse. Laurence not only donated the site but contributed £100 and a quarry of stone to complete the building. It is safe to say that the 2nd Earl of Rosse was a truly ecumenical gentleman who was a leading light in the realms of tolerance and inter-community relations.
This is just one aspect of the building’s history recorded for posterity by local historian and pastoral council chairperson Brian Kennedy, in his new book ‘A Place in All Our Hearts’. The book with a myriad of pictures of the building will be launched in St Brendan's Church, by Bishop Fintan Monahan, of Killaloe, on November 29th next, at 7.30pm. The launch will appropriately take part in the context of an ecumenical service to mark the Feast of St Brendan of Birr, to whom the church is dedicated.
Brian is well known in Midland historical circles and was chairperson of Birr Historical Society for over 10 years. Generations of locals will remember Brian from their days in St Brendan’s Community School, where he has taught English and History for over three decades. He studied History, English, and Philosophy at UCD where he subsequently obtained his Higher Diploma in Education.
Frequently, Brian’s guided historical walks of Birr’s historic core draw up to 150 patrons and have become a staple of Vintage Week and Arts Festival, each August. He also delights in giving historical tours of Birr Castle Demesne where he shares his great knowledge of the Parsons family’s 400-year association with the demesne.
The book charts the history of the church building, its development over two centuries, people associated with the church and celebrates its special place in the history of Birr Parish.
Brian recalls that he set out to update a booklet he produced to commemorate the church’s renovation in 2001. With the persuasion of Fr Tom Hogan PP VF, this project grew into a book. The research for the book, Brian says, was addictive and the sources spoke of the love parishioners have had for St Brendan's over the last two centuries. He notes that in tough economic times vast amounts were spent on the maintenance and enhancement of the beautiful iconic Birr building.
Over 200 years the church has provided the venue for the key moments of Birr people’s lives. They were brought there for baptism, received 1st Holy Communion, Confirmation and were married there. A number were also ordained in the building including current Killaloe priests Fr Arnold Rosney, Fr Pat Malone, Fr Lorcan Kenny, and Fr Mike Geraghty. It is also the place where we come full circle and end our earthly journey with our funeral rites.
In choosing the title of the book Brian was keen to capture the place St Brendan's RC Church holds in the hearts of all Birr people. He is keen to stress that he has recorded the history of the building, but it is the individual memories of each parishioner that make it a special place. It is indeed holy ground sanctified by 200 years of countless prayers by individuals and congregations.
This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a book that will be a great present for anyone with an association with Birr Parish. It will be particularly welcomed by Birr people away from home. Everybody is invited to the launch in St Brendan's Church, on Friday November 29th, at 7.30pm. The ecumenical service that evening will be guided by Bishop Fintan Monahan and clergy of the Church of Ireland and Methodist communities. The singing will be led by the Brendan Pastoral Area choir and local musicians. All money raised by sales of the book will be donated to parish funds.
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