This article is from page 6 of the 2006-08-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
KILRUSH Town Council came under fire yesterday when it emerged that the Kilrush parish would be in debt for the next 10 to 15 years to pay the €5 million costs of renovating St Senan’s Church, which is a listed building.
The costs of the project were initially put at €2.5 million four years ago. However, delays encountered as a result of concerns expressed by Kilrush Town Council over the project have pushed the costs up by 100 per cent, to €5 million.
With €1.9 million raised, fundraising for the scheme was suspended for two years due to the delays, leaving the community now with a €3.1 million shortfall.
Kilrush parish is expected to announce the contractor for the substantive portion of the works this week, with the renovations due to start in mid-August. The works are expected to take one year to complete.
Parish Priest, Fr Michael Sheedy, expressed his frustration with Kilrush Town Council for delaying the project.
“We spent five years trying to placate people who in the end only ignored us,” he said.
The town council – based on a report by the County Council’s Conservation Officer, Risteard Ua Cronin – refused planning permission for a substantive portion of the works last year, only for the decision to be overturned by An Bord Pleanala.
The Board overturned the decision of the town council after the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, intervened in the dispute. The delay pushed up the construction costs. The chair of the parish finance committee, Pat Shannon admitted yesterday that the community “is facing a big, big challenge”.
“I believe that Kilrush community could be paying off the current renovations works over the next 10 to 15 years,” said Fr Sheedy.
Both Fr Sheedy and Mr Shannon said that they hoped that the Diocese of Killaloe and the Department of the Environment would provide funding towards the renovation works.
Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said yesterday, “The church authorities have been penalised and it is grossly unfair”.
The parish is expected to draw down a bank loan to pay for the works. Masses are to be transferred to the local community centre.
However, Fr Sheedy said, “The community centre has capacity for 300, while we would have a number of masses where over 450 people would attend, so we will have to put on extra masses.”
The works are to include alterations to the entrance, under-floor heating and re-wiring.