A few years ago, I reported on how the Church of the Sacred Heart in Limerick was to become a spa and leisure centre. Sadly, the developer who purchased the Church has taken his own life (please remember him in your prayers) and the Church is once again on the market. It sold for 4 million euros in 2006 but will now go for very much less than that - about 800,000 to 1 million is the current guess. The estate agents suggest that:
Property may lend itself to many uses such as Library / Museum /Leisure Centre / Bar / Restaurant - (subject to the necessary Planning Permission).The reportage slideshow in the video above is by Michael O'Brien. He asked for permission to do the photo shoot in order to preserve images of this beautiful Church for posterity in case it is made into a bar or restaurant.
It would be wonderful if the Institute of Christ the King were able to raise funds to buy it instead. At 03:37 in the video there is an old picture of the Church with two angels on the altar, adoring the Blessed Sacrament. I heard that these were purchased from the previous developer by the Travellers. I'm glad about that since it means that they will be cared for and treated with reverence. And possibly, with a little friendly negotiation, they could be bought back if the Church were restored to sacred worship.
6 comments:
Why on earth isn't it listed?!?! It is exquisite and even has a decent looking organ which most churches would cry out for....
Miserere mihi, Domine, quoniam ad te clamavi tota die: quia tu, Domine, suavis ac mitis es, et copiosus in misericordia omnibus invocantibus te. Ps. Inclina, Domine, aurem tuam mihi, et exaudi me: quoniam inops, et pauper sum ego.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to Thee all the day; for Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee. Ps. Incline Thine ear to me, O Lord, and hear me; for I am need and poor.
Achingly beautiful Church, Fr. May the good people of Limerick have this wonderful Catholic treasure restored to them.
The Latin Mass Society of Ireland had gathered a group of business men to buy this Church from the Jesuits. The Jesuits were more interested in getting as much money as they could and refused to sell it. The disgraceful aspect is that the Church was sold to a developer with everything still inside. Altar, statues , paintings. What could have been a centre for the TLM in Limerick was sold off to the developers who could not do much with the building as it has a preservation order. But there are many other similar properties in Ireland. I was involved in negotiations with different congregations but to no avail. Once the TLM was mentioned it became a no go area.
what a heartbreaking tragedy to see the corpse of a once pulsing heart of spirituality! While, outside, the mess of potage that the Irish have exchanged for their patrimony is rapidly souring.
One hopes the statues of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady have found a good home. The English province of the J's have reportedly come into £14 million; surely a fraction of that sum could find its way to ransom this church of the Sacred Heart, AMDG?
The Institute of Christ the King are sharing a church in Limerick and it would be much better to have a place of their own. I'm sure if they put out an appeal in their American churches they would soon have money to buy it.
Michael, any chance you could provide the source video or tell us where we can get a copy for the Crescent College Past Pupils Union website & digital archive?
We'd also love to have digital copies of the photos for the archive.
Drop an email to photos@crescentpast.com and we can arrange some way to get a copy of the video and images.
Regards
Eoin
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