Parishioners of City Quay in Dublin are calling on the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin to release funds to renovate the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
For 160 years, the 'Dockers Church' has been a central hub in the capital’s docklands.
Described as a haven in the community; six generations have prayed, received the sacraments, and buried loved ones.
In recent years, office blocks and apartments have reached heights far greater than the Belfry which once dominated the skyline.
Shiney glass buildings symbolising economic change in Dublin 2, tower above the church, but on the ground are parishioners for whom the Church of the Immaculate Heart is central to their lives.
Office workers in the surrounding buildings, many of whom have moved into the area, also use it as a space to reflect and pray.
In that regard, City Quay church is somewhat unique in its growing numbers.
Inside, the building is in a poor state. There is plaster falling off the walls and there is a smell of dampness that can’t be eradicated. It needs rewiring and the sacristy is in an unfortunate state.
Development in the area in 2016, resulted in objections from the Community, Parishioners and the adjoining School over disturbance, infringement and the blocking of natural light from an eight storey building next door.
Indeed, even at the height of summer, natural light is muted in the church.
Following protests by the local School, the Community and Parishioners a settlement was reached with the developer, TIO, in April 2018 where they would undertake certain work and pay €3.5 million.
The first phase of the project which involved the restoration of the courtyard at the front of the Church was completed in 2019 to an agreed design with Parish representatives.
After the Parish paid the requested Diocesan lawyer’s fees of €500,000 and the agreed €1m for the upgrading of City Quay National School, there was approximately €2 million available for necessary work on the interior of the Church.
A planning application was made by a project management company and design team to include an ecclesiastical expert and conservation architect retained by the Parish.
In November 2020, planning permission was granted for the renovation works and a qualified contractor was appointed following a competitive tender process.
Parish representatives say the Dublin Diocese and their representatives were appraised at all times and were sent details of the proposed works.
They pointed out that the then Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin visited the church and both he and his Vicar General were informed of the restoration works to be done.
However, once final permission was granted by Dublin City Council, everything came to a halt, just weeks before the retirement of Archbishop Martin, much to the astonishment of the local community.
Archbishop Martin told parish representatives that it would be for his successor to sign off and decide if the funds could be used and for the Church to remain open.
The Parish priest of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the Archbishop of Dublin. It is one of four Parishes in the city where he holds this position.
Priests assigned to these areas are administrators.
There were queries from the building committee of the Archdiocese on aspects of the proposed development.
The Parish project manager, design team and its lawyer responded to those queries but the Archdiocese building committee did not meet or engage with them.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin entered retirement in December 2020, and Archbishop Dermot Farrell took up the role as head of the Archdiocese in February 2021 and consequently, parish priest of City Quay.
With the renovation works not approved by the Archdiocese, the parish administrator Rev Pearse Walsh was asked by Archbishop Farrell to fire its design team and hand over the outstanding €2 million from its escrow account.
The funds were subsequently transferred from the parish escrow account to the Archdiocese and Fr Walsh who recently retired.
The construction lawyer on the project who transferred the money said the situation was "very disappointing".
Bruno Herbots said the instructions given by the Diocese were to "give the money back".
"An instruction is an instruction and there's nothing you can do against it. So, the money had to be sent," he told RTÉ News.
In a statement a spokesperson for the Archbishop of Dublin said Archbishop Farrell had not sought the transfer of funds from City Quay adding that "funds which were nonetheless transferred to him are being held in the name, and for the exclusive benefit of, City Quay Parish".
The Parish was informed last year that if the Church was to be renovated it needed to be done so by consultants and contractors appointed by the Archdiocese.
The spokesperson said: "For every significant capital project in the Archdiocese of Dublin there are procedures in place to ensure that resources are used to best effect and in a transparent and accountable fashion.
These apply to the project at City Quay and the project will proceed when the Archbishop is satisfied that they have been met," he said.
The statement said Archbishop Farrell has appointed a new administrator to the parish on the retirement of the current parish administrator.
"The Archbishop is hopeful that outstanding issues can be resolved in the near future, and that the refurbishment of City Quay Church can proceed."
The current stand-off has led to anger amongst locals and efforts from TDs and public representatives to find a solution.
One local TD wrote to the Archbishop of Dublin on multiple occasions on behalf of the community to set up a meeting. It did not take place.
RTÉ News also asked the Archbishop’s spokesperson if he would meet parishioners but this direct question was not answered.
In the meantime, ballooning building costs are of concern to those who want to see the renovation proceed.
Head of the Pastoral Council Mary Dolan acknowledges that the settlement funds may not go as far as originally planned due to rising costs, but the community is undeterred.
"We're not looking for anything sophisticated or anything like that, we just want to just to conserve and ensure it’s a building that is fit for purpose."
Many parishioners like Thomas Nolan whose late brother John was behind the campaign for compensation are upset and angry.
"If my brother John who died was here now, he’d be frothing at the mouth," he said.
Tommo’s family have been part of City Quay Church for four generations and like others who live locally, the church is part of his wider family.
Recently, a public meeting was held to discuss the stalled renovation. Two hundred people turned up, including many who had lived in the parish in the past.
One man had been married in the church 63 years ago.
"We’re a Docklands area, we’re a working-class area and we just want our church and somewhere to worship," Tommo says.
"There’s no one looking for money out of this, it’ll be going back into the church, it’s as simple as that."
Jean O’Toole who is a church volunteer and a Eucharistic Minister was born and reared on City Quay. Generations of Jean’s family received their sacraments at the church.
The building is her haven but as it becomes more and more delapitated, she finds it increasingly upsetting.
"Every time I come in, I could cry because I see it falling down around me and deteriorating more. And to think that the money is not being released to do this church up, I think it's so sad to think that we're left with this the way it is".
City Quay parishioners have pointed out that their church has been maintained and funded by their community for generations.
95-year-old Kathleen Delamere who attends the Rosary daily, remembers the Dockers being "very good" to City Quay church.
"When they were finishing work on the boats, the tilly bag was ready, and any change and coins went back down to City Quay."
Mrs Delamere who has lived in the Markievicz flats all her life and her friend 80-year-old Frances Heavey used to clean the church in the past.
"We came down and we scrubbed, and we cleaned, washed the floors and done all that when we were young women, we’re too old for all that now," said Kathleen.
As she pointed to the altar, Frances Heavey said: "I believe that’s Jesus, that’s him there. I really believe in his presence there. This is his house, and they’re not going to take it down. I’ll chain myself like the Vicar of Dibley to the front gate if I have to!"
City Quay parishioners have set up an online petition calling on the Archbishop of Dublin to release the funds for the restoration of the Church.
Next year is the 160th year of the church.
Unless the building is given the restoration it needs, there are fears locally that it will fail to make its 170th year.
