PARISHIONERS at a Cork city church are usually used to
seeking a heavenly lift whilst attending Mass, but last weekend they
were confronted by a much more earthly means of raising the human form
on the altar.
Mass-goers at St Michael’s Church in Blackrock would
have been forgiven for being distracted from the Liturgy of the Word by
the not-insignificant presence of a large red cherrypicker metres from
the priest at the altar.
For the last four years with the aid of concerted fundraising, the 1964 building has been given a much needed facelift at a cost of €1.5 million.
According to parish priest Fr Tadhg Ó Mathúna, the work has involved significant work to the concrete frames surrounding the stain-glass windows as well as repairs to the spire and roof.
The cherrypicker was used to clean timber structures behind the altar which house some of the parish’s statues.
It has also been used to routinely clear away the dust which has settled around the church as a result of all the work.
Over the weekend, though, the owners of the machine were not available to move it so it formed an unusual accompaniment to the priest on the altars at each of the Masses.
"It is a sign of progress," said Fr Ó Mathúna. "We will be ready to embark on the re-painting of the whole place soon."
For the last four years with the aid of concerted fundraising, the 1964 building has been given a much needed facelift at a cost of €1.5 million.
According to parish priest Fr Tadhg Ó Mathúna, the work has involved significant work to the concrete frames surrounding the stain-glass windows as well as repairs to the spire and roof.
The cherrypicker was used to clean timber structures behind the altar which house some of the parish’s statues.
It has also been used to routinely clear away the dust which has settled around the church as a result of all the work.
Over the weekend, though, the owners of the machine were not available to move it so it formed an unusual accompaniment to the priest on the altars at each of the Masses.
"It is a sign of progress," said Fr Ó Mathúna. "We will be ready to embark on the re-painting of the whole place soon."