if matters in the Diocese of Killaloe are somewhat improving or rather that it is hoped that they will be permitted to by the end of the summer of this year.
Down there, the current incumbent in office, namely Bishop Wishy Washy Willie Walsh resides in a protected structure widely known as Westbourne or the Palace to the local wags, and it is situated on a substantial acreage.
Some of the lands were sold off years ago to make way for social housing development but if one was to visit the development it is far from sociable and affordable.
However, the St. Flannans (Killaloe) Diocesan Trust has taken another look at the property which remains and has decided that it could be re-developed into an area which would consist of further housing, commercial outlets and some shops also.
Not bad you may say, but it will all be located (permission to be granted but it will hardly be denied considering the strings that will be pulled there) within an ass' roar of the town centre itself so one would have to question the whole thing.
On the other side of the town - less than a leisurely 5 minute walk from planned development at Westbourne - just behind the Cathedral lies more property also owned by the Diocese which consists of a (currently trading) shop, an old cinema, a parish hall known locally as the Maria Assumpta Hall which is known to house the Legion of Mary, Apostolic Works Society and the Scouting Movement to mention just a few.The Diocese wants to level all this area and build from scratch a brand spanking (pardon the (ir)religious pun) new parish centre which would then cater for all those organisations under the same roof as the parish office and associated requirements of the parish.
All of this is to happen once the green light would be given for the development of the lands around Westbourne which when sold, is expected to raise a minimum of €30 million for the Diocese, but this then leaves one other question to be answered...what will happen to the surplus sums realised by the sale and development of Westbourne because it surely will not cost them that much to develop a centre as indicated on their own land near the cathedral?
The application will be heard as part of the Ennis Development Plan so you can have no doubts that it will be passed and the re-development of the area behind the Cathedral will begin once the Diocese and Parish somehow resolve the outstanding difficulties with some of the organisations currently resident and availing of the facilities of Maria Assumpta Hall.
I have a feeling that this will not be as plain sailing as the Diocese, Parish and indeed the Bishop himself would be hoping but then again you cannot walk all over people either can you now? Ah sure time will tell on this one...and good luck to them all down there...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce