PARISHIONERS are to be asked to help raise around €1 million to complete restoration work on three Catholic churches on the northside of Cork city. The biggest restoration project will take place at St Brendan’s Church in The Glen.
The church, built in 1973, will need a complete new roof.
It is hoped work will start on around August and will take about six months to complete.
The Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool, built in 1945, is also to undergo extensive works.
Its parish priest Fr John O’Donovan said work will include damp-proofing the walls and roofs.
Some rotten timbers will be replaced along with guttering.
Fr O’Donovan said it was hoped to start work next month and finish within three months.
St Oliver’s Church in Ballyvolane is also in line for restoration works, but as it was built in 1992 these are not extensive.
Fr O’Donovan said he hoped work would be completed in the three churches by the spring of 2011.
To kick-start the fundraising effort a special concert will take place at St Oliver’s Church, Ballyvolane, on May 7 at 8pm.
It will feature talented opera singer Cara O’Sullivan, The Airport Singers and the Scoil Olibhair choir.
Tickets cost €20 each and are available from all three churches, Blackpool Post Office, Dennehy’s Stores in Ballyvolane and Promusica.