Members of a prayer group who are staging a sit-in at the Franciscans-owned friary in Clonmel since the beginning of the year say they are resolute and determined to continue their action despite legal proceedings being issued against them for trespass.
In September 2022, the Franciscan order announced it was withdrawing from the friary in the Co Tipperary town after "much consideration and evaluation".
At the time, the order said it was a "sad and difficult decision", having had a presence in the town for more than 700 years, but was unavoidable "as we like so many other religious bodies deal with and respond to our ageing and reducing membership."
The Abbey House of Prayer Group has held prayer and confession at the friary since 2023.
In a statement earlier this month, the Franciscans said that on 29 October 2024, they met with representatives of the group and told them the church building would be closed.
The order said it confirmed the decision in writing on 1 November, with an initial closure date of 18 December, which was extended to 31 December following a request from the Abbey House of Prayer Group.
The order has now been granted permission by the High Court to serve proceedings against the group for alleged trespass and to seek their withdrawal from the property.
Abbey House of Prayer Group member Pat O'Gorman said no one in Clonmel wants the Friary closed.
"Its an awful decision, its just not fair. It is the beloved church of the people of Clonmel, it belongs to them who has supported the Franciscans down over the years.
"We have offered to run the Friary at no cost to the Franciscans, but this has not been accepted. We are resolute in our determination to stay," he said.
The Franciscans have also insisted that no decision has been made about the future of the building and reject statements locally that they intend to convert it for rental purposes.
The order said it is aware of its responsibilities about it as a listed building and will not allow it to fall into disrepair.
Local Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy, who has written to the Franciscan order offering to mediate, said it was regrettable that the order had now gone to court, and that he was hopeful some form of resolution could be found through mediation, and he remains available to help in that regard.
"Only mediation will solve this in the end," he added.