Monday, February 03, 2025

Tipperary church renovations will cost €600,000 according to parish priest

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Cashel is in need of renovations after moisture has recently damaged some of the structure.

During a recent inspection of the church in Cashel, it was found that water entering from the bell tower had caused damage to the internal structural timbers. Subsequently due to this damage members of the church cannot use the choir pews below the bell tower. 

The clock above the tower will also need to be fixed as it is currently not working and some stained glass windows will also need to be repaired too.

The church, which dates from 1795, is an imposing feature on Friar Street in Cashel. The church plays an important part in the history of the town as it was built on the site of a medieval Franciscan Abbey which was founded in 1260 AD.

The building is regarded as one of the oldest Catholic churches still in use in Ireland, making it important that it is renovated soon and not allowed to fall into disrepair. The damage to the church is thought to be exacerbated by the extreme weather conditions the country has seen in recent years due to ever changing weather.

Speaking with Fr. Patrick Burns, he explained that if funds are raised, the repairs could start by May or June of this year. The repairs are estimated to cost €600,000 and two priests based in Cashel have said they will have to fundraise to gather the full cost of the repairs.

Fr. Enda Brady, who is Parish Priest of the church, said that they have had to ask parishioners to double their monthly dues to help raise some money for the church. Both priests have stated that they already have the bulk of what’s needed raised. 

They already have €380,000 due to the sale of a parochial house on the Cahir Road, meaning they will need to raise around €200,000 to complete the renovations.

Both Fr. Enda and Fr. Patrick would like to thank those who have already donated. They will also be setting up a GoFundMe, which will be posted to the parish Facebook page soon. Those who wish to donate towards the renovations are to visit the Cashel and Rosegreen Parish Facebook page or contact the church on the following email: office@cashel-emly.

Fr. Patrick spoke about why it is important that the church be restored as it is an important aspect of the community in Cashel.

“I was involved with something similar in Pallas was I was parish priest there. We owe it to the people who gave us the church in the first place and we must remember the efforts and sacrifices that people had to make to build this church in the first place.” said Fr. Burns.

Asking Fr. Enda Brady why he felt it was important the church be restored so it can continue to be used, he said: “This church is a huge part of our cultural heritage of Cashel and should be kept in its glory to be given to the future generations. We are in a changing church but we still need our houses of prayer.”