St Mary’s Cathedral – essential conservation, accessibility and renewal works
St Mary’s Cathedral, Marlborough Street, Dublin, will close temporarily from 17th August to allow essential conservation, accessibility and renewal works as part of the next phase in its development as the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
For 200 years the Pro-Cathedral, as it was known, has been the centre of Catholic life in Dublin.
Last November, on its 200th anniversary, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell announced that the Holy See had designated St Mary’s the Cathedral for Dublin, placing it at the centre of the diocesan mission, looking in faith-filled and creative ways to the future
The proposed works to the Cathedral include external accessibility upgrades and structural maintenance, particularly the roof area; the interior to include a mechanical and electrical upgrade; a new amplification system; and the designation of a new baptismal area. The works will also see the upgrade of the facilities for the Palestrina Choir and Cathedral Girls’ Choir to include new rehearsal areas, a choral manuscript library and toilet facilities. Full details can be found on Dublin City Council’s planning website under reference 2684/25.
During the closure period, major diocesan liturgies will take place in St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row.
The temporary closure forms part of a wider vision for the Church’s presence in Dublin city centre.
Guided by the principles of Building Hope, Archbishop Farrell has adopted a Twin Pillar strategy centred on St Mary’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Westland Row, along with the adjoining parishes. Not merely about buildings, this initiative seeks to strengthen the Church’s mission through prayer, welcome, service, encounter and outreach, maintaining a strong presence on both sides of the River Liffey and creating opportunities to engage with practising Catholics, those who feel disconnected from faith and those newly drawn to the Christian tradition.
Alongside the physical renewal of St Mary’s, plans are being developed for new initiatives, events, charitable outreach and programmes across the inner city that will foster encounter, encourage participation and support the Church’s mission in contemporary Dublin. These will be announced over the coming months.
To engage with this programme of renewal, and for further information on the project, including practical arrangements during the temporary closure, please connect with us at www.dublindiocese.ie/cathedral
(Also available at https://www.dublindiocese.ie/st-marys-cathedral-essential-works/)
