The Church of Ireland church in the west of Ireland which featured in the film, The Quiet Man, is to be used by Catholics while their own church is being renovated.
St Mary's Church of Ireland, Cong, Co Mayo, whose exterior featured in The Quiet Man, will be used by the local Catholic congregation for about six months until the Church of St Mary of the Rosary is renovated.
Refurbishment, costing an estimated €900,000, is needed to the Catholic church because the exterior is deteriorating. There is also a need to re-roof the building and reface part of it with stone which is in keeping with the geology of the area and its strong masonry traditions.
Fatherr Colm Kilcoyne, parish priest of Cong, says Catholics in the area are delighted with the goodwill and ecumenical spirit being shown them. "This refurbishment has been planned for some time but at last we are in a position to proceed".
A spokesman for the local Church of Ireland vestry said: "We are happy to share our facilities and accommodate our neighbours and friends in the Catholic church".
Over the next six months, Catholic marriages will be performed, children will be baptised and funeral ceremonies conducted in the historic, stone cut, Protestant church which is set in ancient woodland on the perimeter of the Ashford Castle estate.
St Mary's Church of Ireland was built by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1855. It is only about half the size of the Catholic church so the Catholic clergy will need to provide extra Masses at weekends and stagger attendance.