Sir, – I was surprised at how saddened I was reading Patsy McGarry's article about the planned demolition of the church in Finglas West ("One of Dublin's largest Catholic churches to be demolished", February 3rd).
I served Mass as an altar boy in the Church of the Annunciation, and I have the gammy knees to prove it. The steps to the altar of the temporary but much-loved “tin church” that preceded the “new church” were pure luxury to kneel on compared to the cold marble which led to the altar of the latest incarnation. As the years went on, I froze at wedding and funerals, including the funerals of both my parents, clean hanky in hand, not for the tears but for the runny nose.
The half-empty church, which seemed to rise as high as Liberty Hall, was impossible to heat. But, nonetheless, I will miss it terribly.
Now I live in Co Sligo, and on my infrequent visits back to Dublin by train my heart beats a little faster as we pass Ashtown and I prepare to catch sight of that grey and unattractive building. Just as the Plough can lead the lost traveller to the North Star, so the huge church on the horizon leads me to the very house where my late parents reared their five children.
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While religion left me long ago, the Church of the Annunciation still managed to show me the way. – Your, etc,
BRIAN FARRELL,
Kilmactranny,
Co Sligo.