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Community keeping a roof over their heads

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A FEW years after successfully campaigning to preserve their traditional weekend mass, the community close to St Vincent de Paul Church at Oatfield are faced with another battle – the need to raise €50,000 to keep a roof over their heads.

A recent engineer’s report has indicated that some of the roof timbers on the church, one of three in the parish of O’Callaghan’s Mills, have decayed as a result of water seeping through the valleys and the slates.

On the engineer’s advice, temporary supports have been erected, under each of the four main beams at the valleys, to prevent the collapse of the roof. These supports will remain in place until the repairs are undertaken.

A committee has been set up to initiate the fundraising campaign for the preservation of the oldest church in the diocese and group chairman, Joe Robbins, will unveil plans to the congregation at mass in the church this Saturday evening.

“This was never an ornate, lavishly furnished church and this is how it must remain. We aim to provide a simple, yet comfortable building, which will be a suitable structure to serve the religious and community needs of this area,” Mr Robbins told The Clare Champion.

“We believe we can use the history of this church to our advantage, in that its uniqueness will help to generate interest and funding. It is up to us to spread the message of its exceptional heritage.

“Many people worldwide, especially those of Irish ancestry, would feel privileged to have ceremonies such as weddings, baptisms, renewal of marriage vows and retreats in such a historic church. Combine the possibility of developing the heritage of this building with the natural beauty of the area and you have an asset second to none,” he maintained.

Mr Robbins said the church is the focal point of the Christian community in Oatfield and despite its present condition and the lack of basic facilities, a regular group of people faithfully attend mass in the building.

“We regard the integration of new people into the locality as being vitally important and this is the only building in this rural area where they can assemble. This integration is especially facilitated by the tradition of having a chat and a cup tea for everyone, after the celebration of Christmas Eve mass. The project is supported by members of the community of all denominations and none,” he outlined.

Fundraising kicks off this Sunday with a fun walk around Oatfield, starting at 2pm. The start and finishing point is the church and refreshments will be provided afterwards.

“We will be organising a number of events locally within the Oatfield community, within the parish of O’Callaghan’s Mills and the county, together with Facebook and a website appeal worldwide.

“We will be arranging a massive Gathering at the church with a barn dance and dancing at the cross later in the summer. Donations are greatly appreciated, while we have also set up a bank account 33611393 at the Tulla Bank of Ireland branch,” he added.

A few years ago, then Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh engaged in discussions with the local congregation with a view to abandoning Sunday mass in Oatfield. However, locals rebelled against the idea. At the time, Bishop Walsh was engaging with communities and reviewing the time schedule for masses under the pastoral plan. In relation to Oatfield, he favoured the introduction of a Friday evening mass, which would suffice for the sabbath. His view was influenced by an ageing clergy, increased workloads in parishes and a drop in vocations.

However, Bishop Walsh acceded to the wishes of the people and left mass as it was. More recently, mass is held every second Saturday night and is celebrated by Canon Dan Spaight, a retired priest and native of Cratloe.

Oatfield Church has a unique history stretching back to Penal Times. It is believed the building was originally a thatched barn, which was used at harvest time for threshing and storing corn and for the celebration of mass. It remains one of only a couple of barn churches still in use in Ireland.

It is believed that the thatched barn was reconstructed into a church in about 1830, when Fr Jeremiah Tuohy was parish priest. Because of the scarcity of funds, voluntary labour was used for its reconstruction.

The finished building, with its earthen floors, had a thatched roof with bog oak rafters and was used as a church and a temporary school house at that time.

On January 6, 1839, the roof was ripped off this primitive building in what has become known as ‘The Night of the Big Wind’. The ensuing repairs included the addition of the lower side aisle and a new slated roof was erected. In later years the third aisle was added, which gave the building its present cruciform design.

In 1952, a double-open stoup (font) was inserted into the wall, at the entrance to the northern transept of the church. These particular stoups are found in late 15th century churches. This stoup in Oatfield was taken from the ruins of the church in Clonlea burial ground, which dates back to this era and is also in the parish of O’Callaghan’s Mills.

In May 1966, the church was rededicated to St Vincent de Paul by the late Bishop Joseph Rodgers.

 

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