INCOME has exceeded expenditure in Shannon Parish for two of the past three years, according to income and expenditure accounts for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The accounts, published recently showed income exceeding expenditure by €59,464 in 2019 and by €10,475 in 2021. In 2020 however, expenditure exceeded income by €1,294.
In 2019 the offertory collections in Shannon came to €136,096. In 2020 and 2021, when pandemic restrictions were strictest, the figures were €90,264 and €93,603 respectively.
In general income fell heavily during the pandemic, down from €256,274 in 2019 to €111,399 in 2020 and €144,840 in 2021.
To put it in context, the combined income from 2020 and 2021 was almost exactly the 2019 amount.
The parish received a tax rebate of €34,951 in 2019, along with much smaller sums in 2020 and 2021.
Over the three years there was over €55,000 in shrine income, while the parish received €19,000 in donations and bequests.
Repairs and maintenance were the biggest expenses in each of the three years, with €35,552 spent on it in 2019, €26,885 in 2020 and €40,025 last year.
In addition another €23,862 was spent on repairs to the Adoration Chapel roof in 2019, while an item included in income is an Adoration Chapel Roof Settlement, which added €31,000 to that year’s income.
Writing on the parish website, Father Arnie Rosney expressed his gratitude for the help given during the pandemic.
“We thank you for your tremendous support particularly during lockdown. As you can see your donations have gone to the different categories of Parish life. Please note 2019 Tax Rebate figure will be included in the 2022 Accounts.
“I would like to thank Ronan Hynds who manages and publishes the Parish Accounts and to the Finance Team for their expertise.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.