The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CRATLOE grotto, built by voluntary labour in 1932 and designed as a replica of the grotto at Lourdes, is currently undergoing a significant facelift thanks, in part, to the generosity of the local community.
Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the Eucharistic Congress and a local group, headed by parish priest Fr Liam Enright, resolved to initiate a major restoration project at the grotto on the Wood Road.
Possible avenues for generating funds were explored and an application for LEADER funding was successful. A sum of €30,000 was approved and the community then set about matching that grant by way of voluntary contributions.
Three people – Mary Frost, Jim Enright and Seán McNamara – were appointed treasurers and the works contract was awarded to local company, John Finn Construction.
The grotto sits on six acres and was constructed by the people of the parish in 1932 on the occasion of the Second International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. Voluntary labour underpinned its development, with people from each townland in Cratloe taking turns to work at the grotto.
The crucifixion scene, which towers above the grotto, can be clearly seen from St John’s parish church at the foot of the hill. There are seven terraces leading to the top of the grotto and located along these terraces are free-standing statues on pillars, statues of the Sacred Heart, St Joseph, St Patrick, St Brigid and St Michael the Archangel.
In the cave there is an altar that was once the property of Sir Vincent Nash of Limerick. There is an angel on either side of the altar. In 1948, Dr O’Neill, Bishop of Limerick, solemnly consecrated the grotto, while in 1955 the Stations of the Cross were donated by Fr Wallace.
“The grotto was built by voluntary labour to coincide with the Eucharistic Congress of 1932. It was pioneered by Canon John Wallace and apparently on one day alone 80 people were engaged working on the site. He also pioneered the opening of Bunratty Creamery in 1929,” outlined Jim Enright.
“There has been no major expenditure on restoration work since and the feeling locally was that if something major wasn’t done, that it might be better off to close the grotto. I don’t think our forefathers would be too pleased with our generation if that were to happen. They’d never forgive us,” he added.
The project involves removing all the wrought iron railings and supports and having them sandblasted, cleaned, repainted and replaced. The statutes, some of which have been damaged over time, are to be painstakingly restored and repainted, while a roadway leading to the top of the grotto will be developed, with a turntable to accommodate vehicle with invalids.
Some flood alleviation works will also be undertaken, a new marble top will be installed on the altar in the cave, while a general clean-up of the six-acre site is also on the cards.
“A timeframe has been put in place for the completion of the work and the plan is to reopen the restored grotto at dawn mass on Easter Sunday morning. Of course, that is dependent on the weather not interrupting the work schedule,” stated Jim.
