Mayo church closed due to storm damage

HOLY Trinity Church in Westport is currently closed until further notice due to damage to the ceiling caused by Storm Éowyn.

Although the damage is not too bad, a decision was taken to close the building temporarily because of health and safety issues regarding parishioners attending services, or visitors to the town who regularly drop in to view the historic building.

However, Fr. John Kenny has kindly offered the use of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Ireland community for Sunday and mid-week services until Holy Trinity reopens.

The Sunday service will take place at 12 p.m. following Mass and the Wednesday communion will take place at the usual time of 10.30 a.m.

Rev. Suzanne Cousins says it is a wonderful gesture by St. Mary’s to come to the rescue of the Protestant community in this way and it is much appreciated by all.

“We are most grateful to the community of St. Mary’s Church for their expression of ecumenical friendship and solidarity in accommodating us in this way and allowing us to avail of their consecrated space,” she said.

Rev. Cousins added that the other churches in the Aughaval group were also damaged in the storm but will remain open.