Former Mayo Presbyterian Church sadly back in the headlines after 162 years

"While much of the focus has been on traffic congestion issues, it would be remiss to overlook the other, more serious implications"

The building at the centre of attention in Castlebar following an explosion in the property on January 26, an incident that has led to the closure of Lower Charles Street since then due to health and safety concerns, has an interesting history.

The Kirk was a former Presbyterian Church, the foundation stone of which was laid by Henry Todd of the firm Todd, Burns and Co., Henry Street, Dublin, on July 31, 1863. Todd was a generous patron of the Presbyterian Church.

According to local historian Dr. Michael M. O'Connor, the rain came down in torrents all that July day.

He recalled: "Consequently, the ceremony was poorly attended and had to be curtailed.

"Part of the ceremony was moved to a room in the nearby Manse House. The congregation opened the ceremony singing the hymn ‘Up Israel, to the temple haste and keep thy festive day'. The Castlebar correspondent of the Irish Times was present, and his account of the proceedings was published on August 8.

"When the hymn concluded, the Reverend William Patterson of the Ulster Presbytery addressed the gathering. He congratulated the Castlebar Presbyterian congregation and commended Dr. John Edgar for his work on the church project.

"Edgar was a professor at the Theological College Belfast. Tribute was also paid to former pastor, the Reverend Andrew Brown, and the then-current pastor, the Reverend John Cairns. Patterson concluded by reading a section of the scripture in which Solomon dedicated the temple to the living and true God.

"Edgar then delivered a lengthy speech in which he recounted the long history of Presbyterianism in Castlebar. He took the congregation back to the days of George Robert Fitzgerald of Turlough House.

"Fitzgerald had established a colony of Presbyterians at Turlough as ‘a bodyguard to himself in those perilous times.’

"The Fitzgeralds were the first to build a Presbyterian meeting house in the locality and a further one at Turlough. Edgar also remembered members of the Fitzgerald family buried ‘under the shadow of the old tower’ (Turlough Round Tower).

"Edgar reminded the congregation of the terrible fate of Lady Sarah Fitzgerald. The Reverend Thomas Scott, the author of ‘Commentary On The Whole Bible’, delivered a eulogy at her funeral.

"Lady Fitzgerald had completed her devotions on a Sunday evening and was turning out the embers of the drawing-room fire when her dress ignited. She ran in terror to the head of the stairs, where she was seen in a blaze of fire that consumed her.

"Edgar told the congregation that a new house of worship was required at Castlebar due to the growth in the Presbyterian congregation in the town. He stressed that it was not the intention of the community to interfere with the religious teaching of any other sect or body. He listed the advantages of the new edifice and assured those gathered that the work would ‘last throughout eternity’.

"When the address concluded, the congregation went outside. Castlebar architect William Glanville gave Todd a trowel to fix the foundation stone. The proceedings were concluded by the Reverend Browne offering up a prayer.

"The church opened on a Saturday morning. Dr. Edgar led the service. The congregation was plentiful, and a significant financial contribution was collected. The money was used to repay the large debt incurred in building the church.

"The church was frequently used for community gatherings and events, including the first meeting on February 12, 1869, of the Castlebar branch of the Young Men’s Christian and Literary Association, under the direction of Captain Ward.

"The object of the association was to ‘improve the intellectual capacity of the young men of Castlebar.”

When fire which broke out in the building last month while being used as an Indian restaurant, extensive damage was caused to the interior, the rear of the building and the roof structures. However, concerns were also raised by the Health and Safety in regard to the frontage.

Consequently, materials for supporting the damaged front wall arrived on the site last Thursday for the erection of props.

The fact that the building is a 160-year-old protected structure has made restoration efforts more complex, according to local Councillor Harry Barrett.

But hopes are growing that the reopening of the street is imminent, ending the weeks of town centre traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, the two men who suffered burns in the explosion continue to recover from their injuries and the good will of the community is extended to them.

Regrettably, two local businesses - the Imperial Blue Restaurant, where the explosion occurred, and the adjoining XL Scriney have not been in a position to trade since January 26 last and the personal and professional cost in both cases is considerable, as it is for the owner of The Kirk property, Paddy McGuinness.

While much of the focus has been on traffic congestion issues, it would be remiss to overlook the other, more serious implications.