Consecration of Malahide chapel

Both Church of Ireland archbishops attended the consecration of a new chapel at Malahide, Co Dublin, over the weekend.

Both Church of Ireland archbishops attended the consecration of a new chapel at Malahide, Co Dublin, over the weekend.

For the Church of Ireland Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop Robin Eames, it was the last such event he will attend in that role before retirement at the end of the year.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Dr John Neill, was celebrant at the service.

The new chapel, dedicated to St Marnock, will provide accommodation for 30 people and is designed to complement St Andrew's church. The cost, at just under € 1 million, was funded by the parish with support from a fundraising drive and donations. St Andrew's was built in 1822.

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Archbishop Eames described the consecration of St Marnock's as "a notable event not just for the diocese of Dublin but for the whole Church of Ireland".

Archbishop Neill said building the chapel was "a wonderful achievement and special credit must go to the rector, the Rev Dr Norman Gamble, the members of the select vestry, particularly those most associated with the project, and indeed all the parishioners".

Rev Dr Gamble thanked all the parishioners and friends of the parish for their support. "All are welcome to visit St Andrew's and St Marnock's and partake in our Christian fellowship."

The united parishes of Malahide, St Doulagh's and Portmarnock serve 400 families.

One of Dublin's most popular Catholic parishes began its 150th jubilee celebrations at the weekend. The green copper dome of the Church of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners, in Rathmines is familiar to most Dubliners and many more from "flatland" years in the capital.

The church was dedicated in June 1856, and was the first such construction in the archdiocese of Dublin following Catholic emancipation in 1829.

The celebrations began on Saturday evening with a vigil Mass celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Events planned for the coming months include a pilgrimage to Lourdes, the launch of a Rathmines Folk Group CD and an exhibition of photographs in Rathmines library.