Donnybrook Parish

A new Catholic Church was erected in 1866 on the south bank of the River Dodder. It was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in order to atone for the riotous antics of the Donnybrook Fair from the 12th to the 19th century.

The opening ceremony took place on the 26thAugust, 1866. Cardinal Archbishop Paul Cullen, Ireland's first Cardinal, dedicated it. It replaced the Church of St. Mary, which stood where the Garda station is now located. The architects were Edward W. Pugin and G. C. Ashlin. The builder was Michael Meade. He built what is now St. Michael's College, as his private residence and also many of the houses on Ailesbury Road. The church was built of granite with Bath stone dressings at a cost of £7,000.The first parish priest was Rt. Rev. Monsignor Andrew O'Connell. In 1909, Canon Gossan finished the church tower at a cost of £1,200. On 19th July 1923, His Grace Most Rev.

Dr. Byrne consecrated the church now completely clear of debt. During the widening of the main street in 1931, the granite cross from the old church was found and later incorporated in the wall of the new extension beside Anglesea Road.

The present parish runs from the south side of Ranelagh Road to the R.D.S. Ballsbridge and from Belfield almost to Leeson Street Bridge.


Parish Priests Since 1849