‘Dancing with the Stars’ and raising money for historical church renovation

A historic church in Co. Cork, built two years before Catholic Emancipation, is preparing for its bicentennial with “unusual events” and fundraising for church restoration and heritage preservation. The Doneraile Parish was the home of many famous priests and still conserves its historical importance.

In preparation for the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s bicentenary, they will start with a series of “unusual events”, said Norah O’Keeffe, Chairperson of the Bicentenary Committee, which include “a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ with a historical twist … [including] the costume and the dance of the various periods within the 200 years of the church.”

“We are [also] going to dramatise three of the parish priests [from throughout the 200 years] … and to do three little plays on Dr [William] O’Brien, Canon [P.A.] Sheehan and Canon Morris O’Connell.”

The events, combined with a fundraiser, are hoping to raise money to start church restoration after Christmas 2026. “The restoration is central to ensuring that this much-loved and nationally important building can be preserved and continue to serve the community for generations to come,” explained Garrett Roche, Safeguarding Coordinator and Assistant to PP Fr Aidan Crowley.

The project is being overseen by engineer Christopher Southgate, who “has led numerous award-winning restoration projects… [and has] recently described our project as the most ambitious church restoration project” of his career.

The parish’s history includes big names, such as Dr Thomas Croke, founding patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association, who was PP there in the 1860s, and made “an impact in Doneraile because he brought in the Christian Brothers,” Ms O’Keeffe told The Irish Catholic. “He became, of course, the Archbishop of Cashel [and Emly], but he never lost interest in Doneraile.”

The “biggest name connected with the church”, said Ms O’Keeffe, is Canon P.A. Sheehan. Canon Sheehan was a renowned author and wrote many books while he was PP of Doneraile from 1895 to 1913. The church became known as ‘Canon Sheehan’s Church’ and today displays a life-size bronze statue of the Canon.