The Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross was celebrated recently in Glanworth parish by the re-dedication of their parish Church after a twelve month restoration project. Most Rev. Dermot Clifford joined priests and people to conduct the re-dedication ceremony on the titular feast day of the church.

The church was first dedicated in 1944. It replaced an earlier church, which was pressed into service again during the project, since it still serves as a community centre. The new church of 1944 was an ambitious project for the time. Work War II was still devastating Europe, though it would soon end. The stones for the new church were brought from the Galtee Castle, near Skeheenarinky. This castle had been built as a hunting lodge by Robert, 2^nd. Earl of Kingston in 1780. It was later sold and finally demolished in 1940. Canon Tobin bought the stone for the new church in Glanworth. This form of re-cycling was not unusual in those days. The stones of Mitchelstown Castle were used for the new Abbey Church at Mount Mellary.

In Feb. 2006, Fr. Donal Broderick, P.P., Glanworth, discovered that the leaking roof of the church had been a problem for 18 years, he undertook further investigation. It proved to be as serious as he suspected. Damp and dry rot had invaded the roof structure. A new roof alone would address the problem. The Parish Committee agreed to the project and a restoration scheme was put in place.

As so often happens, other problems surfaced. All the windows of the church, the original 1940’s iron windows, has corroded and needed to be entirely replaced. The parish community was kept in the loop of this developing scenario and were determined to restore their church to full standard.

The wish-list team came on board. Costs had now reached a point where the ha’pworth of tar principle came in. The examination of the entire building caused the practical wisdom of dry-lining the building to be explored. The Committee finally recommended that this line to be taken. The sanctuary area was unnecessarily large so the rear section would be walled off to provide a tasteful day-chapel which could also be used as a meeting room for up to 40 people. New doors were proposed, outside pathways would be replaced and outside toilets with storeroom put in place. A new Public Address system was also to be installed.

March 2009 saw the work begin on the parish church. The Community Centre reverted to its previous church status for the duration. Work progressed speedily under the direction of Kevin O’Keeffe, Architect, Mallow, whose grandfather was responsible for the original church. Exactly 12 months later, March 2010, the work was completed. Mass was once again celebrated in the newly refurbished church.

The re-dedication ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Dermot Clifford on Sept. 14^th, Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. A full church showed the joy and pride of the parish community. Hospitality was afterwards provided in the old church, which by now had resumed its role as a community centre.