Locate us
On the Web: You can find us on Google Maps at 53.377222, -6.377361. Our actual location is 53.22.37N 6.22.40W
By Car: We are close to junction 6 on the M50. Follow signs for Blanchardstown and then for Castleknock.
Coming from the Centre City: Follow signs for N3 or Navan. Proceed until the road becomes a Dual Carriageway, just after the Halfway House roundabout. Proceed for about 1 km until the road widens to 5 lanes, immediately after passing the Esso Petrol Stations on your left and right, take the left turn marked Castleknock and Chapelizod. Proceed straight through a small painted roundabout onto Auburn Avenue. Continue to the end of Auburn Avenue to the T junction where it meets Castleknock Road (R806). Turn right, following sign for Blanchardstown. Proceed straight through Castleknock village in the direction of Blanchardstown (R806). Take the left turn into Laurel Lodge after crossing over the M50 motorway. Once in the the estate, continue for aout 600 metres and the church is located on your right, adjacent to Kavanagh's Pub and the local shops and Primary School.
Coming from Blanchardstown Village: At the Dublin end of Main Street Blanchardstown, take the right fork at the Bell Pub in the direction of Castleknock (R806). Continue on R806 for about 500 metres, over Granard Bridge which takes you over the railway line and the canal. Take the next turn on the right into Laurel Lodge. Once in the the estate, continue for aout 600 metres and the church is located on your right, adjacent to Kavanagh's Pub and the local shops and Primary School.
Coming from the Phoenix Park: Exit the Phoenix Park at the Castleknock Gate in the direction of Blanchardstown (R806). Proceed straight through Castleknock village in the direction of Blanchardstown. Take the left turn into Laurel Lodge after crossing over the M50. Once in the the estate, continue for aout 600 metres and the church is located on your right, adjacent to Kavanagh's Pub and the local shops and Primary School.
By Train: We are close to Castleknock Railway Station. Exit the station on the outgoing platform. When you leave the station, cross the large open space and then turn right and proceed on the main road of the estate. Iit is a 5-minute walk at most. The church is located beside the local shops and Kavanagh's Pub which are on your right.
By Bus: The route 37 bus goes through the estate and past the church, but the 38 and 38A go close to the estate.
Where
is it?
It is in west Dublin between the M50 on the east and the Maynooth/West
of Ireland railway on the west. It stretches from the Junction 6 on the M50, goes south through the Castleknock Road, across to
the Carpenterstown Road and almost down to the back of Castleknock
College. In 1982 it was constituted from the Catholic parish of Castleknock.
Castleknock is in turn one of the ten parishes which were 'mothered'
by the parish of St. Brigid in Blanchardstown.
The parish is
composed of the estates of Laurel Lodge, Carpenterstown Park, Bramley,
Oaktree, Laverna and Ashleigh. The Primary School is a co-ed, with
almost 1,000 children and 35 teachers. The Community Centre on a
site donated by the parish was built and is managed by the Castleknock
Community Centre Association.
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The
Church
It is a 600 seater community designed church with a welcoming courtyard.
It was designed by Joseph Kennedy of Edward N. Smith & Kennedy
and built by Matthew Wallace, Builders, Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford.
It was opened on 6th June, 1993 by Archbishop Desmond Connell.
As
well as the church proper it features a Day Chapel/Community
Room with a Parish Office and Sacristy.
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A
very impressive feature of the church is the eight foot high
triple stained glass Harry Clarke studios window of the Immaculate
Conception which was donated to the parish by the Dominican
Sisters in Dun Laoghaire when sadly their convent there closed
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In the
church there is an interesting white marble carving depicting
Our Lady giving the Rosary to St. Catherine and St. Dominic, also
donated by the Dominican Sisters. It was carved in the late 19th
century by Padraig and Willie Pearse's father in his stoneworks
situated on the street now called after that family - Pearse Street.
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St. Thomas the Apostle - Who was he?
He was one of the twelve apostles. The one who doubted that Jesus had truly risen from the dead because he was not there to see him on the first occasion he appeared to the assembled disciples. The next time Jesus appeared Thomas was there and he invited him to put his hand into his side and his finger into the marks of the nails and Thomas then believed and confessed the famous words "My Lord and My God" and Jesus said to him "You believe because you have see Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
The people of the parish have a great sense of pride and ownership because when plans were afoot to build a new church they were invited to visit churches throughout the city and country bringing their cameras with them. Those who did so later met with two firms of architects and presented their ideas within a budget of half a million pounds. The architects took them on board and then in due time came back with two sets of designs which were displayed for a couple of weeks in the old prefab church on the nearby site. The people made their choice. The Parish Development Committee made the decision and the rest is history.
Eugene Kennedy, retired Parish Priest.
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