| History of our Parish |
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In 1960 the ‘tin church’ as it was fondly called was erected as a chapel-of-ease to Glasnevin Parish. It was intended to serve for a few years, but the tin and corrugated structure was to become a famous landmark on our horizon until 1988.
Ballygall was officially constituted as the parish of Our Mother of Divine Grace in 1964, under our first Parish Priest, Canon John Pierce. A strong Community quickly evolved and it was at this time that Ballygall Community Services, which was to become a driving force within our Community was born.
The Parish built a boys’ national school (Sacred Heart BNS) and we also gained a primary school for girls on Ferndale Avenue (Mother of Divine Grace or MDG) run by the Holy Faith Sisters. A plan was in place for a Christian Brothers’ Secondary School and the Eastern Health Board were developing a purpose-built school on St. Canice’s Road for children with special learning difficulties.
In 1981 newly appointed PP Fr. Phelim McCabe was instructed to make the building of a new church a priority. Fr. McCabe had plans drawn and costings done. His untimely death in 1985 left his opus unfinished. His successor Fr. Seamus Moloney embraced the building of a church with swift determination. The project embraced the entire community and it was with great pride that we all enjoyed the opening of our new church in 1988, by the newly appointed Archbishop Desmond Connell.
Fresh with success from the New Church the next project was the building of Community rooms. Completed in September 1991 they are a hive of activity giving a home to the many groups and organisations within our Community. The Parish of Our Mother of Divine Grace is a thriving faith community. It is a monument to the tireless, often unknown people who gave and continue to give their time and energy to keep the heart of Ballygall beating strongly.
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