Anonymous donation found behind statue in Cork church

By Fintan Power

An anonymous donation of €16,000 discovered behind a statue in St Patrick’s Church in Millstreet, Co. Cork, is to be set against the building’s restoration debt.  

The money, in punts, was discovered by two members of the parish staff as they were cleaning around the statue of St Therese several weeks ago.  It was stated on the bags that the contents were to be used: “For the Church”.

Parish Priest, Canon John Fitzgerald addressed the congregation about the matter during the Easter Vigil ceremonies.

Although the money had been found some weeks earlier he said he was unable to say anything about the matter because the donation “was in old money and it had to be cleared by the Central Bank first”.

Canon Fitzgerald later confirmed to The Irish Catholic that the money is being set against the church’s
restoration debt which currently stands at just under €2.4 million.