Doomed church is given lifeline due to ‘technicality’

Friars ready for ‘Battle of Waterloo’ stance

Dominican friars in Drogheda who have vowed to resist controversial plans to close their church are putting their hope in a technical loophole which could help reverse the decision.

Authorities in the order announced last September that they were planning to withdraw from five parishes across Ireland because of falling numbers and the aging profile of members. This sparked a passionate protest campaign by the Drogheda friars and the local community that the order has served for almost 800 years.

However, it has now emerged that the decision to close Drogheda and the four other priories has no formal effect since it was just a decision of the provincial council. Under the order’s internal rules, a full chapter meeting of the entire province is necessary to make such a drastic decision.

Such a meeting is not due until next summer offering the Drogheda Dominicans fresh hope that they may still have time to save their community.

“They can get ready to close it, but can’t actually close the church,” Fr Jim Donleavy told The Irish Catholic this week. Fr Donleavy along with the prior, Fr Tony McMullan, Fr Joseph Heffernan and Fr Chris O’Brien have vowed to resist any move to close the church.

“They want everything nice and tidy when they bring the plans to the full term chapter, but the more pressure we can bring on Dublin and Rome, the more they are reluctant to close it,” Fr Donleavy told this paper.

Fr Donleavy said there was “tremendous support” for the Dominicans in Drogheda and the order will face “a lot of agitation and confrontation if they try to close the church”.

“We are holding out until next year and if they don’t reverse their decision, then it will be the battle of Waterloo,” he said.

The ‘Save our Dominican church’ committee has organised a sustained campaign for the upcoming months to keep their cause in the headlines.

A ‘Paint the town Black and White’ campaign was launched last week, which has seen businesses and residents put up black and white banners – the traditional Dominican colours – in support of the church.

In August supporters will undertake a 40-mile walk to the order’s headquarters in Dublin to present a 22,000 signature petition.