Bairbre Power
Published 23/06/2014|12:21
There are many iconic wedding destinations around the world, from the Little White Chapel in Vegas and centuries old churches around the Vatican to exotic beachside locations in Mauritius and Bali.
However in Ireland, a little wooden church that looks like something out of the New England landscape, and nestling in the foothills of the Dublin mountains has been luring engaged couples for almost 85years.
They like the church's quaintness, romantic setting and above all, it's distinctive paintwork in blue.
Our Lady of the Wayside catholic church – better known to most people as The Blue Church - has been an icon in the Kilternan area of south county Dublin since 1929. After closing in May for extensive restoration and renovations, it will be 'back in business' for weddings and christenings from mid July .
The intimate church which only has a seating capacity for 150 people has attracted thousands of couples to say 'I do' in the pretty sylvan setting, many of whom sought out the church after glimpsing the romantic chapel on childhood trips on the number 44 bus to Enniskerry.
There are many iconic wedding destinations around the world, from the Little White Chapel in Vegas and centuries old churches around the Vatican to exotic beachside locations in Mauritius and Bali.
However in Ireland, a little wooden church that looks like something out of the New England landscape, and nestling in the foothills of the Dublin mountains has been luring engaged couples for almost 85years.
They like the church's quaintness, romantic setting and above all, it's distinctive paintwork in blue.
Our Lady of the Wayside catholic church – better known to most people as The Blue Church - has been an icon in the Kilternan area of south county Dublin since 1929. After closing in May for extensive restoration and renovations, it will be 'back in business' for weddings and christenings from mid July .
The intimate church which only has a seating capacity for 150 people has attracted thousands of couples to say 'I do' in the pretty sylvan setting, many of whom sought out the church after glimpsing the romantic chapel on childhood trips on the number 44 bus to Enniskerry.
Rosemary Kavanagh from Co Kilkenny chose the Blue Church when she married her Austrian sweetheart, Gerhard Mayrhuber in August 1983 after falling in love with the chief ski instructor on the slopes of the nearby Ski Club of Ireland in Kilternan. The club's racing team students gave them a guard of honour with skis and poles.
Rosemary Kavanagh and Gerard Mayrhuber, from Austria's wedding on the 24th of August 1983
Public relations executive Aileen Eglington is one of the Kilternan locals with a huge emotional investment in the church, not least because she married her husband Paul there in April1982. Aileen's grandfather, Michael Jordan, helped fundraise the £3,368 to build the original church and Aideen's late mother, Joan O'Connor, was the Sacristan and florist, tending to thousands of weddings while her dad Dick used to cut the grass with Wimbledon-like precision.
Aileen O'Connor, from Kilternan and Paul Eglington's wedding on the 1st of April, 1982
"The Blue Church was built as a chapel-of-ease for the Sandyford parish and people just fell in love with it because of the lovely wooden building and the backdrop with Three Rock mountain," explains Aileen who, two generations later, is fundraising like her grandfather did, this time for the modern day Restoration and Renovation bill.
"In recent years, the church had some structural problems and these have been solved in a major renovation this summer. There was damage to the wood and the church needed new heating and wiring. The water had got into the plaster so there was a lot of work to be done and four weeks ago, they discovered the roof joists were gone under the tiles so that was another €30,000.
"The work has cost €350,000 and over €160,000 has been raised todate of which €40,000 came from a Race Day in Leopardstown. There have been a lot of cake sales and Christmas cards sold but, as they say, a lot done, a lot more to do.
"Thousands and thousands of couples were married at the Blue Church over the years and if any of them, after reading this article, would like to make even a small contribution to the Restoration bill, based on their fond memories of the church, it would be very gratefully received," said Aileen.
The wooden church was painted in Marian Blue for years and while there was a minor controversy about the greyish hue of paint chosen in the past, the newly renovated church is back in the original Marian blue, confirmed parish priest, Fr Andrew O'Sullivan. .
"The church was built as a temporary structure and is now a protected structure. It is most unusual and looks like something out of the US. I studied at UCD and used to spend my summers working in Boston and the church really looks like something out of New England, or Kildare Village. I made the decision to renovate it and going into the future, it is a wooden building that will have to be maintained, " he said.
One local family very happy to see the church re-open will be the Butlers from Kilternan. "My grandfather Bob Butler helped build it and my father Paul was christened there and I had my christening, First Holy Communion and confirmation at the Blue church," explained accountant David Butler. "My wife Jane (Patterson) is from Stillorgan and we married at the Blue Church in December 2012 and we will be bringing our three -month-old son Jack to be christened there in August, after it re-opens."
The Butler connections with the church are extensive and cover every aspect of their lives. David's uncle Phil was the first child to be christened in the church and Phil's brother Robert was the first funeral in the church
The Blue Church is the subject of romantic family love affairs in the large south Dublin area. Niamh Connolly from Stepaside married John Hoctor from Cabinteely at the Blue Church in July 2002 and her sister Edel returned there ten years later to tie the knot with Eoin Fitzgerald from Loughlinstown at the Blue Church in June 2012.
Niamh Connolly and John Hoctor's wedding on the 20th July 2002
Padraig Harrington's caddy, Ronan Flood married the golfing star's sister-in-law, Susie Gregan, both from Rathfarnham, at the church in January 2007, with the golfer and his wife Caroline acting as usher and chief bridesmaid.
*All prospective brides and grooms interested in a wedding or christening at the Blue Church in Kilternan can contact Sandyford Parish Office (01 2956414), email office@sandyfordparish.or log onto www.sandyfordparish.org for details.
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