Music festival to keep Moynalty Church renovation on track
The Moynalty Parish Development Committee, in partnership with the Moynalty Threshing Committee are presenting a full day music festival in the village on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
The 1st June festival, which features acts such as the High Stool Prophets, Meadhbh Walsh and band, All Folked Up and the Whistling Donkeys is a fundraiser for a major renovation of the Church of the Assumption, Moynalty and follows on from the incredibly successful Oskars event last year.
This fundraiser, the brainchild of the Steam Threshing Committee will enable the next phase of the work to be completed on the local church.
“The committee is very excited about the upcoming music festival. The acts are fantastic and the value is exceptional at only €35,” says chairman Joe McKenna. “Vans and campers are welcome at €20 per night, starting Saturday. Full bar facilities and food vendors will be on site for what promises to be a fun-filled day.”
The committee, through voluntary work, has made a lot of progress so far, in stripping plaster and deep cleaning each week for the past three years. A new heating system has been installed, and drainage/sewerage works has been put in place in the grounds to handle the run-off of rainwater and the new toilet facilities.
The plans for the renovation have been drawn up by architects Niall Smith and Associate, Kingscourt, and the project has been awarded to local builders, Cha-Mar Construction Ltd. The works have been split into a number of stages, which will be commenced as funds are available.
Phase one is nearing completion, including a major piece of work to stop the water ingress into the front wall of the church and significant restorative work on the historic stonework. Other work in this phase includes the insertion of an internal porch and the creation of a disability toilet and family room inside the church. There is also significant work on the gallery.
All the stained-glass windows are in process of renovation and renewal, thanks mainly to a legacy donation by a proud Moynalty man, Mr Terence Lynch.
Phase two will incorporate the renovation and reconfiguring of the altar area of the church. Again, due to years of water ingress, the plaster had been falling off the walls and mould was present throughout the church. The damaged plaster has already been removed.
External works will be completed to stop the external root causes. Detailed plans are in place to restore the altar area to its original design of the 1920’s and then add a simple new altar to the front, which will be visible from the side galleries.
The rails, which create a barrier to the side altars will be removed, giving direct access to the congregation for worship.
The altar renovation works are being funded, by personal fundraising by parish priest, Fr Joe McEvoy.
The High Stools Prophets will kick off the festival at 2pm with Meadhbh Walsh and band taking to the stage at 4.30pm.
All Folked Up are due on stage at 7pm and the Whistling Donkeys are expected to play between 9.30pm – 11.30pm.