Offering acres of living space, could this pre-cast concrete church in Co. Leitrim become a dream home? It already has a great backstory.
A 1970s-built modernist church located in the small village of Drumcong, Co. Leitrim, which is being auctioned next week has the potential to become a large and storied home, subject to renovations and insulation upgrades.
The location is north of Carrick-on-Shannon and halfway between Kescarrigan and Drumshambo.
Address: The Old Church, Drumcong, Co. Leitrim, N41T025
AMV: €175,000 auction takes place Thursday, Jan 22nd at 12:00 pm
Agent: REA Brady
Designed by architect Noel McAree, M.R.I.A.I., it was constructed in 1976 using pre-cast concrete slabs, considered a very contemporary method at the time and featured single glazing, which is still in situ.
It had soaring ceiling heights of five metres.
McAree was asked to design a modest church with a seating capacity for about 450 worshippers.
The brief required an economic approach and speed of construction, according to a local priest with knowledge of the build.
The design was based on a Greek Cross plan and utilised pre-cast concrete for both its walls and roof.
One arm of the cruciform shape was set aside for the sacristy, toilets and other storage space, while the other three arms made up the body of the church.
The altar was situated at the crossing, where the wood-burning stove is now located.
The story behind how the church came into being is also part of its allure.
Drumcong already had a Catholic church.
But in 1972, an engineer’s inspection of the old Saint Brigid’s Church deemed its cross-section, which dated back to 1781, to be dangerous and beyond repair.
It was decided that a new church needed to be built. It was an era when Catholic Ireland had an appetite for the construction of contemporary churches.
A leading figure was architect Liam McCormick, whose work can be seen in chapels across the island of Ireland, with much of his finest work in Counties Donegal and Derry.
The monies were raised by the parish of Kiltubrid. Fund-raising began in early 1973, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Cahal Daly on Sunday, 24 March 1974.
It was a fast build, and it was felt at the time that the efficient construction method might serve as a prototype for church buildings in other rural parishes.
Its three wings now contain duplex residential spaces.
There are, in total, two near completion and two under construction. These subdivisions have made provision for two kitchens, seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Each of the four units has a separate Eircode, and currently there are three independent electricity supplies.
The property has power, water, sewer and high-speed broadband connections as well as parking for several vehicles.
While it is listed as extending to 765 square metres, this includes the floors of the subdivisions, something the next owner might want to reimagine.
The story doesn’t end here.
In the early 1990s, some 15 years after it went up, a new parish priest came to the area and persuaded the parishioners to restore the old St Brigid’s Church across the road.
Architect Richard Pierce oversaw the restoration work.
The old St Brigid’s Church was rededicated on 13 August 1995, twenty-one years after the rededication of the ‘new’ church across the road.
What will the next owner do with the storied building? Returning the property to its original volume would reduce its current floorspace, but deliver incredible volume.
A good architect might suggest adding a mezzanine floor. A roof terrace would deliver views across the surrounding lakes.
All will require deep pockets and a lot of creative thinking.
The property needs a decent insulation plan, too. It could also become a great artist's studio or an activity centre, something that utilises the nearby lakes, for example.
Set on 1.3 acres of grounds and with views to Lough Scur and Carrickport Lough, it has been described in the many comments online as being “Leitrim’s biggest fridge” and by one local, familiar with the story, as a “folly”.
It won’t suit everyone, but Home and Style would love to see what the next owner does with the place.
The property, which has an AMV of €175,000, is being sold by online auction on Thursday, January 22nd, from 12 noon to 1 pm. You can register to bid on the REA Brady property here.
