By Dionne Meehan
PARISHIONERS in Raymochy have been forced to attend Mass in their local Resource Centre for the past year due to the deterioration of their local chapel.
St Columba’s Church is a small chapel located 10 minutes outside Letterkenny in Drumoghill, Manorcunningham.
Known as being the “heart” of Drumoghill’s bright, caring and connected local community for almost 200 years, the building has fallen into a state of dilapidation in recent times.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Chairperson of the Manorcunningham Resource Centre, Carmel Doherty said having mass in a community centre is “not the same”.
With Mass being held on a Saturday evening at 7:30pm and on a Sunday morning at 10am, Carmel said if the Resource Centre didn’t accommodate parishioners, the nearest Chapel would be either St. Johnston or Newtowncunningham.
“Mass came to the centre one year past in October.
“At the end of the day, you are in a community centre.
“It is not the same as being in your local Chapel,” she said.
From first communions to confirmations, marriages to deaths, one local parishioner said “if the walls of Drumoghill Chapel could talk, they would tell our community’s story”.
However, with the future of the Chapel at risk due to a shortfall of €50,000 in their building fund, a GoFundMe page was launched to help save St Columba’s Church.
Speaking about the Chapel, founder of the GoFundMe page, Frank Morning said it was clear it was in need of a full restoration.
“A building fund was set up a few years ago as we knew it would cost a lot to do the job.
“There is about €465,000 in that fund at the minute, but we will need a lot more to complete the work,” he said.
With the renovation work now underway, Frank is hoping the gofundme page will attract some donations.
“Myself and my son Joseph decided to set up a GoFundMe page to make it easier for people at home and abroad who have connections with Drumoghill Chapel to make a donation,” he said.
Hoping that everyone pulls together, Frank is optimistic the work will be completed by early 2025.
“Let’s get this job done so we can have the use of our chapel again for many years to come,” he said.
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