Newbridge auction set to bolster church restoration

THE restoration of the church in Newbridge has been ongoing since May, and this Saturday local people hope that the fundraising efforts to pay for the work on what is quite a unique structure will receive a significant jolt in the form of a Monster Auction.

Tomás Heavey, Chairman of the Restoration Fund Committee for Newbridge Church, reports that furniture, bales of hay and silage, and many other items have already been collected, and will be available for people to purchase in the Social Centre in the village from 11am this Saturday, December 2.
The auction is only the latest initiative in the bid to pay for repair works on St Patrick’s Church in Newbridge, a project that was given its first breath of life thanks to the enormous generosity of one individual who passed away last year. He was Fr Tom Beirne.
“The last curate we had was a man called Fr Tom Beirne. He lived until he was 90 and he was in Newbridge for 15 years.
“He had this (church restoration) in his mind, and he was gathering money it seems that we didn’t know about. He had €250,000 set aside to do up the church and that was a serious starting point, you know.
“We have gathered about €100,000 since, but I’d say we’ll need about another €150,000. We’re confident we’ll get it.”

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