A CHURCH built in the 1960s to accommodate the multidenominational workers involved in the construction of Shannon Industrial Estate in Co Clare was extensively damaged by fire last night and is at risk of being demolished.
The blaze at Christ Church in Drumgeely, not far from Shannon airport, is thought to have started accidentally. It is believed that a fire that had been set earlier in the day to burn off timber at the rear of the building was reignited by wind and spread to the church.
The alarm was raised at 5.32pm when the fire brigade received a 999 call from a passerby. A unit of the Shannon airport fire and rescue service responded, while three appliances from Shannon town were quickly at the scene.
Members of the local Church of Ireland and Methodist congregations rushed to the scene to help recover as much property as they could from the building.
“This was one of the first and the most pioneering churches in Shannon and was built for the workers, many of whom came from England to build Shannon Industrial Estate,” said Canon Bob Hanna of the Drumcliffe group of parishes.
“The church was used for many years by several congregations including Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist. Unfortunately it hasn’t been used as much in recent times but it is still a sad loss.”
Heather Morton, who as a child made her Confirmation in the church, said: “This church represented old Shannon.”
