THE days when members of the Labour Party were compared by clergy to the devil incarnate have long gone. But yesterday the Labour TD, Mr Joe Costello, was addressed as "Satan" by a priest, while assisting with a collection to help raise a roof on St Michan's Church in the city.
He had just drawn the attention of Canon David Pierpoint, rector at St Michan's, to the proximity of Burdock's takeaway. "They do a fine line in chips," he told the hungry pastor, who since 8 a.m. on Thursday has been fasting to raise funds for the roof.
"Get behind me, Satan," the pastor advised his tormentor. The resolute Canon Pierpoint continues his fast until 8 p.m. today. He needs £100,000, he estimates. To date about £75,000 has been raised.
"It's the oldest church in Dublin," Mr Costello said. "Founded in 1095," explained Canon Pierpoint. Parishioners have included the Sheares brothers and Oliver Bond, who took part in the 1798 rebellion. Its then rector attended Robert Emmet at his execution in 1803. Parnell's funeral service took place there in 1891, and many of its problems now stem from stray shells aimed at the nearby Four Courts in 1922.
As well as the money raised, Canon Pierpoint is counting his "blessings this weekend. There was that fire in a derelict building on Ormond Quay. It meant the traffic was diverted by his perch and had increased "tenfold"
Also, many people had just joined in. Such as broadcaster and journalist Ms Emer O'Kelly for instance, who had "stood there with a [collection] bucket for about 2 1/2 hours in the wind and the rain".
As for that name? "Probably after a Danish saint," thought the Canon. But did you know it is pronounced "Mycans" by Church of Ireland members, "Mickens" by the locals, and "Mitchens" by Dubliners at large?
