Darndale parish celebrates 40 years

CELEBRATIONS were held in Darndale church recently to mark the 40th anniversary of Our Lady Immaculate Parish, Darndale Belcamp.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin presided over a special mass held on December 1.

In 1972 Fr Jim Butler of Our Lady Immaculate stepped into a grassy meadow off the Malahide Road which was designated as a social housing area by Dublin City Council.

With funds being limited they called for a building plan that would be able to accommodate a lot of people within a small space and a limited budget, thus Darndale was conceived.

Local councillor Larry O’Toole (SF), who attended the event, said it was a

“truly great

? occasion that was made even more enjoyable by the attendance of several people who previously lived or worked in the parish.

“I enjoyed the company of many friends that I had the pleasure of getting to know over almost 40 years,

? he stated.

“Of course the evening was tinged with sadness at the memory of all of our good friends and neighbours who have passed away down through the years.

“I remembered also all of the young people from our community who we lost in tragic circumstances.

“It was a night of celebration by a working class community who, though having faced many challenges, always faced them with a brave face.

Cllr O’Toole added:

“The evening also brought back to me, hundreds of many happy times and memorable events that I have enjoyed in this wonderful community.

?