A south Dublin priest has called on his parishioners to object to a bus gate he says could spell the end of the almost 200-year-old church.
Fr Andrew O'Sullivan of St Mary Immaculate Refuge for Sinners in Rathmines urged parishioners to lodge objections to a section of the National transport Authority's Templeogue/Rathfarnham to City Centre Bus Corridor.
A bus gate will ban private cars from driving from Rathmines Village to the church at St Mary's College seven days a week between 6am and 8pm. Restrictions on Mountpleasant Avenue and Richmond Hill means motorists will have to go through Ranelagh via Castlewood Avenue and back to Rathmines via the Grand Canal.
Read more: Luas trams are 'more dangerous' than ever, claim security staff
Fr O'Sullivan said the plans would "negatively" impact funerals, weddings and baptisms and could make the church "redundant" over time. He said: "This would directly impact on all our parishioners and friends who attend Church in Rathmines.
"On a very practical level it would mean that no cars could access our Church and obviously funerals, weddings, baptisms, and all other celebrations would be directly impacted in a negative way. The elderly, invalids, and those with mobility issues, would be impacted negatively too."
He added: "Let me put it simply, as the proposal currently stands it would be a disaster for this Parish Church and without any exaggeration could lead to an impoverishment of the services we provide as well as the Church becoming redundant over time." Fr O'Sullivan said he can not fight the plans on his own due to being "overstretched" and called on his parishioners to object.
He said: "I am asking all of you who are parishioners or friends of Rathmines, to please take a look at the proposal and please, please do not sit on your hands, but rather help us by actively objecting to this proposal in whatever way or form you feel is appropriate for you."
Labour Councillor Mary Freehill said Fr O'Sullivan is right to be concerned. She said: "It has very big consequences for church-goers and funerals.
"I wouldn't have an objection to the bus gate itself but it doesn't have to be for all of those hours. "It would certainly be very difficult for a hearse or a wedding to have to go around that way.
"It is stuffing traffic into a very small area and it is also adding to traffic along the canal that has no public transport east-west."
Cllr Freehill questioned why the bus gate had to be in effect for so long and warned access for locals will be reduced. She said: "There is no provision for local access so all of those people living in Grove Park and Rathmines Road, if they want to get work on their house, there is absolutely no concession or concern for that.
"The 6am to 8pm timing of the bus gate is excessive. They will also have to work out access for people in Gove Park. There will be no right turn at Harold's Cross Bridge so people will have to be driving miles to get back to their homes.
"You will also have to go over to Crumlin Village nearly to get to Grove Park if you are in Harold's Cross over to Clogher Road."
Observations on this scheme may be made up to 5pm on June 20, 2023 to An Bord Pleanala
READ NEXT:
Best friend of woman missing for five years 'will not give up until justice is done'
Pictures show Katie Taylor's injuries from Chantelle Cameron fight
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox..
