Rewind – Saint Anne’s Bohernabreena – 150 years of history
By Sean Heffernan
AS YOU stand outside the wonderful picturesque setting that is St Anne’s Church in Bohernabreena, it’s hard to believe it only took you ten minutes to drive from the noisy hustle and bustle of Tallaght Village to here.
As the minds eye wanders across the beautifully landscaped grounds of this quaint little church, you would likely be surprised if told that it is in fact 150 years old.
St Anne's Church today
While many a passer-by may not appreciate it’s longevity, the local parishioners do, and they will be hosting a series of events over the year to mark this momentous milestone.
The church first opened its doors in 1868, with the foundation stone laid by the eminent Cardinal Cullen, who was previously Archbishop of Dublin, prior to his elevation within the Catholic Church.
Notable events of that year included Britain’s last publicly held execution when Fenian Michael Barrett was hanged for his part in the Clerkenwell explosion the year before.
It was also the year the famous Valentia Weather observatory was opened on Valentia Island in Kerry, and building work started on the impressive Cathedral of Saint Coleman in Cobh County Cork.
St Anne’s is built of granite, which was sourced up the road in Glenasmole, and is designed in the French Gothic Style.
The stained glass window behind Our Lady’s Altar shows the Blessed Virgin on one side holding the Infant Jesus and, on the opposite side, facing them stands St Joseph.
The first baptism in the church was Peter Lawless on 3 April 1868.
St Anne’s in Bohernabreena is this year celebrating 150 years
St Anne’s is very well known around Dublin and beyond as a popular church to get married in, and many couples, neither of whom were even from Bohernabreena, have chosen to tie the knot there.
Around the time of its opening many a couple that got married would have likely trod the well-travelled route to Bray, where their ‘honeymoon’ would consist of a fish supper, a jaunt on the famous chair lifts, and a night in a local B&B.
Moving on to the present day, and the church is as active as ever in the run up to the Easter festivities.
A unique idea that is currently underway is the “cross of soil”, where people are invited to place some soil from a place special to them, be it their back garden, a grave of a loved one, or a sporting pitch etc, into a purple cross that has been placed in front of the altar.
The official 150th celebratory mass has been provisionally planned to take place sometime in September, and between then and now, many a vintage car with a bride and her father in the back seats, will continue to turn off the R114 into the church car park as the bells toll the commencement of another joyous occasion.
For more information visit www.bohernabreenaparish.com.
