Meath community to hold country music festival as part of €600k fundraising efforts for local church renovations
Considerable donations through 2023 and 2024 has led to funding of €400,000 raised so far for the church out of a total target of €600,000.
The Steam Threshing Committee has teamed up with the the Moynalty Parish Development Committee for the music event being held on Sunday, June, 1 in the Threshing Field.
Fundraising and reparations for the church are ongoing since 2023 in a community effort, after the church fell into what the committee described as a 'state of despair'.
The Church of the Assumption, Moynalty, was built in 1820 on land and with a grant from the local Catholic landlord at the time.
It was then a simple 'T' shape structure, that was renovated throughout the years, with the last major work carried out was in 1976, when the long aisle of the church was extended.
The elected committee began to put in work from 2023 on behalf of the community to restore what it could.
Temporary fixes were put in place straight away to prevent further flooding, the church exterior was power washed, internal plaster was stripped and walls were cleaned of grime and mould.
The committee since formed a renovation plan involving permanent repairs for flooding, sewerage works, stained-glass windows refurbishments, wheelchair access, lighting, and further internal work.
The music festival is supported by numerous volunteers, as is the Steam Threshing each year, which attracts over 35,000 visitors.
The entrance fee is €35 and campers are welcome for the festival in the field at €20 per night, starting Saturday.
Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival will follow on Sunday, August, 9 and 10, celebrating its 50th year in existence. The event started as a small community festival in 1976 to help raise funds for the church extension that was underway at the time.
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