What if I told you that this church was born out of a pressing need? Our Lady Queen of Peace stands here today. It serves as a testament to faith and community.
Back in the 1920s the Catholic population in the Merrion area grew significantly. The Archbishop of Dublin recognized the need for a new church. He wanted to establish a new parish to serve the growing community. Mrs. Anne Doyle of Eglinton Road showed generosity. She provided the site for Our Lady Queen of Peace. Mr. Matthew McCabe also contributed significantly. He donated £500 to purchase the land’s freehold.
The construction of Our Lady Queen of Peace cost over £200,000. That was a vast sum at the time. It equates to several million euro today. A committee was established to raise funds for the building. Canon E J Dunne served as president. They organized a major fund-raising event. It was a week-long Bazaar and Carnival held in the grounds of the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy.
Before Our Lady Queen of Peace was built a temporary church served the community. Locals called it the tin church. It had a tin roof. Monsignor Francis Wall opened it on November 17, 1940. Dr. John Charles McQuaid had just been appointed Archbishop of Dublin. Wall described him as a fellow-parishioner. Wall expressed hopes for peace and unity. He wanted foes to be kept far away.
Work on the permanent church was delayed because of the Second World War. Construction finally began in 1951. Farmer Brothers were the main building contractors.
Archbishop McQuaid officially opened and blessed Our Lady Queen of Peace on December 13, 1953. Mass was celebrated in the temporary church just one hour before for the last time. Later, they took down the temporary church. It was re-erected at Kilmacud. This served the growing parish of Mount Merrion. Merrion was constituted a parish in 1964. Canon Scanell became its first parish priest.
Simon Leonard designed Our Lady Queen of Peace. He worked for W H Byrne and Son Architects. The church features a Basilica style. Dublin granite and limestone adorn the facade. The Earley Studios created the marble High Altar. They also crafted the stained-glass windows. The rose window of Our Lady Queen of Peace stands proudly over the organ gallery.
A notable feature is the high circular belfry. It is an adaptation of an Irish Round Tower. The tower stands over 100 feet tall. Matthew O’Byrne’s bell foundry cast the 23 cwt bell.
Our Lady Queen of Peace has a spacious interior. It can accommodate 700 people. The nave is 172 feet long and 58 feet wide. It was designed to provide an unobstructed view of the altar for the congregation.
Since 2008 priests of the Opus Dei Prelature have been entrusted with the pastoral care of Our Lady Queen of Peace.
Today Our Lady Queen of Peace continues to be a vibrant center. It offers daily Mass. It also provides resources for faith development. You can even join via webcam for the Rosary. It happens every Monday through Saturday. The website also shares daily messages from St. Josemaría. He was the founder of Opus Dei. Our Lady Queen of Peace is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to faith, community, and the enduring spirit of Dublin.