St. Fintan

History

Sutton was originally part of the larger parish of Howth. In 1816, with the help of men employed on the construction of the new harbour at Howth, a thatched chapel was built on Howth's Main Street; that site was replaced in 1899 by the present Catholic church in Howth. A chapel of ease was built in Sutton in 1912 and extended in 1927, and was known as the Tin Church.

After the Second World War the north shore of Dublin Bay saw a large suburban expansion, and St Fintan's was built in response to the needs of Sutton's new residents. It was erected in 1973 to a design by Robinson, Keefe and Devane.

The building

The atrium acts as a transition from the outside to the interior of the church and contains the bell tower, which the parish describes as the highest landmark in the area. The interior is fan-shaped, the roof rising to the crown of the sanctuary, which is lit in shafts from slats above. Both the interior and exterior walls are of ribbed concrete, the impression taken from fishing ropes.