St. Luke the Evangelist

History

The parish of Mulhuddart forms part of the Archdiocese of Dublin and has its origins in the twelfth century. Following the capture of Dublin by the Normans in 1170, the parish was heavily colonised by Anglo-Norman families, whose influence is reflected in the townland names: Buzzardstown after the family of William Bossard, Tyrellstown after a junior branch of the Tyrells, created barons of Castleknock in 1173, and Cruiserath from the family name of Cruise with the Gaelic word rath, meaning an earthen ring-fort.

In 1984 Fr Leo Quinlan was appointed a curate in Blanchardstown parish with responsibility for the developing area of Mulhuddart. He offered the first Saturday evening Mass in a building workers' hut at the corner of Church Road and Dromheath Avenue, which was used through the week by the builders working on the Dromheath and Parslickstown estates.

A decision was taken to build a church, and the building was completed in February 1993. It was dedicated to St Luke the Evangelist on 15 August that year at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Desmond Connell. The church was refurbished in 2005 to increase its capacity and to provide a parish centre, and the parish boundaries were extended to take in Tyrrelstown and Hollystown.

Notable features

A stained glass window by Willie Early depicts the Return of the Prodigal Son, a theme from the Gospel of Luke chosen by Fr Leo Quinlan. It was installed in the new church by a Blanchardstown parishioner, Clare McCourt Molloy, in memory of her husband and at his request.