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be seen from a large portion of the area it will serve" (architect Noel Heavey). Meanwhile, the site for the second proposed church at Bliary was found to be unnecessary and was sold. At the time there was some disagreement with the choice of the Clonbrusk site which, it was said, was far from populous and never likely to be. We can see today that Fr McKeown, Adm., was indeed far-sighted.
Coosan lies on the line of the Esker Riada, a band of sand, gravel and rock deposited in an East/West line across the centre of the country during the melting of the ice-age glaciers. The church site, in a field known as 'The Bleach' (flax was grown in the area, and the name indicates a linen bleaching green), was typical of this terrain. Under the topsoil lies almost total rock, which was used as a solid foundation, thus saving enormously on the cost of building. (The final cost of £116,000 confirms this - including furniture, Tabernacle, screens etc.).
Fundraising took place by 'planned giving', whereby householders/earners were invited to donate regularly via an envelope system. These weekly amounts varied for people between one shilling to two shillings sixpence. The fundraising was a great success, beginning in 1969, and by the dedication of the church, almost £64,000 had been raised.
The first sod was turned by Bishop Cahal B. Daly in August 1971, in the presence of Fr McKeown, Fr Pat Earley and some hundred parishioners. The church was dedicated by Bishop Daly on Sunday, 12th August, 1973. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Elphin, Dr. Dominic Conway. Among others present were Canon McKeown, and three natives of the parish, Fr Brendan Hynds, Fr Micheal Ryan and Fr Michael Scanlon. The Bishop prayed, 'May this daughter church of Clonbrusk reflect from this Coosan hill-top the light of faith, the warmth of loyalt and love and family spirit, which since 1861 has radiated from St Mary's on its answering height'.
It is worth quoting some of the now Cardinal Daly's foreword to the souvenir booklet.
'To build a new church today is an act of courage and even defiance. It is a protest against a materialistic society and against an economy governed by profit and pleasure. In economic terms, a church building is non-productive and non-profit-making… Communism and capitalism are agreed that … for both of them, a church is useless, it is no earthly use…. But we know that the things that are of earthly use are of no eternal value. This is one of the most fundamental messages of the Gospel… What a church stands for and this alone will outlast time and stand secure for ever…
The worship of God cannot be separated from concern for the welfare of the people. The Word of God which we hear at Mass is the Word which sends us out to 'love
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