Sir, In your article "Church Appeal" (January 15th) there is a reference to "Archbishop McQuaid's grandiose project" to build a cathedral in Merrion Square.
This project was not initiated by Archbishop McQuaid. The idea of a cathedral for Dublin was first mooted as far back as the turn of the century, and the Merrion Square site was bought by Archbishop McQuaid's predecessor, Archbishop Byrne, in 1938.
John Charles McQuaid became Archbishop in 1940. He first postponed, and later abandoned, the idea of building a cathedral. Both he and his successor, Archbishop Dermot Ryan, turned their attention to addressing other needs in a growing diocese. New churches and schools were built and Catholic social services were developed. These projects were given priority.
Archbishop Dermot Ryan decided to look into the possibility of opening Merrion Square up to the people of Dublin. With the cooperation of the city Commissioners and the officials of Dublin Corporation, it was leased for a nominal rent to Dublin Corporation, "as a garden and recreation for public use", in 1974. - Yours, etc.,
Communications Office,
Archdiocese of Dublin,
Archbishop's House,
Drumcondra, Dublin 9.