Dedication during a snowstorm
The parish website states the 1969 dedication ceremony took place during heavy snowfall, with Lord Mayor Frank Cluskey and Finance Minister Charles Haughey among the attendees.
Some churches invite silence through age. Others through space.
← The Church
Our Lady of Victories, Ballymun Road
1stvisit
Sunday, 12 July 2026 Sunny · 26°C Morning 11:00 Mass
Arrival 10:45 Departure 12:20 Time inside 1h35
Built during a period of rapid suburban growth and profound change within the Catholic Church, Our Lady of Victories reflects a new way of thinking about sacred space.
Its fan-shaped plan draws the congregation towards the altar, while the stained glass, open interior and continuous copper roof give the building a distinctive modern presence. Completed in 1969, the church stands as an important example of post-Vatican II architecture in Dublin.
Would return: Yes
- Language
- English
§Architecture & history
- Built
- 1969
- Architect
- Patrick Maloney
- Style
- Modernist, post-Vatican II
- Dedication
- Our Lady of Victories
Our Lady of Victories Church was built between 1967 and 1969 and dedicated on 2 February 1969 by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid, during heavy snowfall, with Lord Mayor Frank Cluskey and Minister for Finance Charles Haughey among those present according to the parish website. Fr Seamus Moloney led the initiative to build the church, with Fr Bernard Brady supporting the parish, and a fundraising supper for 8,000 parishioners was held at Kennedy Stadium, Santry, in 1965.
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage describes a fan shaped plan with projecting transepts under a continuous butterfly copper seamed roof, yellow sand lime brick cladding, full height timber framed stained glass curtain walls and an octagonal drum with a copper spire. The interior is a single open volume arranged around a centrally raised altar, reflecting the post Vatican II emphasis on full and active participation of the congregation. The parish of Ballymun was established in 1969 with this church as its parish church; Sillogue parish was created from it in 1972 and Balcurris parish in 1975.
Our Lady of Victories is a distinctive example of post-Vatican II Catholic architecture in Dublin. Its fan-shaped plan places the congregation around a centrally positioned altar, reflecting the renewed emphasis on active participation in the liturgy.
The church is notable for its continuous copper-seamed roof, open interior, modern materials and full-spectrum stained glass. Dedicated in 1969 during a period of rapid suburban growth in north Dublin, it remains largely unaltered and represents an important moment in the transformation of Irish church design.
Constituted in 1969 from the parishes of Larkhill and Whitehall, with Our Lady of Victories established as the parish church.
§Notes
Fragments gathered while researching this church: stories, curiosities, people and dates.
Timeline
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1965
Fundraising supper for 8,000 parishioners The parish website records a fundraising supper for 8,000 parishioners held at Kennedy Stadium, Santry, in 1965 to help fund the new church.
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1969
Church dedicated The parish website states the church was dedicated on Sunday 2 February 1969 by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid, during heavy snowfall.
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1969
Ballymun parish established The parish of Ballymun was established in 1969 with this church as its parish church, according to the parish website.
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1972
Sillogue parish created Sillogue parish was created out of the Ballymun parish in 1972, according to the parish website.
-
1975
Balcurris parish created Balcurris parish was created out of the Ballymun parish in 1975, according to the parish website.
-
1993
Visit by Mother Teresa The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage notes that the church was visited by Mother Teresa in 1993.
People
- John Charles McQuaid Archbishop who dedicated the church — Archbishop of Dublin who dedicated the church on 2 February 1969.
- Mother Teresa Visitor — Visited the church in 1993, according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
- Seamus Moloney Priest who led the initiative to build the church — Led the fundraising and building initiative for the church, according to the parish website.
§If you go
Mass times
- Sunday
- 11:00 AM · 6:00 PM · 6:00 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Monday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
Checked 10 Jul 2026