A 189 foot Flemish style spire
The parish history describes the church's 189 foot spire as Flemish in style, similar to continental designs and unusual among Dublin churches of the period.
A church that has quietly watched Blanchardstown grow for almost two centuries.
← The Church
St Brigid's, Blanchardstown
Monday, 13 July 2026 Sunny · 22°C Afternoon
St Brigid's is the historic parish church of Blanchardstown. Standing on the site of a 16th-century church, the present building has welcomed generations of parishioners since 1837 and remains at the heart of one of Dublin's oldest communities.
§Architecture & history
- Built
- 1837
- Architect
- No architect is identified in the sources consulted (parish history and NIAH record).
- Style
- Gothic Revival with a distinctive Flemish-inspired spire and a modern 1977 extension.
- Dedication
- St Brigid's
Although surrounded today by one of Dublin's busiest suburbs, St Brigid's still feels connected to the village that existed long before the shopping centres and housing estates. The contrast between the nineteenth-century church and the modern extension tells the story of a parish that chose to preserve its history while continuing to grow.
The present church was completed in 1837 on the site of an earlier sixteenth-century church. Its 189-foot Flemish-style spire, completed in 1863, became one of the most recognisable landmarks in Blanchardstown. The church later received a contemporary extension in 1977 while preserving the original building.
Name Blanchardstown first used for the parish in 1824. Present church completed 1837 on the site of a 16th-century church.
§Notes
Fragments gathered while researching this church: stories, curiosities, people and dates.
Timeline
-
1835
Foundation stone laid The foundation stone of the church was laid on 13 October 1835.
-
1837
First Mass celebrated The first Mass was celebrated on 29 October 1837, while construction was still incomplete.
-
1858
Construction completed (NIAH date) The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records the church as built circa 1858, within a range of 1855 to 1860. This conflicts with the parish history's stated completion date of 1863.
-
1977
Modern wing added A modern wing was completed on 24 December 1977, featuring stained glass by Phyllis Burke depicting the legend of St Brigid spreading her cloak across land.
-
1984
Save Our Spire campaign A campaign called Save Our Spire was launched in 1984 following structural concerns about the church spire.
-
2014
Pastoral centre opened A pastoral centre was opened in 2014 to expand community activities.
-
2012
175th anniversary Mass The parish celebrated 175 years since the first Mass with an anniversary Mass on 12 November 2012, attended by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
People
- Phyllis Burke Stained glass artist — Created stained glass for the 1977 extension depicting the legend of St Brigid spreading her cloak across land.
§If you go
Mass times
- Sunday
- 10:30 AM
- Saturday
- 6:00 PM
- Monday
- 7:30 PM (Weekday Mass)
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Friday
- 10:00 AM (Weekday Mass)
- Holy Days
- 10:00 AM (Holy Day Mass) · 7:30 PM (Holy Day Mass)
Checked 10 Jul 2026