Catholic group plan multi-million Euro church and retreat centre in rural Kilkenny

A 7,000 square-metre planning application for a church, retreat centre, accommodation and lecture facilities in a rural part of North Kilkenny has been lodged with Kilkenny County Council.

The application by The Irish Friends of the Foyer of Charity also includes an oratory, lecture facilities, kitchen and dining facilities, a library, a sitting room and recreational spaces for retreatants, ensuite bedroom accommodation, a boiler house, a campanile, an access road and carparking.

The proposed multi-million euro project is on a 20 acre site at Rathlogan, Johnstown.

It will require the demolition of farm outbuilding at the entrance to the retreat centre.

The Foyer of Charity is a Catholic organisation. On its website it states: “A Foyer of Charity is a community of laypersons working together under the leadership of a priest, the Father of the Foyer, at the service of those who come to the Foyer on retreat.”

The landowners of the site have given written consent to the charity to apply for planning and this is included on the application.

They are John Joe Cullinan, Srahbawn, Rathdowney, Co Laois and James McEvoy, Rathlogan, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny.