Ballybunion Church
Ballybunion Church
This is the striking Saint John’s Church in Ballybunion. It was designed in 1892 & completed in 1897 it dates from an era that was majorly influenced by the Gothic Revival in church architecture. This is one of only two churches that were designed in this neo-Gothic style in Kerry the other being Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney. This makes Ballybunion one of the most architecturally important churches in Ireland. The funds for building this church were donated by Mary Young in memory of her husband John. Mary was born in Ballybunion she met her husband John, a tea planter, while working in Kilkee just across the River Shannon in Clare. When John died, Mary inherited his considerable fortune. She used a portion of it to finance building the Church, which cost €10,000. Unfortunately Mary passed away before seeing the church completed but her statue sits upon a bench in the church yard gazing upon her creation.