Voted Ireland’s ‘Building of the Century’

This stunning and timeless building is St. Aengus’ Church located in Burt, co. Donegal. It was built in 1967 and was designed by local award-winning architects Frank Corr and Liam McCormick. It is regarded as a masterpiece of design and was voted Building of the Century in a poll conducted by the RIAI in collaboration with The Sunday Tribune. The church takes its pagan inspiration from the nearby Grainan of Aileach ringfort which is located on the nearby hilltop. This area has had some form of a religious temple since the Bronze Age. It was built in a circular shape as a reference to the ‘circle of life’ to give the congregation a feeling of all-inclusiveness and equality. Some of its unique features include the off-center roof light above the altar, a beautifully curved plastered ceiling, and the stunning stained glass windows designed by Helen Maloney in the Cubist style. The stones used on the outside of the church are recycled cobblestones salvaged from the Derry Docks.