1954 – Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Ennistymon, Co. Clare

The church that launched a career. Liam McCormick, born in Derry, was working as an architect and planner at the Ballymena Urban District Council when he won with Frank Corr (1917 -1986) a RIAI organised competition for a new church at Ennistymon in 1947. Established Corr and McCormick as a result and continued to specialise in church design and construction.

Designed to seat one thousand parishioners and replacing a smaller church built in the 1830s. Construction started in 1952 and it was officially consecrated on December 8, 1954. Oriented on a west-east axis, rather than the liturgically traditional east-west axis. Its large rectangular windows, and prominent but simple campanile are a bold statement for 1950s rural Ireland. Like many of McCormick’s churches, it is finished in white render, standing out against the Irish landscape. The main front has a large cross formed by the concrete mullions of the large windows. The interior is column-less and bright, with built-in confessionals in the side aisle, and unusual Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross are one continuous fresco along the south wall of the church. Completed in 1955 by the Dominican friar and artist, Father Aengus Buckley (1913-1978).