1971 – St Michael’s Church, Creeslough, Co. Donegal

The fifth in a series of seven churches that McCormick designed in Donegal and was built between 1967 and 1971. It was the first following the Church of St. Aengus at Burt and is considered one of his most striking commissions. It has been described as one of the finest examples of modern church architecture in Ireland, with its modernist design and sensitivity to the local landscape.

It derives form from the site, reflecting the humped form of Muckish Mountain and integrating it into this landscape – and the influence of Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp is also very apparent, notably the deeply recessed stained glass windows by artist Helen Moloney (1926–2011). The windows also reflect the small windows found in traditional cottages. According to McCormick, the mountain became the inspiration for the Church “its shape echoes the mountain beyond, and it turns a strong battered blank wall to the busy road and to the north-west gales”. Finished externally in a roughcast render.

The fan-shaped plan conceals the confessionals, sacristy and ancillary features within the body of the building. The altar is top lit by a domed skylight overhead. The interior has a polished concrete floor, timber pews, bronze cross to altar with a large suspended bronze circular lighting ring overhead.

The interior features artworks by John Behan and Helen Moloney. Behan was responsible for the baptismal font, the external cross, and tabernacle. Helen Moloney produced the enamelled panels of the tabernacle and designed the altar tapestry which was executed by Veronica Rowe.