1973 – St Mary of the Rosary Church, Cong, Co. Mayo

Never popular with the local congregation, this was intended as a modest country church for 400 people. Dowley designed a modern church around architectural remnants of the previous 19th century church including traceried windows with Harry Clarke glass. The new church was built on the walls of the old, providing entry to ruins of abbey and historical continuity. The nave was kept to ‘living room’ scale to enhance the sense of participation, which was important after Vatican II. The original design featured on an Irish postage stamp celebrating art and architecture in 1987. Completely rebuilt by A&D Wejchert & Partners in 2003.