They've been doing it since the mid-1800s... but now this church has been told that advertising their mass times on their protected railings is against planning rules. But they're not taking the barmy ruling lying down...

Published: 22:20, 4 April 2026 | Updated: 22:20, 4 April 2026 Clergy at Dublin’s landmark Westland Row church have instructed lawyers after an order from the City Council has banned them from displaying service times on their railings. The council’s action has been slammed by Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn, who told the Irish Mail on Sunday yesterday: ‘They’re not advertising half-price Victoria’s Secret.’ He said, ‘This is a dwindling flock that is trying to tell people that this church is open.’ Priests at St Andrew’s Westland Row Church say that it has been standard practice to hang notices of Masses and church events on the railings since the middle of the 19th century. But a sign posted this week informing parishioners of Easter Mass times – including a special performance by celebrated soprano Celine Byrne – also stated that such notices were considered breaches of planning laws, according to recent communication from Dublin City Council (DCC). The notice asked Mass-goers to share the information on social media, as the church would soon be forced to take it down. The parish has now confirmed that it has approached its solicitors about finding a compromise with DCC. Sign that was put up by St Andrew's Parish Westland Row on their protected railings at the front of the Church which was completed in 1837, just a decade after Catholic Emancipation  Fr Alan Hilliard, who is parish administrator, told the MoS: ‘The Parish of Saint Andrew’s Westland Row are respectful of the work of Dublin City Council.’ But he continued: ‘The matter of fixing notices for Church services and other events to the front railings is a practice that has been in place for a long number of years. ‘It was a bit of a shock to be served notice that we are in breach of planning regulations when we fixed posters to these railings last month.’ The Dublin-based priest confirmed: ‘We have asked our solicitors to liaise with the Council to ascertain a way forward and for that reason we refrain from [further] comment.’ The sign posted on the railings this week said: ‘We have been informed by Dublin City Council that notices such as this, that have been in place since the beginning of the mid-19th century, are in breach of our planning laws and have to be removed.’ The sign continued that the church had been left with ‘greatly reduced means to inform’ parishioners of their Easter Mass times, before outlining those times, which included an Easter Vigil last night televised by RTÉ. The sign’s final line goes on to add: ‘Please assist us by sharing this information on social media as we will have to remove these notices when we are served notice by DCC.’ Fr Hilliard told the MoS: ‘Many local people get their information from our notices, as do visitors to our city and the many tourists who come through our doors. ‘We await an amicable solution and direction based on the legislation that has been put in place, and advice on the various subtleties and exemptions existing within the legal framework. ‘We appreciate the support and the wisdom received from various public representatives.’ Fr Alan Hilliard, who is parish administrator of St. Andrew's Parish Church, Westland Row says they have engaged lawyers to discuss with Dublin City Council the notices the parish use to advertise their mass times for the best part of the past two centuries  Local councillor Mannix Flynn told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘This is where the city council gets a little bit ridiculous.’ The independent councillor said the church technically has to apply for planning permission to erect signs, ‘but the council never told them’. ‘What the priest has received is a warning notice. The railings are a protected structure. ‘But if you go around to the National Gallery of Ireland or Collins Barracks [both also protected], you’ll see signs plastered all over the place and there’s no issue in relation to it, because it’s seen as cultural.’ The South East Inner City councillor continued: ‘The [DCC] staff are just exercising their duty, that if someone puts an advertisement up, or a notice on a building, they are obliged to inform the council. ‘But reason needs to prevail here. This is a place of worship. These are non-commercial events listed.’ The veteran public representative called St Andrew’s ‘a revered church, where many a dignitary and officer of the State has gone to Mass and ultimately has been buried there. ‘It’s a well-known, wonderful, beautiful church. It’s not an appropriate way to approach this particular issue.’ DCC was contacted for comment yesterday, but no response had been received by the MoS last night. Celebrated soprano Celine Byrne who is scheduled to perform at St Andrew's as part of the Easter celebrations Construction on St Andrew’s church began in 1832, three years after Catholic emancipation in Ireland, and was completed in 1837. The decision to build it was strongly backed by Daniel O’Connell, who was one of its most eminent parishioners. The parish of St Andrew’s Westland Row includes public institutions like the aforementioned National Gallery, The Houses of the Oireachtas, The Mansion House and Trinity College. The church stands next to Pearse Station, which was first built around the same time. Westland Row is famous as the birthplace of Oscar Wilde.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.