Holy Trinity Church (now Trinity Arts Centre)

The Holy Trinity Church of Ireland was completed in 1819 on a rood of ground given by the Sandford Family of Castlerea House the landlords who were settled in Castlerea and lived there between 1649 and 1914. The memory of the Sandford Family is honoured in two stained-glass windows in Holy Trinity Church. This current church replaced the first Protestant church which was situated in the Holy Trinity cemetery, located just off Barrack St. adjacent to the current Garda Station. The ruin of this building is still visible in the graveyard. A rich and fascinating heritage is recorded in the Castlerea area - the first President of Ireland, Dr Douglas Hyde, was born in Castlerea and christened in the Church. Sir William Wilde, the father of Oscar, was a member of the Church when his father served there as a rector in the middle of the 19th century. This beautiful building is now home to the Castlerea Community Arts Group. The original Queen Anne timber trusses have been exposed to open up the vaulted ceiling. The carefully-restored 200-year-old church is a place where locals from all walks of life can showcase drama, music, craftworks, traditional music and dance. It is an important community hub that also has meeting room facilities.