infomatique

ST MARY MAGDALEN’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DROGHEDA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE AS A CHURCH

October 19, 2023 by infomatique

DOMINICK STREET – WELLINGTON QUAY

OCTOBER 2023 VISIT TO DROGHEDA

Today I was surprised to learn that Louth County Council had purchased the 18th century St. Mary Magdalen’s church from the Dominican order in 2020 when they decided to leave Drogheda after almost 800 years. Apparently the Order of Preachers had decided back in 2014 to withdraw from the following locations – St Magdalen’s, Drogheda; Leeson Park in Dublin; St Dominic’s, Athy; St Saviour’s, Limerick; and St Saviour’s, Ballybeg, Waterford. Until today, they only one that I was aware of was the church in Limerick.

A few months ago Local Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd confirmed that Louth County Council had applied for funding to extend and refurbish the Dominican Church in Drogheda to provide for a brand new state of the art library.

St. Mary Magdalen’s Roman Catholic Church was designed in the French Gothic style and is one of a number of Roman Catholic churches within Drogheda. Associated with the Dominican convent to the north the church forms the centre piece of a small religious group. The structure itself has been carefully designed with the large geometric stained glass window dominating the gable fronted elevation and the small tower onto Dominick Street reaching to the sky. The interior is simple and relatively unadorned for a Roman Catholic church of this period with the main focus being on the altar and chancel with its beautiful mosaic panels depicting stories from Christ’s life. The church of St. Mary Magdalen is an important building not only for its decorative and architectural significance but also as a place of worship for the people of Drogheda.

QUICK VISIT TO ST MARY’S CHURCH

October 19, 2023 by infomatique

JAMES STREET LAGANVOOREN DROGHEDA

MY OCTOBER 2023 VISIT TO DROGHEDA

I must admit that until today I had never heard of Lagavooren.

Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, built by architect P. J. Dodd, closely resembles the design of Saint Peter’s Parish Church across the river to its north-west. It is a fine example of a late-Victorian interpretation of the French Gothic style. Elaborate carved detailing and an imposing rose window create an impressive and eye-catching north façade and the church is a focal point within an area composed largely of small residential structures. Fine detailing, tiling, painted decoration and stained glass by Lobin and Mayer add artistic interest.

WINDY ARBOUR GROTTO FEATURING FOUR STATUES

October 15, 2023 by infomatique

MARIAN STATUE AT FARRANBOLEY PARK IN DUNDRUM

This is within the Parish of St Columbanus, St Gall and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Windy Arbour Grotto is a wayside shrine in Dublin and it is located near Glasson Court Park and Windy Arbour Village. It consists of a triangular park at one end of South Gall Gardens.

Windy Arbour is surrounded by several housing estates, including St Columbanus’ Road. At the centre of Windy Arbour is the smaller and much older town-land of Farrenboley, which appears on maps dating from the 18th century.

MOUNT JEROME CEMETERY

October 13, 2023 by infomatique

13 OCTOBER 2023

Today I had to visit the Harold’s Cross area of Dublin so I took the opportunity to visit Mount Jerome Cemetery where two of my Grandparents are buried even though they were Catholics and were involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Mount Jerome Cemetery & Crematorium is situated in Harold’s Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials. Originally an exclusively Protestant cemetery, Roman Catholics have also been buried there since the 1920s.

The cemetery is also known for its beautiful Victorian architecture, including the Victorian Chapel, which is still used for funeral services today.

SAINT BRIGID’S CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCH

October 9, 2023 by infomatique

CASTLEKNOCK VILLAGE

Detached Church of Ireland church, built 1806, with three-stage tower to west gable. Flanking side aisles added c.1860, comprising three-bay side elevations with gabled terminating bays to east forming transepts. Stained glass window dedicated to Saint Hubert by Harry Clarke.

In May 1177, Henry II and Hugh de Lacy granted 12,001 acres of land in Castleknock to Hugh Tyrell, first Baron of Castleknock. A copy of the charter of the grant in Latin was discovered in 1933 by Eric St. John Brooks in the London Public Records Office. In 1185, Richard Tyrell, son of Hugh Tyrell, gave a grant to the Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Little Malvern in Worcestershire to endow a religious house in Castleknock in honour of St. Brigid.

They founded a monastery beside St. Brigid’s Well called the Abbey of St. Brigid in Castleknock and it was a dependent priory of Little Malvern. The lands and priory were transferred to the ownership of St. Mary’s Abbey in 1486 and on the dissolution of the monasteries after Henry VIII broke with Rome, it became the property of the Luttrell family. The first church was built here in 1609 on the site of the monastery of St. Brigid. In 1803, the foundation stone was laid by Hans Hamilton for the re-building of St. Brigid’s, the present day Castleknock parish church.