The South Quays’ relatively open space offers an unobstructed view of the North Quays, making it an ideal vantage point for a street photographer like myself. Armed with my Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, I captured the contrasting architectural styles: the grandeur of the Four Courts and the old Church On Araan Quay which is discussed below.
History
Built between 1835 and 1837, shortly after Catholic Emancipation, a time where Catholics gained increased rights to build prominent places of worship. Designed by Patrick Byrne, a significant architect of Catholic churches in Ireland during this era. He also designed St. Audoen’s Catholic Church nearby.
Saint Paul’s forms a historic and visual focal point on Arran Quay. Designed by Patrick Byrne, it was built soon after Catholic Emancipation, when the Roman Catholic Church was beginning to build visible high-status buildings. Its tall Italianate bell and clock tower provides visual as well as contextual interest, with the inclusion of a clock, which was more common on Protestant Churches, implying a sense of public responsibility and thus increasing the status of the building.
The elegant detailing on the portico, as well as the later figures to the pediment (Joseph Robinson Kirk, c.1870), provide decorative and technical interest to the façade, and are testament to the skill and craftsmanship of stone workers and sculptors in the nineteenth century.
The very fine classical interior, with a wealth of quality materials and craftsmanship, adds to the overall architectural importance of this ecclesiastical site, despite the removal of some features such as the altar rails. Eamonn and Sinead De Valera were married here in 1910, adding a certain historical significance to the building.
Artistic interest is added by the altar, by Farrell (before 1863), and a copy of Rubens Conversion of St. Paul by F.S. Barff (1863), which replaced an earlier representation of the crucifixion. The church had fallen into disuse, although currently it is used for some Catholic services as well as Syrian Orthodox services and Taize prayer.
Note: St. Paul’s is no longer the parish church. However, it is still used by a Catholic youth group and the St. Gregrorios Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
Yes, this claim can be largely true, but here’s why it needs some context:
Numbers Can Be Misleading: The raw number of nighttime flights between Dublin and Heathrow can appear stark. However, the size and scale of the airports are massively different. Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports, making a direct flight count comparison somewhat unfair.
Noise Restrictions: Heathrow has stricter noise restrictions for night flights due to its location in a densely populated area. Dublin Airport faces less stringent noise controls.
Planning Permission: The number of permitted nighttime flights might favour Dublin Airport. This means that Dublin has a higher legal limit compared to Heathrow.
Flight Types: The types of aircraft flying at night matter. Larger, noisier planes are more likely to be restricted at Heathrow.
Important Considerations:
Relative Impact: While Dublin may have more nighttime flights, the impact of those flights on surrounding communities could be significantly less than the impact fewer flights at Heathrow have due to the airports’ locations and aircraft types.
Current Situation: It’s essential to check the source date of the information. Regulations and situations at airports can change over time.
Where to Find Reliable Information:
Dublin Airport Authority: Check their website for information on flight schedules, noise regulations, and any statements regarding night-time operations (https://www.dublinairport.com/) Heathrow Airport: Visit their website to find noise-related information and their commitment to managing nighttime flights (https://www.heathrow.com/) News Articles: Search for recent news reports that might offer a more updated and nuanced picture of the nighttime flight situation at both airports.