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.
The Butts is without doubt Kilkenny City’s best known housing estate and I visited the immediate and general area in August 2018.
While exploring the area I came across this small cross but when I asked locals no one was able to tell me anything about the history or the purpose of the cross but they suggested that I should visit the nearby home of the greatest Elvis fan in Ireland … Myles ‘Elvis’ Kavanagh is a well-known personality around the city. He’s a big fan of Rock’n’roll legend Elvis Presley (I did get to meet him).
The Butts Cross is located at Butts Green on the south-east side of the junction with Lord Edward Street, on the north side of Kilkenny City. My understanding is that the Butts derived its name because it is an area where male citizens were compelled to practice archery by shooting at targets know as “butts”.
In the seventeenth century there were several private crosses, like that a portion of which still exists at the Butts, erected in different parts of Kilkenny by the wealthy inhabitants, as tributes to the memory of departed friends and relatives.
In 1758, when it was included on Rocque’s map, it was in the centre of the road and around 1900 it was positioned to the north-east of its current location. The cross itself is a nineteenth century pseudo-Celtic cross on a stone plinth that hold a plaque that reads: ‘Improved by Kilkenny Corporation, Michael Kennedy Mayor 1891’. The base is however much older. John Prim recorded traces of an armorial plaque to the Fagan family on the cross base, indicating it is part of a late 16th-early 17th century roadside memorial cross. Similar examples are known from Freshford and Dunamaggin, the idea being that they encouraged prayers for the soul of the deceased. Some local historians regarded the cross as a memorial for the construction of what is now known as Lord Edward Street, though this is probably incorrect
Below I have produced some accounts of events related to the cross:
The most vivid explanation for the cross however comes from young Michael Walsh of the Butts National School. Writing for the Irish Folklore Collection in 1937 he describes how an English soldier attacked a group of catholics who had congregated around the cross. The soldier’s horse reared up, felling the soldier who was killed in the accident. The soldier’s wife is said to have then erected the cross in his memory and the horse was buried beneath it! Strange as it may seem there may be a grain of truth in this story for there have been accounts of human remains found at the adjacent cross-roads. These are probably part of the graveyard that surrounded the suburban church of St Nicholas which was located somewhere in the vicinity. The memorial cross would therefore have been deliberately sited next to the church.
There is a delightful story Nancy Meade, 88 Patrick Street, Kilkenny: Many years ago when no cars were used only horses a large procession was to be seen coming out of the Church. This procession was part of the Forty Hours Adoration and the Blessed Sacrament was being carried around. From the opposite direction a horse man came into view, The gentleman was a protestant with no respect for the Blessed Sacrament and he intended to ride by without getting down from his horse. When the children saw him do this they raised their hands and ordered him to dismount. The story is that he said he would get from his horse if the horse would kneel down. As though he understood the words he immediately went down on his fore-knees and the man got down. After this amazing happening the protestant was converted and believed in the truth of the True Faith. The cross was erected in honour of this.
Watch out for the squirrels … they are grey not red.
I asked Google’s Bard AI to generate an account of Goldenbridge Cemetery and here it is with many false claims … see if you can spot them:
Nestled amidst the bustling city of Dublin, Ireland, lies Goldenbridge Cemetery, a tranquil oasis of remembrance and history. Its cobblestone paths wind through a verdant expanse, lined with ornate tombstones and weathered headstones that whisper tales of lives lived and stories untold.
The cemetery’s origins can be traced back to the early 19th century, when the Catholic Association, led by the charismatic Daniel O’Connell, sought to provide dignified burial space for all faiths and none. In 1828, they acquired three acres of land near the Grand Canal, a site that would become the first Catholic cemetery in Ireland since the Reformation.
Over the years, Goldenbridge has become a treasure trove of Dublin’s rich history. Its grounds have witnessed the passing of countless souls, from prominent figures who shaped the city’s destiny to ordinary citizens who played their part in the tapestry of life.
Among the cemetery’s notable residents is Thomas Francis Meagher, a revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Irish Rebellion of 1848. His imposing monument, adorned with symbols of freedom and justice, stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for Ireland’s independence.
Another prominent figure interred in Goldenbridge is Michael Cusack, the founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Cusack’s commitment to preserving and promoting Irish culture is deeply entwined with the history of the cemetery, as the GAA’s annual graveside commemorations have become a cherished tradition.
Amidst the grand monuments and historical significance, Goldenbridge also holds a quiet intimacy, a place where families gather to remember loved ones and find solace in shared memories. The gentle rustling of leaves, the soft chirping of birds, and the distant murmur of the canal create an atmosphere of tranquility, encouraging reflection and introspection.
As the sun casts its golden rays upon the cemetery’s verdant expanse, the spirits of those who rest beneath its soil seem to stir. Their stories, whispered through the rustling leaves and carried on the gentle breeze, weave a tapestry of lives that continue to touch and inspire the living.
Goldenbridge Cemetery is more than just a burial ground; it is a living testament to the enduring spirit of Dublin, a place where history, tradition, and personal connections intertwine to create a poignant symphony of remembrance. Its hallowed grounds serve as a reminder that even in the face of death, life finds a way to flourish, echoing through the ages and forever etched in the tapestry of the city’s soul.
[NOTE] No cobblestones in the cemetery [] [NOTE] Thomas Francis Meagher is not buried in Ireland. Despite his prominent role in the Irish Rebellion of 1848, his body was never recovered after his drowning in the Sacramento River in 1867. [] [NOTE] Michael Cusack is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, Ireland. []
Initially I decided not to include a sound track but that idea did not really work but I must admit that it is close to impossible to find appropriate background music for a visit to a graveyard. Anyway, I selected the music because it is what my Grand Aunt liked.
Then Mount Jerome for the protestants. Funerals all over the world everywhere every minute. Shovelling them under by the cartload doublequick. Thousands every hour. Too many in the world. Ulysses, Chapter 6, Hades episode, James Joyce.
I was in the Harold’s Cross area today so I took the opportunity to visit Mount Jerome Cemetery where two of my Grandparents and a Grand Aunt are buried. I had not realised that it was the 8th of December.
Historically, for Irish Catholics, the festive period began on 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with many putting up their decorations and Christmas trees on that day, and runs through until 6 January, or Little Christmas. Today, in modern Ireland it is the big Christmas shopping day.
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 name of the cemetery comes from an estate established there by the Reverend Stephen Jerome, who in 1639 was vicar of St. Kevin’s Parish. At that time, Harold’s Cross was part of St. Kevin’s Parish. In the latter half of the 17th century, the land passed into the ownership of the Earl of Meath, who in turn leased plots to prominent Dublin families. A house, Mount Jerome House, was constructed in one of these plots, and leased to John Keogh. In 1834, after an aborted attempt to set up a cemetery in the Phoenix Park, the General Cemetery Company of Dublin bought the Mount Jerome property, “for establishing a general cemetery in the neighbourhood of the city of Dublin”.
The Funerary Chapel in the cemetery was the first Puginian Gothic church in Dublin. It was designed by William Atkins.
The first official burial happened on the 19th of September 1836. The buried deceased were the infant twins of Matthew Pollock.
The cemetery initially started with a landmass of 26 acres and grew to a size of 48 acres in 1874.
In 1984, burial numbers were falling, thus the Cemetery was losing revenue and began to deteriorate. A crematorium was needed to regain revenue and deal with plant overgrowth on the estate. In 2000, Mount Jerome Cemetery established its own crematorium on the site.
I entered into this church from Thorncastle Street which features a complex of flats designed by Herbert G Simms.
There were two people inside but they immediately left which is a pity because I do not like disturbing people at prayer.
The name Thorncastle dates back to the 1200s, when the Fitzwilliams granted land to their ally, Walter de Ridelford the Lord of Bray. On this land, he built a fortress surrounded by a whitethorn hedge (hence, ‘thorn’ ‘castle’) within his South Dublin township.
I checked Wikipedia for information relating to the church and I must admit that it must be the shortest entry that I have seen to date: “St. Patrick’s Church is a Roman Catholic church in Ringsend, Dublin”. There was a photograph but it is one of my photographs.
A different source provided the following information: “St Patrick’s Church is a Roman Catholic church in Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland. It was built in 1832-33 to a design by William Henry Byrne.