Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Churches, abbeys and ruins aplenty

Well where can I begin (or rather, end) with so many beautiful churches, big and small, all with such beauty, simple or highly decorated and intricate.
St Aidan's in Enniscorthy (had to see that one for our namesake grandson!)
Adelaide Memorial Church at Myshall, built by a grieving husband for his wife and daughter. This is a tiny replica of Salisbury Cathedral.
St Canice's in Kilkenny (church and cathedral) Music practice going on so restricted viewing
Jerpoint Abbey ruins - Jim the guide made it so interesting
Holycross Abbey with it's bronze cast Stations of the Cross
Rock of Cashel - couldn't see lots because of restoration work
St Brendan's in Loughrea (3 baptisms happening)
St Finbarr's in Cork (a funeral happening)
St Anne's (had to go there!) where you can 'play' the bells. No NZ tunes so I had to play 'Waltzing Matilda'. I suggested to the receptionist they get 'Pokarekare ana' which she duly noted. Also here the seats had a fish carved into the backs.
St Nicholas in Galway
Rosscarberry, the smallest town to have a cathedral
Carrick-on-Shannon and the tiny Costello Chapel (16 feet long and 12 feet wide) built by Edward Costello for the remains of his wife Mary Josephine who died aged 47 in 1877. He was so heartbroken that he had her body placed in the care of the local Marist Sisters until 18 months later when the chapel was dedicated and then he had her remains interred here under a thick lid of specially made glass. At the dedication service a silver chalice (specially commissioned by Edward) was used for the mass and thereafter every first Friday in the month until Edward's death in 1891.
St Patrick's Church in a village called Saul! This was the site of St Patrick's first Christian church in Ireland. It is still used every Sunday. (we stayed in a B&B here run by a man called Gabriel!!)
Long Church in Derry, outside the walls (people praying so restricted viewing)
St Columb's Cathedral, inside the walls
Fabulous Dublin Cathedral where Jonathon Swift, the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', was Dean for many years and is buried here. (Apparently 'Gulliver's Travels' was written not as a children's book but as a political satire)
Such amazing history everywhere - and Ken read most of it!!

Adelaide Memorial Church, Myshall

Floor tiles, St Aidan's, Enniscorthy
Adelaide Memorial Church, Myshall





Rock of Cashel, Cashel

St Anne's, Cork. Chair backs

St Anne's, Cork. 'Playing' the bells

Costello Chapel, Carrick-on-Shannon

St Anne's Belfast. Stainless steel spire, exterior view

Stainless steel spire interior view

St Patrick's, Saul

Jonathon Swift memorial, Dublin Cathedral

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