ST. AGATHA'S (R.C.), CLAR, Donegal Town
Built 1871
St. Agatha's Church, Clar, Donegal Town
From Buildings of Ireland:
"This ambitious and appealing mid nineteenth-century Gothic Revival Catholic church retains its early form and architectural character. It is constructed using warm coloured squared local sandstone that has a pleasing mildly mottled tonal variation and has crisp but restrained cut stone detailing throughout, particularly to the openings, that is obviously the work of skilled masons and craftsmen. The mildly rock-faced limestone stringcourses add further tonal and textural variation to the exterior. The visual appeal of this building is enhanced by the retention of the cast-iron framed windows and the natural slate roofs, which creates a satisfying patina of age. It is unusual to find a church of this scale in the rural countryside, which hints at the financial input of local prosperous families in its construction. The spacious and well-lit interior, now reordered, is notable for the stone columns supporting to the transepts, the timber roof structure and the gallery to the west gable end. This notable church was built by the firm O’Neill and Byrne architects (John O’Neill 1828 - 83 and William Henry Byrne 1844 – 1917), a Dublin based architectural practice that carried out numerous commissions for the Catholic Church throughout Ireland, mainly in the 1870s. They were also responsible for the fine Catholic church at Drung near Moville (also dating in 1871) and the St. Patrick’s Church at Crossroads (see 40839017) in 1872-5. The main contractor here at Clar Bridge/Spierstown was a Mr. Colhoun or Derry, while the clerk of works was a John Gallagher of Killybegs. The present church replaced an earlier T-plan chapel on or close to the same site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map of c. 1836). This fine church, located in a prominent position along the main road between Donegal Town and Ballybofey remains a local landmark and is an important element of the architectural heritage of south Donegal. The graveyard and the boundary wall add considerably to the setting and context, and complete this appealing composition."
"This ambitious and appealing mid nineteenth-century Gothic Revival Catholic church retains its early form and architectural character. It is constructed using warm coloured squared local sandstone that has a pleasing mildly mottled tonal variation and has crisp but restrained cut stone detailing throughout, particularly to the openings, that is obviously the work of skilled masons and craftsmen. The mildly rock-faced limestone stringcourses add further tonal and textural variation to the exterior. The visual appeal of this building is enhanced by the retention of the cast-iron framed windows and the natural slate roofs, which creates a satisfying patina of age. It is unusual to find a church of this scale in the rural countryside, which hints at the financial input of local prosperous families in its construction. The spacious and well-lit interior, now reordered, is notable for the stone columns supporting to the transepts, the timber roof structure and the gallery to the west gable end. This notable church was built by the firm O’Neill and Byrne architects (John O’Neill 1828 - 83 and William Henry Byrne 1844 – 1917), a Dublin based architectural practice that carried out numerous commissions for the Catholic Church throughout Ireland, mainly in the 1870s. They were also responsible for the fine Catholic church at Drung near Moville (also dating in 1871) and the St. Patrick’s Church at Crossroads (see 40839017) in 1872-5. The main contractor here at Clar Bridge/Spierstown was a Mr. Colhoun or Derry, while the clerk of works was a John Gallagher of Killybegs. The present church replaced an earlier T-plan chapel on or close to the same site (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map of c. 1836). This fine church, located in a prominent position along the main road between Donegal Town and Ballybofey remains a local landmark and is an important element of the architectural heritage of south Donegal. The graveyard and the boundary wall add considerably to the setting and context, and complete this appealing composition."
Click on any of the photographs below to enlarge.
Church of St. Agatha, Clar, Donegal Town
