THE CHURCH OF THE FOUR MASTERS
aka
ST. PATRICK'S (R.C.), Donegal Town
St. Patrick's, Church of the Four Masters, Donegal Town
From Buildings of Ireland:
"This interesting and sophisticated church is one of the more important elements of the built heritage of Donegal Town. It is well-built using good quality granite from nearby Barnesmore with high-quality carved and crisp Mountcharles sandstone detailing throughout, particularly to the elaborate doorcases that are testament to the skill of the masons involved. This carefully cut and carved stone detailing is unusual in a twentieth-century building, even a high-status one such as a church.
It was named in honour of the four monks (Michael O'Clery, Peregrine O'Clery, Peregrine Duigan and Fearfeasa O'Mulconry) from the Franciscan friary in Donegal Town that compiled the Annals of the Four Masters in the 1630s (completed 1636) and it was dedicated almost three hundred years after the completion of this work in 1936. This was, perhaps, the inspiration behind the design of this church as it references early Hiberno-Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture and symbols with the round tower belfry (in particular), Romanesque doorways, the detailing to the window opening to the nave gable, the steeply pitched roofs, and the base batter to the walls, while the shape of the window openings and the gate piers to the entrance are also reminiscent of the shape of a round tower.
This church was built to designs by Ralph Henry Byrne (1877 - 1946), a prominent architect of his day noted for his academic, and rather eclectic, approach to architectural design. A number of the stained glass windows are by Joseph Richard King (1907 - 1974), who took over the management of the Clarke and Sons stained glass company following the death of Harry Clarke in 1935 (IAA). The foundation stone was laid by the in June 1931 and it was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) in 1935 by the Most Revd. William MacNeely. The main contractor involved in the construction were John Donnelly and Sons of Enniskillen. Some of the furnishing and fittings were funded at the bequest of Patrick M. Gallagher, solicitor and noted historian; Gallagher bequeathed £5,000 for the erection of a monument in honour of the Four Masters at the Diamond in Donegal Town (see 40843016), estimated to cost £980, with the reminder of the bequest used for the erection of an altar and furnishings at this church. The present church replaced an earlier hall-type Catholic church in Donegal Town, which was located a short distance to the west of the present edifice at the junction of Church Street and Upper Main Street, which was apparently first built in 1842 and was later converted for use as a hall (and later a cinema from 1954) after the completion of the present building in 1935 but was demolished in 2002.
The Church of the Four Masters is a landmark feature along the main approach road into Donegal Town from the west, and makes a strongly positive contribution to the streetscape on the eastern fringes of the town. The simple boundary walls and the gateways add to the setting and complete this composition."
"This interesting and sophisticated church is one of the more important elements of the built heritage of Donegal Town. It is well-built using good quality granite from nearby Barnesmore with high-quality carved and crisp Mountcharles sandstone detailing throughout, particularly to the elaborate doorcases that are testament to the skill of the masons involved. This carefully cut and carved stone detailing is unusual in a twentieth-century building, even a high-status one such as a church.
It was named in honour of the four monks (Michael O'Clery, Peregrine O'Clery, Peregrine Duigan and Fearfeasa O'Mulconry) from the Franciscan friary in Donegal Town that compiled the Annals of the Four Masters in the 1630s (completed 1636) and it was dedicated almost three hundred years after the completion of this work in 1936. This was, perhaps, the inspiration behind the design of this church as it references early Hiberno-Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture and symbols with the round tower belfry (in particular), Romanesque doorways, the detailing to the window opening to the nave gable, the steeply pitched roofs, and the base batter to the walls, while the shape of the window openings and the gate piers to the entrance are also reminiscent of the shape of a round tower.
This church was built to designs by Ralph Henry Byrne (1877 - 1946), a prominent architect of his day noted for his academic, and rather eclectic, approach to architectural design. A number of the stained glass windows are by Joseph Richard King (1907 - 1974), who took over the management of the Clarke and Sons stained glass company following the death of Harry Clarke in 1935 (IAA). The foundation stone was laid by the in June 1931 and it was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) in 1935 by the Most Revd. William MacNeely. The main contractor involved in the construction were John Donnelly and Sons of Enniskillen. Some of the furnishing and fittings were funded at the bequest of Patrick M. Gallagher, solicitor and noted historian; Gallagher bequeathed £5,000 for the erection of a monument in honour of the Four Masters at the Diamond in Donegal Town (see 40843016), estimated to cost £980, with the reminder of the bequest used for the erection of an altar and furnishings at this church. The present church replaced an earlier hall-type Catholic church in Donegal Town, which was located a short distance to the west of the present edifice at the junction of Church Street and Upper Main Street, which was apparently first built in 1842 and was later converted for use as a hall (and later a cinema from 1954) after the completion of the present building in 1935 but was demolished in 2002.
The Church of the Four Masters is a landmark feature along the main approach road into Donegal Town from the west, and makes a strongly positive contribution to the streetscape on the eastern fringes of the town. The simple boundary walls and the gateways add to the setting and complete this composition."
