1909 – Dominican Chapel, Eccles Street, Dublin

Constructed between 1907-09, the chapel of the Dominican Convent and school was built above street level with a refectory hall underneath. The sanctuary area was expressed externally by a curved bay on the facade. It was demolished in the 1980’s when the school relocated and sold the property to the Mater Hospital. The interior featured green marbled columns with gilded capitals, and a stained glass window in the apse depicting the Rosary by Harry Clarke beneath a dome with a fresco of Our Lady. There were five arched bays with stained glass windows, wrought iron screens and an organ gallery. The stained glass windows and Lantern are now in the Convent, Griffith Avenue and the screens were installed in Scoil Chaitríona, Mobhi Road, Dublin.

“This chapel, built between two tall houses in a narrow street, presented considerable difficulties in planning and lighting. As the existence of the houses in question precluded the possibility of side lighting, it was necessary to form a clerestory, which, supplemented by lighting from both ends, adequately illuminates the chapel, which contains seating for about 400 students. A nuns’ choir adjoins the chancel, being formed by an opening into the drawing-room of the adjacent Georgian house, known as Tyrawly House, the former town mansion of the Lords Tyrawly in the eighteenth century.

The form of the apse, which contains an organ gallery, placed at the opposite end to the chancel, was dictated by the same considerations, and to avoid obstruction of light to the adjacent buildings which are part of the College premises, The chapel is situate on an upper story over a basement occupied by extensive kitchens and refectory, capable of dining 250 persons.
The architectural treatment of the chapel was more or less suggested by the Georgian work of the College houses. The front towards Eccles-street is of cut-stone from Osborn’s Granite Quarries, at Ballyknocken, and has a slightly projecting curved oriel window to the chancel.

In one of the side chapels is a very beautiful stained glass window from the studio of Miss Sarah Purse, R.H.A. Other windows are by Messrr. Clarke, Dublin, and Early, Dublin.

The general contractor was Mr. K. Toole, Dublin ; fibrous plaster, Mr. John Ryan, Dublin ; electric lighting, Messrs. Cummins, Dublin. The seating is of oak inlaid with ebony. The altar and chancel rails are temporary.”
The Builder, January 5 1917