1850 – St Sylvester’s Church, Malahide, Co. Dublin

An austere Gothic revival church with a fine spire and entrance doorway. The church spire was not added until 1901 by G.C. Ashlin and a poem called “The Church without a Steeple” refers to St. Sylvester’s in its non-steeple days. Allegedly the spire was copied from St. Annes Church in Raheny. The two carved heads supporting the arch of the front door are St. Brigid and St. Columcille. It is said that the sculptor left St Brigid unfinished as the fee for his work did not satisfy his expectations.