1862 – Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Typical composition of the architect J.J. McCarthy with an offset tower. The church has none of the lightness of some of his other work – being quite foreboding and grim. The interior was gutted pre-1977. The interior of this gothic revival church has been completely vandalised by the movement interpreting the Vatican II guidelines. Instead of fine marble fittings, the interior has a rough-hewn block for an altar and unsympathetic floor tiles, completely at odds with McCarthy’s design. Started 14 September 1856. Consecrated 13 July 1862.

From The Building News, “The Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore, of which we this week give an engraving, standing as it does on the highest ground in Tramore, is naturally a remarkable object for miles along the east coast of Ireland, and attracts a great deal of attention. On the 14th of September, 1857, the Bishop of Waterford laid the foundation-stone of the new edifice, and the works having been steadily and carefully proceeded with, in July last the church was opened for divine service. The detailed plan of the church comprises nave with side aisles, transept chancel with side chapels, tower and spire in the angle formed by the east side of north transept and side walls of lateral chapel, and sacristy on south side of south chapel. The whole length within the walls is 169 feet, the width across nave and aisles being 69 feet, and across transepts 103 feet. The height of clerestory walls of nave is 47 feet, the height from ridge to roof is 77 feet, and the height to top of spire 190 feet.”

“This building was commenced on the 14th of September, 1856, and since that date the walls have been raised to the level of the top of the aisles, and the pillars separating the latter from the nave are fixed. The plan comprises nave with side aisles, transept, chancel with eastern chapels, tower and spire standing to the east of the north transept, sacristy east of the south transept, and north and south porches. Total length in clear, 165 feet: width, across nave and aisles, 65 feet; transepts, 103 feet by 25 feet; height from floor to ridge, 75 feet; and height of tower and spire, 195 feet. The style of architecture is “Perpendicular.” The principal doorway in the tower has marble jamb-shafts, with rich mouldings over them. The tower is divided into three stages,— the lower having a moulded plinth course, the middle a single-light trefoil-hooded window on three faces, and the upper two double-light traceried belfry opes on each face, and finished with corbelled eave course, from which level rises a broach spire, with gabled projecting lights and niches, and terminated by the emblem of Christianity. The tower is decorated with a pair of buttresses at each angle. The stone used in the construction of this building is the blue trap-rock of the neighbourhood, and granite for the dressings. Messrs. Ryan, of Limerick, are the contractors. The cost of the shell, exclusive of the bell-stage of the tower and spire is 8,000.”
The Builder, March 27 1858