Re: Re: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches

St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork

When we look at Ashlin’s drawings of 1888 for the tympan of the West portal of Cobh cathedral, we note that he specified the usual form of deeisis: Christ enthroned with Our Lady on his right (marked B.V.) and St. John the Baptist on the left (marked S.J). Two further figures were introduced into the deeisis (or intercessory) form with kneeling figures of Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy (on right) and St. Colman on the left.

However, as built, changes were introduiced into the iconography: Our Lady and Blessed Thadessus McCarthy remain as planned, but St. John the Baptist disappears and is replaced by a standing St. Colman holding a model of Cloyne cathedral with its round tower indicating that he is the founder of the diocese, and St Brendan, the Navigator, patron of mariners. The figure of St. John the Baptist was installed on a plinth in the archway of the door opposit another of St. Joseph.