Fearg

St Malachy’s:

Here is a shot of the ceiling – will try and get a better shot myself, if I get a chance tomorrow.

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@ake wrote:

Thanks, btw I presume you know that the full size pics are on flickr? The ‘all size’ button is above the pic to the right. Interesting to see the fine woodwork on the organ balcony at the west end- compare to what’s there now! The place truly has been wrecked, with those ‘furnishings’ in the crossing and chancel. I know this has been said before but the crossing now looks uncannily like the bridge of a spaceship, especially with the ridiculous jet black cathedra and blood red carpet poised on a height, ready to beam to warp 5.

Spec of that new organ available here: http://www.iol.ie/~rod/organ/specs/kilkenny/cath_stmary.html looks like a right box of whistles. Just noticed that about the gallery, horrible.

I agree with Prax, whilst the new stuff is awful, I think its preferable to what happened in Monaghan which also looks like a spaceship/bathroom showroom, but with ALL the original furnishings trashed. In fact, its probably also better than the situation in Newry, where the orignal material was hacked to pieces and randomly put back together. At least in Kilkenny, a full restoration would quite easily be possible.

New Porches:

Here is an example of how to make a decent job of it, St Mary’s Church Clonmany, Co Donegal. The porch is less than 10 years old. Internally, the church has been restored quite sympathetically, I’m currently trying to track down a photo.

http://image54.webshots.com/154/1/37/20/2094137200093714059BSmged_fs.jpg

@Praxiteles wrote:

Thomas Duff’s St. Patrick’s Church Dundalk.

I dare say Newry Cathedral was also orginally a copy of Kings College, until the later addition of transepts and apse.

Newry Cathedral:

I think the Cathedra in Newry has been mentioned several times on this thread – here is a picture of it in original position:

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And Now:

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Seems this issue has not settled just yet.. Irish Ferries announced earlier this week that they would be selling their old Ireland – France vessel, “MS Normandy” in the Autumn – she is old and probably within SCF’s budget, and might just fit Swansea. However, I don’t know if IF would be keen to sell to a competitor!

FERRY BOSSES IN PLEDGE TO RETURN

CHRIS PEREGRINE

10:30 – 27 January 2007

South Wales Evening Post 10:53

Swansea Cork Ferries bosses are promising the service will be back
next year.They pulled the plug on it earlier this month after failing to
find a new vessel for the route.

The move will cost both areas millions in lost income. But the company
insists it remains determined to acquire a suitable ship so it can come back
strongly in 2008.

“We are actively pursuing a new vessel in time for the 2008 season,”
said a company spokesman.

However, he ruled out the possibility of any early purchase leading to
a resumption this year.

“The reality of the situation is that it is too late for 2007,” he
said.

Any purchase would have to be accompanied by a planned new marketing
strategy.

He insisted, though, that every avenue would be pursued to make next
year a reality.

The company says it has also been encouraged by the involvement of
bodies such as Swansea Council and the Assembly in moves to get the venture
back up and running again. Both have expressed concern at the service’s
demise and the loss of 30 jobs.

“The fact they are showing interest is very important to the company,”
said the spokesman.

A Swansea Council spokesman said: “We are liaising closely with our
partners in the Assembly and are making every attempt to convene a meeting
with the ferry company to explore how we can support them and ensure that
the service returns as soon as possible.”

An Assembly spokesman said: “We are in communication with management
of Swansea Cork Ferries to discuss how we can help over the job losses.”

The sudden announcement that the company had been unable to buy a
replacement vessel for the mv Superferry, which had come to the end of the
line, sent shock waves through local communities.

The service was launched in 1987 and carried more than three million
passengers over the years.

The company took the Superferry out of commission, saying it was past
its best and had limited freight capacity.

Their plans to replace it in time for the 2007 season – due to start
on Friday, March 16 – foundered when negotiations to buy a replacement ship
collapsed over Christmas.

Fears over the future of the route were first raised last August when
the company announced it was ending the 2006 season early and selling its
only ship.

… and here is a French neo gothic rose. Basilica of Sainte Clothilde – Paris, like Monaghan, internally this is mostly blocked by the organ (apparently some of the inspiration for St Saviours came from here):

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Sainte Chapelle.. 15th Century, depicting the book of revelation.

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@Praxiteles wrote:

Thanks Ferg. I was just getting to St. Saviour’s, Dominic Street, Dublin but find it impossible to get anything of an inside view of the Rose WIndow. You would not have anything by any chance?

Here you go – unfortunately the sun was shining directly on it, so could not get any detail.. btw, the organ is a mess, look at those buckled pipes.. those obscuring the bottom left of the window should not even be there.. if you notice, they were not present in the picture you posted yourself.

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@Praxiteles wrote:

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

Some further examples of the decay of the mosaic floors in the Cathedral.

Have to say, I don’t think much of that green carpet at the foot of the altar rails… what should be there?