Praxiteles
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On a slightly different matter:
Has anyone noticed that the central cast-iron gates on the main entrance to Fota House have disappeared? Does anyone know what happened to them or where they are just at this point in time? And, can anyone say when they are coming back?
If I am not mistaken, the gates are by Sir Richard Mrrison and date from c. 1820!
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kanturk, Co. Cork
Here we have a picture taken some years ago of the east window in Kanturk church. Its interest for us today is th figure of the Cross in the lower centre. This is the cross on the pinnacle of the reredos of the High Altar. Evidently, the height of the reredos when this picture was taken was such that the cross reached as far as the lower stages of the east window.
During the works that took place recently in Kanturk, it would appear that some interference was made with the reredos of the High Altar, the cross of which no longer seems to reach as far as the glazing of the window. It is also noticeable that the Reredos, into which the antependium of the altar mensa has been submerged, now stands on the liturgically maladroit arrangement of a predella raised on TWO steps. It is also noticeable that two hand rails have been affixed to the east wall behind the reredos. These, however, terminate several inches beyond the reredos itself and are visible from the sanctuary gate – something not quite aestethical.
If the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kanturk is supposed to be a protected structure, how can all of this work have gone on without planning permission?
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kanturk, Co. Cork
Here is an interesting photograph from the web. It shows the extent of the building site that is on this property while “modest” repairs are being being made to it. Just note the huts and stacks of building material ranged along the left hand side of the drive leading tot he church. In all, rumour has it that over one million Euro has been spent on the “modest” repairs – all carried out without a planning application!
Re RKD
The following extraordinary statement appears on their page “Previous work”:
“The practice never remains static and a key part of our philosophy is to maintain this continuous evolution“
While that sounds very Theilardian, you will forgive me for saying so, but does not this philosophical expedition confound/confuse/conflate two entirely different concepts: motion and progress/evolution?
It seems to me that motion [or non stasis] does not necessairly lead to progress. Can it not also lead to decline/degradation? Or is RKD operating on some sort of principle of Marxist determinism? If so, then they really would want to shake a leg and move on a bit!!
Are we expected to believe that Killavullen represents the inexorable march of “Progress” ?
This IS all very Bolshey!
The plot thickens:
RKD says that it was responsible for the building of Lusk Church and also that they built Galway Cathedral. All very interesting, you might say, until they drop the bomb that THEY were the ones who not only wrecked Dingle church but partially demolished it ! They even have a picture of the ruins of Dingle Church on their web page:
Click on “Practice”, click on “Previous work”, click on “1960s”
Here is Dingle. Note the half demolished gables. Over twenty feet was removed from the gables – for no obvious liturgical reason!! Sheer vandalism…
The website is a wonderful thumbnail illustration of the decline, nay demise, of ecclesiastical architetcure in Ireland in the 20th. century.
I wonder was yer man thinking of knocking a few feet of the gables of Cobh Cathedral when, as we are told, the HACK unanimously approved the “scholarly” work clapped together by Danny Murphy to wreck the Cathedral interior?
Can anyone tell me is the John Lynch shown in the link below one and the the same as the mysterious John Lynch who “sits” on the Cloyne HACK? Is this the John Lynch responsible for the wreckage of St. Nicholas’ Church in Killavullen?
Scroll down and Press “People”, then press “RKDCork”, then press “John Lynch”.
Very interesting to note that no one has yet come to the rescue of the Cloyne HACK – not even themselves!!
Praxiteles got a birthday presant of a delightful volumn:
Catherine Casey’s The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin.
It contains a wealth of information about Dublin churches on which we will ahve a few things to say.
So, as the Yakks say: watch this space!!
St. Joseph’s Church, Liscarroll, Co. Cork
Here is a picture of the interior of the church. A planning application was made on 4 April 2007 for largely unspecified wors that would see the complete devastation of the interior of this village church. Some 13 objections were lidged with Cork County Council. The Planning Authority wrote for further information on 25 May 2007 indicating that the supporting information accompanying the application was “totrally inadequate” to allow the PA make a decision in relation to a protected structure. The PA also wished to have written proof of legal title to the property. A new door has appeared on the church – which was not mentioned in the planning application. IT appears that the enforcement officer of Cork COunty COuncil has written to the Parish Priest on the subject. We await developments.
@ToMuchFreeTime wrote:
Hey came across these pictures of new library off the Frinailla web site and this press release . general up beat stuff that you’d get from developer…
But i got to say i like this design of what i see of it. it’s not too high. it’s imposing in a good way which will break the curves of street scape nicely and at the same thing modernise the street which is over due it.
coming to think of it the street will be totaly different in say 3-4 years once all projects are complete i.e capital and all that block that the library is on etc.
PRESS RELEASE – 9th AUGUST 2007
New state-of-the-art Grand Parade Development
Jewel in the Crown of Cork City
Frinailla Developments will today lodge a planning application for a new state-of-the-art Grand Parade development which will include a world class library facility, retail/ office development as well as quality residential units that will lead to the re-population of a major part of Corks historical core. The development will potentially serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of Grand Parade, South Main Street and the wider environs west of the cities commercial core.
Cork City’s commitment and contribution to the Arts and academic culture is already well established, boasting Ireland’s leading research institute, UCC, and will now be further enhanced as an academic community with a new and improved library facility. Designed by award winning architects Reddy O’Riordain Staehli & Associates, the new city library will be a distinctive civic building with a high street presence and unique profile.
The proposed new city library has a gross floor area of 5,640 m sq or over 60,000 square feet provided over five floors and is more than twice the size of the current library. The new state-of-the-art library is set to become a quality landmark building in Cork City. It is acknowledged that the current Cork City Central Library is no longer adequate in size or in facilities for a city of Cork’s population or status. While the City Library has established itself as an integral feature of the city’s civic and cultural landscape, however the profile of the library does not fully reflect how important the building is as a resource. The quality of the fabric of the existing building is also poor and this is both detrimental to library stock and the image and status of the library within the city.
The key objectives and components of the design of the new city library include the following: the retention of Cork’s principal public library at its current Grand Parade location including the retention of its 1930s Hiberno-Celtic/ Art-Deco façade and to design and construct a sustainable building using energy efficient passive technology. Also the new library will be ambitious in terms of its service and facilities, offering not just a depository of books, but also a place of learning which offers a wide range of adult education classes, career support training together with ancillary meeting areas, a café and a venue for arts and leisure pursuits. The library will provide new services and venues not currently available to the library user such as the multi-purpose auditorium and purpose designed music rooms. Environmental benefits include using natural ventilation, maximising the use of natural light, passive solar energy and the harvesting of rainwater.
The concept for the new expanded City Library is bourn out of both the present and future needs of the Library service as well as the City’s soaring ambition which saw it designated as the European Capital of Culture 2005. The development of enhanced cultural and retail attractions on Grand Parade and the synergy generated will greatly enhance the profile of the Grand Parade and the city.
The proposed mixed use redevelopment anchored by a new and expanded City Library will allow the library to fulfil its function as an integral part of the educational, cultural and artistic fabric of the city. The development of enhanced cultural and retail attractions on Grand Parade and the synergy generated by both on a combined site is in accordance with the policies and objectives of the Cork City Development Plan and will enhance the profile of the city centre.
New street frontages will be constructed on Grand Parade and South Main Street and the present imbalance in the percentage of quality commercial space currently in the area will be addressed through the provision of a wide variety of retail and commercial facilities. Through the process of good urban design it is hoped to project a contemporary image and deliver an integrated development that will help boost the city pride and see the economic and social benefits spread over a wide area.
Also, the development will house a major new tourist attraction for the City. The Cork Hall of Fame will consist of a permanent exhibition, paying homage to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of a positive awareness of Cork on the international scene.
This ambitious development is expected to add to an already progressive and dynamic city culture providing the city with an improved central information resource right in the centre of the city. An area that was previously under-developed, this new development that includes a brand-new and contemporary apartment structure will inject life into this area of Cork City.
A spokesperson for Frinailla Developments said: “We are delighted with our new vision for a new world class central library for Cork City. The significance of the contribution that the development will make towards the urban regeneration of the area should not be underestimated. The Grand Parade which has been home of the current library since 1930 is steeped in history and it seems fitting that Cork should have a building of such cultural and civic importance at its core. With a new plaza, new residents and new quality shopping and leisure activities, the Central Library will at last have a home worthy of its presence and a building based on the best in contemporary library design – innovative and distinctive as well as evocative of the new sense of confidence that surrounds the city of Cork.â€
Architects RepresentationGod! It is quite terrible.
With all that lark about the civic importance of the Central Library, you would be wondering why it is that nobody has bothered to fix the one and only lift from the ground floor. It has been out of order for over two months and there is no sign of anyone coming to repair it.
And with all that la-la about a library being more than a repositary of books, I wonder just how many books have been read by the people who produced this kind of commercial-sell-rubbish? In the end, if you need a library (primarily to keep books as the etymology of the word suggests) you need a library!
@Praxiteles wrote:
The idea strikes me that we could run an opinion poll and let the the viewers, all 200,000 of them, decide the issue and it might cause the HACK to muster up the courage to go.
The question that could be put is a simple one:
Do you think that the Cloyne HACK should resign in the wake of their recommendation to wreck the interior of St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork?
Answers should also be kept simple: Yes or NO.
Perhaps the administrator could set it up on the front page with all the poll gagets!
I was going to start the ball rolling but Rhabanus beat me to it!
YES
The idea strikes me that we could run an opinion poll and let the the viewers, all 200,000 of them, decide the issue and it might cause the HACK to muster up the courage to go.
The question that could be put is a simple one:
Do you think that the Cloyne HACK should resign in the wake of their recommendation to wreck the interior of St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, Co. Cork?
Answers should also be kept simple: Yes or NO.
Perhaps the administrator could set it up on the front page with all the poll gagets!
Praxiteles is still waiting for the resignation of the Cloyne HACK. As any business person will tell you, when the directors make a major booboo like the Cobh Cathedral debacle, then there is only one option open to them – the just HAVE to go. The same is true in governmant. Ministers who get as WRONG as the HACK got the Cobh Cathedral reordering just MUST go. What are they waiting for? Is there a shortage of ink or do they not know how to read and write? If so, we can arrange for biros to be sent to all mambers of HACK. If is a case of illiteracy, we can simply do the needful and ask them to affix their X-marks on the dotted line!
St. Mary’s Church, Dungarvan, Co. Waterfors
Here is what the Buildings of Irelnad have to say about the interior:
“Appraisal
An imposing Gothic-style Catholic church, designed by George Richard Paine (1793 – 1838), and built on a site sponsored by the sixth Duke of Devonshire (1790 – 1858), forming a landmark in the townscape of Dungarvan. Very well maintained, the church retains most of its original form and character with important salient features and materials intact. The reserved treatment of the exterior, which relies on subtle cut-stone dressings for ornamentation, belies the decorative treatment of the interior, which is particularly noteworthy, and which incorporates numerous features of artistic design significance – ranging from the stained glass panels, decorative plasterwork, and the carved furniture to the altar (also including a carved ‘Pieta’ by P. Scannell (fl. 1870), of Cork) – together with features of technical importance, most notably the construction of the arcade and vaulted roof. A collection of cut-stone markers to the attendant graveyard enhance the artistic importance of the site, while the gateway and railings fronting directly on to Emmett Street are a pleasing feature in the streetscape”.I wonder if they quite realize the connection between John Hogan and P. Scannell?
St. Mary’s, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Apart from the altar frontal by John Hogan under the High Altar, this church has some fine pieces of sculptor (which may be of interest to Ake).
Among these, a excellent neo-classical (probably Italian) Immacolata; the altar panel of the lady altar which has a magnificent Annunciation (completely obscured by the wood-nut who broke it up.
A dedicatory inscription in some rather good Latin.
St. Mary’s, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
What happened to this church defies belief. It contains some of the daftest “reporderings” that I have ever seen . Indeed, they seem to spring from some very deep and unspeakable perversity.
Worst of all, the gilt finials on the bosses in the nave of George Pain’s fine ceiling have been hacked off and replaced by a series of very strange bits and pieces each glowing in an aureole of what appears to be polychrome lolly-pop sticks. I cannot make any sense of it and am inclined to think of it as gratitutious crap.
Next, both lateral altars have been demolished. The altar frontal of the Lady altar is now clad in a piece of pine and looks beyond the ridiculous – what was the sense of this?
The shrine of Our LAdy of Perpetual Succour, likewise, has been give pine reredos….
And behind the altar of the Lady Chapel, we have a dump filled with rubbish…
St. Mary’s, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Here we have the reredos of the High Altar, apparently by George Pain.
The version of the Dead Christ by John Hogan done by John Scannell.
Here we see what happened to the sanctuary in Dungarvan – clearly, the wood-nut was on the loose!
St. Mary’s Church, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford (1831) with interior by by George Pain.
The interior here is similar to the North Cathedral in Cork (1828), St. Patrick’s in Fermoy (1828), and Minane Bridge.
St. Mary’s Chuch, Buttevant, Co. Cork
On the subject of the prototypes for the historicized arches for the doors and blind window on the south face of the east transept of St. Mary’s Church, Buttevant, here we have a copy of a print of the interior of the abby published in Smith’s History of Cork of 1752 showing the chancel arch with its flanking nave altars. The arch collapsed in 1819 but from this print it early English arches with their coping is clearly a model for Charles Cottrell the 19th century architect of the modern church. NOte also the use of a similar hood on the window of the internal north wall of the friary church.
