Saturday 9 October 2010

Cork Rosary Churches 2 (Ballyphehane)

The first of the Rosary Churches to be completed was the Church of the Ascension, Gurranabraher, in 1955. The second was completed the following year, the Church of the Assumption, Ballyphehane.

While Gurranabrahar is visibly to the north of the city, Ballyphehane is one of the most successful of the mid-twentieth century planned suburbs to the south of the city and is the 'airport parish'. The names of the streets, after the leaders of Irish independence, reflect the era of the suburb's creation. Thus, for example, the Church of the Assumption is on Pearse Road.

The architect, J.R. Boyd Barrett, a dubliner, began his extensive Cork practice with the amazingly modernist Church of Christ the King, Turner's Cross, in 1931, a little to the east of Ballyphehane. Dr. Coholan, Bishop Lucey's predecessor, had a radical streak despite his arch-conservative reputation. As with his earlier 'Rosary' commission at Gurranabraher, Boyd Barrett was commissioned to design both Church and Parochial houses. He also designed the nearby school. Compared with his earlier work in Turner's Cross and Gurranabrahar, the Church at Ballyphehane is restrained and even conventional basilican form, but in the modern idiom.

For Kildare and Leighlin readers, they may see a similarity of the style with Boyd Barrett's only Church in that Diocese, at Daingean, Co. Offaly (1960). He was also responsible for the extension to the Church in Mountmellick, Co. Laois (1965), and for alterations in Stradbally and Vicarstown, Co. Laois (both 1963).



Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really interesting subject for the Rosary month. Nice pictures. Lovely church. Thank you.

Bagenal Harvey said...

I understand that there is to be a quarterly Mass in Carlow Cathedral from next month. Well done to your association for showing the way. Hope it will bear much fruit.

A Prosperous Man said...

Looking forward 2 the Mass on Friday and the lecture.

Anonymous said...

Amazing to see the Altar rails intact in that church. Good for Cork. It looks like they resisted the temptation to do the harm that so many other parishes did.

Shandon Belle said...

Thanks for the comments. Good news about Carlow. I hope the Newbridge Mass went well. There's a lot of good about the Rosary Churches and really surprising that they didn't follow the radical modernism of Turner's Cross. The rails and other features survived well is most Cork Churches DV. Its a pity they don't do an October Station like the Station Churches of Rome.

Virginia said...

I love the womb-like quality to that interior picture.

Little Al said...

I cant believe how pink this church is. That is really strange.

Phographic Mementos said...

This is an awesome place, the House of God and the gate of Heaven!