Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 5 December 2013

“Technical Memories (Part 63) – Graceful Places of Beauty”

If anything in 1945 there were opportunities that existed in the city for potential builders, architects and engineers who were studying at the Crawford Municipal Technical Institute. For example on 8 October 1945, the solemn blessing of Cork’s new Church, the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin took place. It was a gift of William Dwyer TD of Sunbeam Wolsey to the North Cathedral Parish.

Affectionately known as ‘Dwyer’s fire escape’ (from hell), the dedication ceremony, as described in the Cork Examiner, was performed by Bishop Daniel Cohalan and was followed by Solemn High Mass at which there was an overflow congregation. Following the blessing of the outer walls, there was a procession of the clergy into the church, where the ceremonies included the blessing of the surrounding of the High Altar and the interior walls. The foundation stone had been laid previously in the year on 10 January. A special choir of eighty voices under the conductorship of Philip Ó Laoghaire, gave a highly praised rendering of Palestrina’s Miss Brevis. The Choir was composed of the some of the workers of Sunbeam-Wolsey, assisted by the Gaelic choir of the Cork Municipal School of Music. The sermon was delivered by Fr R J Dalton CC of SS Peter and Paul’s who spoke about its “architectural grace and beauty” and a church where one “may come to rest and pray, to forget the worries and the hates that embroil this turbulent world”.

Addressing the congregation at the close of the church ceremonies, Bishop Cohalan recalled that the older church of St Nicholas, which the 1945 structure replaced had been built by the late Nicholas Mahony of the well known Blarney Woollen Mills. St Nicholas’ was constructed in 1895 by adapting the Blackpool National School building, which then moved to Brocklesby Street. Bishop Cohalan noted that this was the second occasion on which thanks to the generosity of “an industrialist”, the people of Blackpool had been presented with a new place of worship. He also referred to the presence of the Lord Mayor and City manager and the creation of new housing by the Corporation in Spangle Hill, which created a growing population who used the new church.

A luncheon was given afterwards in the Presbytery of the Cathedral of the North Cathedral.  The health of William Dwyer was proposed by Bishop Cohalan who noted that William “was one of the city’s great figures who because of his own talents, push and flair for business created a wonderfully successful industry in the city. Mr Dwyer in reply said that a great deal of the credit was due to the large numbers of people of Blackpool who were his employees; there were three essentials to church-building he noted –“a bag of money, a bag of nails and a bag of patience; it was due to the people of Blackpool that he had the first of these”.  Mr Dwyer then paid tribute to Seamus Murphy, the sculptor and E P O’Flynn, the builder. He also thanked Mick O’Callaghan, the general foreman.

A later Cork Examiner article describes how the Church of the Annunciation is constructed of concrete blocks, stipple plastered inside and out. There is an 80 ft bell tower and two smaller towers that form the transepts. The stained glass, including the impressive crucifix, sanctuary windows and the picture gallery of Our Lord (Nave windows) are by Harry Clarke Studios in Dublin. The tabernacle, lamp, candlesticks and other brasses were designed by Seamus Murphy and made by Gunnings in Dublin.

The design of the stonework in the church is mostly by Seamus Murphy. His other works include: The Annunciation panel over the front door; The Annunciation tablet on the exterior side wall; the Dwyer plaque in the porch; The baptismal font originally at rear of the church, now near the altar; The holy water fonts in polished black limestone; The Main Altar depicting corn and grapes; The Children’s Altar depicting the Holy Family; and Our Lady’s Altar depicting a crowned angel and foliage. The most striking stonework in the church includes the Madonna and Sacred Heart Statues on either side of the main altar. The Sacred Heart is in Portland stone with a marble base and was added to the church in 1947. It is 6ft high. The Madonna was in the church in 1945 but was located on Our Lady’s altar and is signed “Seamus Murphy 45”.

Meanwhile in the city centre, fundraising was ongoing at St Augustine’s Church. A bazaar to raise funds was held on the 19 December 1947 in the Clarence Hall in the Imperial Hotel. The new church replaced an earlier one built on a back street in Penal times. The present church structure was dedicated in 1944 but took several years to build due to World War II. The lack of raw materials such as steel and stone for building existed. Stone had to be attained from the blown up remains of a stone viaduct in Mallow. The church was designed by Dominic O’Connor and it took seven years to construct, but when work discontinued in 1944, the planned 250 ft (76m) tower to the east was excluded.

To be continued…

Kieran’s new book (with Dan Breen), West Cork Through Time, is now available in shops and on Amazon.

Caption:

720a. Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, Blackpool, 1940s (source: Crawford Art Gallery, 2007)