Our Lady of Dublin

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Our Lady of Dublin is a partially restored black oak statue currently on display in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, Dublin, Ireland.

[edit] Art History Perspective

Stylistically, the statue resembles early sixteenth century wooden statuary and probably dates from that period.

[edit] History

Local legend with tenuous documentary support suggest that the statue originated in St. Mary's Abbey, Mary Street, Dublin which was dissolved as part of the Henrician reforms in 1539 (see Dissolution of the Monasteries).

The first concrete historical mention dates from 1749 in a survey of the Catholic Chapels of Dublin, which refers to a statue in St. Mary's Lane Parochial Chapel. The chapel was torn down in 1816 to make way for a new school and no further mention of the statue is recorded until it was found by Father John Spratt, a member of the Carmelite order in 1824.

The restored statue has been on display near the high altar of Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in a purpose built shrine since 1915.

The feastday of Our Lady of Dublin is celebrated on September 8.