St. Patrick's Church, Dundalk
The Church of St. Patrick is a large Roman Catholic church located in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.[1] It is often mistaken for a cathedral, although it is only a church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh. It is built in the Gothic style, and was designed by the architect Thomas Duff.
History
There has been a Catholic church named Saint Patrick's in the town since 1750. The first building was on a site donated by the first Earl of Clanbrassil on Chapel Street and in 1843, was converted into a school.
The then-Parish priest, Fr. Matthew McCann, acquired the current site in 1834. The church was opened for worship in 1842 but was not complete for many years after. Work stopped during the Potato famine and resumed in 1860. It was designed by the Newry architect Thomas Duff, who modelled the interior on Exeter Cathedral, and the exterior on King's College Chapel. Duff died before completion and the architect J. J. McCarthy was chosen to finish the magnificent interior. The bell tower is a later addition, being added in 1903.
Architecture and furnishings
The church is orientated towards the east, as are most Christian churches. It is 9 bays in length and has two side aisles to the north and south of the building. The church contains a wealth of distinctive features, including fine granite pillars, tiled floors, a vaulted ceiling and many colourful stained glass windows by acclaimed designers Franz Mayer & Co. of Munich, among others. McCarthy designed the high altar and ornamental screens covering the eastern wall while George Ashlin designed the intricate Italian mosaic walls in the chancel. The sculptor Thomas Farrell fashioned the side altars.
References
Coordinates: 54°00′13.49″N 6°23′56.73″W / 54.0037472°N 6.3990917°W