Cork Examiner
8 October 1886
New
Stained-Glass windows, Presentation Convent Dungarvan
‘Resurrection
of Old Irish Art’
In the chapel of the Presentation Convent of
Dungarvan, Co Waterford, one of the finest set of windows which can be seen in
this land has just been completed. There are fourteen windows in all, which
have been erected In the new openings of the chapel which has recently been
remodeled in the Hiberno-Norman style of architecture, after the plans of
Walter W Doolin, Esq., architect of Dublin, who has very cleverly changed an
ordinary upper room into a handsome and unique basilica. The windows are in two
series – nine in the choir, and five in the sanctuary. Those in the choir (or
nave) consist of two lights, circular-headed, surmounted by an “aureola”. They
are filled with the most elaborate traceried panels, all designed after the old
Irish examples of ornament, derived from Mss and the sculptured and metal work
of Erin. In the centre of the windows is shown a scene of Our Lord’s life,
beginning at the “Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple”. These scenes are
beautifully designed and are executed in rich and harmonious tints…In the
sanctuary are four semi-circular headed windows containing the most exquisitely
designed figures of the Saviour, the Blessed Virgin, St. Patrick, and St.
Brigid, all with emblems and surmounted by Celtic ornament and borders. The
lettering even of the texts on these windows is Irish. The work is executed in
real antique glass, and the colours are in the glass or metal itself, and not
painted on the surface only…In the dome over the altar is a circular light
representing the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, surrounded by rays of glory. They
have been designed and executed by the widely known artistic firm of Cox, Sons,
Buckley and Co., of London and New York. Mr Buckley himself having given the
utmost attention to all the details of our national art, being himself an Irish
artist and archaeologist. The same firm has lately executed some splendid ones
in the Celtic style in the noble new church at Lismore, Co Waterford.
