Harry Clarke and An Túr Gloine at St Eunan's Cathedral

'The 19th century Catholic revival in England influenced a renewed interest in the Gothic style and in the use of stained glass, while the Celtic revival in Ireland (19th/20th centuries) ushered in an interest in Celtic culture to be deployed, inter alia, in the visual arts. The languid mood and undulating lines of Art Nouveau also proved influential.

Harry Clarke (1889-1931) born in Dublin, is one of the finest exponents of stained glass design. Experimental and controversial at times, he received commissions from both the Catholic church and the Church of Ireland as well as for secular projects. Examples of his work are installed in buildings in Ireland, England, America and Australia. He was also an illustrator of books ...

he brought an imaginative and magical interpretation to the depiction of both religious and secular themes. His colours are varied and rich (variants of ruby reds and deep blues proliferate) and induce a kaleidoscopic interchange of colour and light. The luminous and shifting nature of his deployment of light contributes to the ‘becoming’ of his stained glass works. The composition of his panels can at times be crowded but more often he retains a harmonising integrity of lines, shapes, colours and forms to exquisite effect.'

There are decorative clerestory windows by him in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, as well as wall paintings. The Cathedral also has the finest collection of An Túr Gloine Stained Glass windows in Ireland.

The Cathedral has: 'windows to the transepts by Michael Healy (1873-1941) dated 1910-11 (five-light window depicting the Convention of Druceatt, St. Helena window, and the SS Dallan and Conan Maol window), work by Alfred Ernest Child (1869-1939) depicting St. Finan and St. Moibhi, work by Beatrice Elvery\Lady Glenavy (1881-1970) depicting St. Columbanus and St. Gall, work by Catherine O’Brien depicting St. Columba, work by Ethel Rhind (1878-1952) depicting St. Charles Borromeo, and work by Richard Joseph King (1907-74). Perhaps of most importance is the series of ten stained glass windows at clerestory level (dated 1928) by the celebrated artist Harry Clarke (1889-1931) who was also responsible for two wall paintings at this cathedral.'

'In the summer of 1928 Harry visited St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny to inspect the area allocated for ten two-light clerestory windows. In July he sent several sketches for the Letterkenny project to the Bishop of Raphoe, Reverend William MacNeely.

Harry was awarded the commission in August. Despite Harry’s ill-health and his stay at the sanatorium in Davos, Switzerland, for most of 1929, the Letterkenny windows were completed by November 1929 (Bowe: 1994). Cut pieces of slab glass in diamond shapes were used to create each of the Letterkenny windows. Although similar in design, every window is unique.'

His wall paintings are located in Our Lady's Altar at the back of the cathedral's main altar. A painting of one angel was only uncovered and restored in 2012.

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U2 - A Sort Of Homecoming.

Letterkenny: St Eunan's Cathedral and Conwal Parish Church

 

However you approach Letterkenny – from Derry in the east, Gweedore and Glenties in the west, Fanad and Falcarragh in the north or Donegal and Ballybofey in the south – the tall spire of St. Eunan’s Cathedral greets you.

This beautifully-proportioned building was completed, not in the fourteenth century, but in the twentieth and that there were only eleven years between the formation of the Cathedral Building Committee in 1890, by the then Bishop of Raphoe – later Cardinal O’Donnell, whose statue stands just left of the main porch and the dedication and opening of the Cathedral in 1901.

The Cathedral, designed by William Hague F.R.I.A., of Dublin, is built of white Mountcharles stone. The building contractor (for the first five years) was James McClay of Strabane. The carving contractors were Messrs Purdy and Millard of Belfast. Because of geological features of the site it was not possible to orient the church in the traditional manner i.e., with the altar at the east end. The internal measurements are as follows: length 171 feet; width at transepts 100 feet; roof height 72 feet; spire 240 feet.

Opposite the Cathedral is Conwal Parish Church, a Church of Ireland church which dates back to the 17th century. The building is believed to have been constructed when a church located at Conwal, not far from Churchill fell into ruins. The church is rubble built with an ashlar spire. The interior retains its early 19th century cast-iron circular roof, trusses and a short gallery and twisted brass brackets.

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Glen Hansard - Astral Weeks.