Donnybrook, Sandymount, Haddington Road, Ringsend.

**A Short History

Some Dublin Parishes.**

1. The Sacred Heart, Donnybrook.

2. Star of the Sea, Sandymount.

3. St. Mary’s, Haddington Road.

4. St. Patrick’s, Ringsend.

In Two Parts.

Part I.

Up to the year 1876 the four Parishes of which we now propose to make a brief historical review, formed but one, registered in the “Irish Catholic Directory” of that day under the joint but cumbrous title of “Irishtown, Donnybrook, Ringsend, and Sandymount.”

Of these four the most ancient is

Donnybrook.

The Celtic Period.

Donnybrook, anciently *Domnach Broc, *i.e., Church of Broc, written by mediaeval scribes as *Dovenachbroc, *or *Donabrok, *and now Donnybrook, was formerly the designation of a village of very ancient origin clustered round a church founded by a holy woman named Broc, and dedicated, according to tradition, to the Blessed Mother of God. Broc was one of the seven daughters of Dalibronach of the Desii, of Bregia, in the Co. of Meath, and is mentioned in the works attributed to Aengus the Culdee. This would show her to have flourished about the end of the eighth or beginning of the ninth century. She established a Convent of Nuns, and in the Martyrology of Donegal, Mobi, a Nun of Donnybrook, is noticed on September 30.

Of St. Broc, or of her Nuns, or of the village surrounding them, little more is recorded in our Celtic Annals, and beyond some scare of the Danes, of which a recent discovery of a quantity of human hones near Seaview Terrace furnished traces, the Celtic History of Donnybrook seems to have been uneventful,

The Mediaeval Period.

The old Celtic Church of St. Broc, which occupied the site of the still existing Churchyard, was standing at the time of the Norman invasion, and to this period we may refer the commencement of our parochial history. It had been accounted a member of the Church of Taney or Dundrum, a great monastic centre in Celtic days, and though the monastic arrangement ceased with the advent of the Normans, Donnybrook continued affiliated to Dundrum during the administration of St. Laurence O’Toole and his immediate successors, John Comyn, and Henry de Loundres.

The village and surrounding country formed part of the chieftainry of MacGillamocholmog, one of the leading sub-*righs *of the provincial King of Leinster, the ill-starred Dermot MacMurrough. The latter’s daughter was the chieftain’s wife, and under such influence he seems to have tacitly acquiesced in the establishment of the Norman power. As soon as the conquest of Leinster was complete, MacGillamocholmog appears no longer as an Irish Chief, but seems to have settled down into the position of an extensive landlord of the lands he had previously ruled. Some of these he conveyed to the new comers on feudal conditions; whilst he bestowed others on religious houses of Irish foundation, such as All Hallow; and St. Mary’s Abbey, as well as on the new Norman foundation, of St. Thomas, which, through one of his immediate descendants became possessed of Kilruddery adjoining Bray.

The largest new grantee in this portion of the ex-chief’s district was undoubtedly Walter de Rideleford, a brave Norman knight, and one of the foremost followers of Strongbow. Besides a large tract of country in the Co. Kildare, surrounding Castledermot, and the lordship of Bray, he practically got almost all the land of South Co. Dublin not already in possession of the Archbishop (in trust for the See), Christ Church Cathedral, or St. Mary’s Abbey. From Bullock to Blackrock belonged to the latter; from Bray to Stillorgan was Cathedral property, whilst Dalkey, Rathmichael, Shankhill, part of Taney, part of Roebuck and Cullenswood were See lands. But from Blackrock to the mouth of the Dodder at Ringsend, with the townland of “forty acres” on the north side of the Dodder; and up by the Swan river across Up. Leeson St., through Appian way and Chelmsford Road to the Archbishop’s laud in Cullenswood, all that fell to De Rideleford. The extensive townland afterwards known as Bagotrath, stretching from Ballsbridge to Merrion Row, does not seem to have formed portion of the Norman adventurer’s grant.

De Rideleford soon after coming in to possession of this handsome estate followed the pious custom of his countrymen, and bestowed the townland of “forty acres” on the Priory of All Hallow’s; and towards the middle of the following century De Rideleford’s descendant and full namesake, leased to John Frambald Fitzbodekyn, one of his Kildare tenants, something more than a carucate of land lying between Donnybrook and Merrion, which nearly a century later came into the hands of Thomas Smothe, who built a house thereon, whence it was called Smothe’s Court, gradually softened into Simmonscourt, and still distinguished by the interesting remains of an old castle.

Male heirs of De Rideleford having failed in the 13th century, his property passed to one of his female descendants, who never marrying, but, according to tradition, having taken the veil, had it conveyed to the Crown, and thence passing through various owners, it eventually came into the hands of one of the Fitzwilliams of Dundrum, whose descendant in the female line, - the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery - retains it to the present day.

The Simmonscourt property similarly changed hands, until finally in 1396, it was conveyed to John Drake, Mayor of Dublin, who by will bequeathed it to Christ Church Cathedral on condition that prayers should be offered continually for him and his relations. This the Fitzwilliams also annexed, first by lease, afterwards by purchase, as also *Scalled Hill * or Scarlet Hill, the modern Sandymount thus becoming sole owners of this extensive area, comprising Thorncastle (Williamstown), Cnocro (Booterstown), Donnybrook, Merrion, Simmonscourt, Sandymount, Irishtown, and Ringsend, which in pre-Reformation days constituted the Parish of Donnybrook.

We have already stated that this Church remained affiliated to Dundrum during the Episcopates of St. Laurence: John Comyn and Archbishop Henry, but in Archbishop Luke’s time [1228-1256] Donnybrook achieved an independent parochial existence, and had for its Parish Priest, William de Romney, the Archbishop’s Chaplain. This autonomy, however, lasted but a short time, for the Archdeacon of Dublin was induced to exchange his previous Prebend of half Lusk for Taney and its subservient Chapels. Donnybrook had been one of these and was now claimed by the Archdeacon, and henceforward it was accounted a Chapelry of Taney. The result of this arrangement was that the Archdeacon of Dublin became the Rector of Donnybrook or its *Parochus habitualis, *but non-resident, yet enjoying the Rectorial and all other tithes, whilst to administer the Parish, and have the charge of souls therein, he presented and remunerated a Chaplain who should be resident, and thus became the *Parochus actualis *or acting Parish Priest. The rank of Chaplain though weighted with parochial responsibilities was not of that conspicuous order to ensure an enduring record of those who filled the office, so that during the three centuries that elapsed from the time of Donnybrook becoming part of the *corps * of the Archdeacon’s dignity, down to the accession of Elizabeth, the names of only two of the Chaplains emerge from obscurity, and find casual mention in Christ Church Deeds. In a Deed of 1312, we meet with “John, Chaplain of Donnybrook”; and again in a Deed of 1391, we read of a transaction with “John Mynagh, Chaplain.”

When the Fitzwilliams, about the beginning of the 15th century settled down in Merrion, in all probability they provided a Chapel of ease in that locality, for we find that Richard Fitzwilliam, who died in 1528, bequeathed to the Church at Merrion a “gown of camlet and doublet of satin, and to his ghostly father his finest black hose.” The disused graveyard on the Blackrock road indicates the site of this Chapel.

Extensive as the parochial area was, we must bear in mind that it was but sparsely inhabited. It was much exposed to the incursions of what was then called the “Irish enemy,” and was in consequence anything but a desirable locality to reside in. In the first quarter of the 14th century the tenants of Thorncastle who lived in a village now marked by Booterstown Avenue, were all killed by the mountain raiders and the village destroyed; and in 1356 it was deemed a short-sighted policy for the men of Donnybrook, who were governed by a bailiff and probably protected by walls, to resist a rate to pay for watchmen on the mountains to warn them when the Irish enemies were meditating an incursion. So that the resident Chaplain at Donnybrook, with possibly an assistant at Merrion, might have been found adequate to the spiritual requirements of the Parish. The Irish item worth recording as belonging to tins period, was the valuation made by the Commissioners of Henry the Eighth in 1546, when that monarch dissolved the Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, It is transcribed as follows

“Donabroke.

Demesne - In the townland Donabroke the demesne belonging to the Rector consists of a mansion, and 3 stangs of arable land, worth 3s. and 4d. per annum.

Tithes. - The tithes extend over the townlands of Donabroke, Meryon, Smotbescort, Balesclatter, the lands of Allhalloes, and Bagotrath, worth, together with the tithes of fish, altarages, and oblations, £15 per annum (beside the Curate’s stipend and repair of the Chancel). Amount £15 3s. 4d.”

If we multiply this total by 15 we shall have approximately its value in present coin. The demesne and mansion are described in a lease, dated 1684, as adjoining to the churchyard of Donabrook on the north side and containing half an acre.

The Modern Period.

The Parochial arrangements just detailed continued peacefully down to the accession of Elizabeth in 1558 and for the two first years of her reign. But now came the great apostasy when all this was to be changed.

From 1562 or thereabouts the Queen had her will in all things spiritual. Her supremacy in spirituals as well as temporals should be acknowledged, the Pope’s jurisdiction foresworn, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass suppressed, the Seven Sacraments banished, the veneration of the Holy Mother of God and of the Saints proscribed, the Act of Uniformity enforced, and all people compelled to attend on Sundays their Parish Church, [now transformed into a Protestant Church], under pain of spiritual censure and fine. Churches and Chapels, and Tithes, and Benefices, and Parochial Demesnes and Manses, were all sequestrated and devoted to the furtherance of the new State Religion, whilst the people who remained true to the old faith together with their Pastors were driven out into the wilderness. We know not how the then Chaplain of Donnybrook comported himself in this trying time, hut in the absence of records, we feel inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and presume, that, spurning all offers to conformity he continued faithful to his sacred trust. But of the people we can have no doubt, for amongst statistics compiled 70 years later we can only find “about fortie” attending the Parish [Protestant] Church and these mostly outsiders who meanwhile had migrated into the Parish. How it fared with the Catholics in the interval remains unwritten history, but the steadfastness of the Fitzwilliams of Merrion, of the Walsh’s of Ballawly, of the Wolverston’s of Stillorgan, of the Archbolds of Kilmacud, and of others of the surrounding catholic gentry, secured, as we know, to both priest and people, shelters for celebrating and hearing Mass respectively and for practising their thier religious duties, until a better day should arrive when some attempt could be made to vindicate the right of catholics to live in their own land.

This day does not seem to have dawned until the year 1615, and then with but the faintest streak of dawn. In that year Archbishop Matthews, the Catholic Prelate, then presiding over the See of Dublin, ventured to hold a Provincial Synod in Kilkenny, whereat, amongst many useful and necessary enactments it was decreed that Parishes should be re-constituted and their boundaries defined. The very limited number of Catholic clergy then available did not permit the allocation of a priest to each and all of the pre-existing Parishes, and it therefore became necessary to effect, according to circumstanece, a union of two or more Parishes, and each such newly formed composite Parish was confided to the care of one Priest who thenceforward would be recognised as its Parish Priest. In pursuance of this Synodal Decree, the old Parishes of Donnybrook (including Booterstown), Stillorgan, Kilmacud, Taney or Dundrum, were united and formed into one Parish. The earliest information we have concerning it comes from the Visitation Report of the Protestant Archbishop Bulkeley returned in 1630, and this is what he says:

“Donabrooke

The Church and Chauncel are in good repair and decency. There is a Mass-priest named John Cawhill [Cahill], who says Mass in that Parish and in the near adjoining Parishes, and especially in the towns of Merrion, Dundrum, and Ballawly… . In the Parish of Donabrooke there are about fortie that go to Church.”

This brief but interesting record may be regarded as the first chapter in our* *new parochial history. It gives the name of our first pastor, Father Cahill, and locates the several centres wherein he was enabled to celebrate the sacred mysteries. Merrion Castle, the seat of Viscount Fitzwiiliam, now occupied by the Female Blind Asylum, was one of these early rendezvous; Dundrum Castle, occupied by Colonel Fitzwilliam, was another safe resort, and the Walsh of Ballawly, a kinsman of Walsh of Carrickmines furnished a third retreat. For Donnybrook itself no place is mentioned, but we may assume that Irishtown which furnished the largest population in the district, accommodated some modest tenement to serve the purposes of a temporary chapel for itself and neighbourhood. The superficial area of this new Parish looks no doubt extensive, but the population was comparatively small, and clerical assistance might be counted on from time to time from other priests or friars visiting or sheltering at the houses of the surrounding gentry.

From 1630 until the advent of Cromwell records are silent. With Cromwell, “the Priest, the Wolf, and the Tory,” went into one and the same category, as “burthensome beasts,” to be hunted down and exterminated, and the extermination was accomplished but too successfully. When a Priest managed to escape his pursuers, and hold his ground, it was only by stealth, at dead of night, and at irregular intervals that he and his people could venture to come together. So for this decade of terror our history must remain a blank. But a survey and a census made within this period in 1654 and 1659 respectively, are not without interest; the first showing how that the landed estate of the Parish was entirely in the hands of a catholic owner, the Lord of Merrion, Viscount Fitzwilliam, the other the number of the population. The Survey is entitled “A Survey of the half barony of Rathdowne in the Co. of Dublin by order of Chas. Fleetwood, Lord Deputy, Oct. 4, 1654.” We extract the portion referring to the civil parish of Donnybrook.

The Parish of Donnybrooke with its Bounds, etc.

The said Parish is bounded on the East with the sea, on the south with Stillorgan, in the Parish of Kill, on the West with the Parish of Tarmee and Milltown, and on the North with the Ring’s-end and Baggotrath.

Proprietor’s Name and his qualification. Denominations of land Number of acres by estimate of the country. Land profitable and its quantity. Land unprofitable and waste. Value of the whole and each of the said land as it was in 1640.

Lord of Merrion,

Irish Papist Simon’s Court by estimate two plowlands One hundred and ten acres. Meadow 20a

Arable 80a

Pasture 10a. By the jury £70.

By us £90.

Observations.

To the Proprietor - The proprietor is possessed of the premises as his inheritance.

To the Building - There is on the premises one house slated and a garden plot. The buildings are valued by the jury at £50.

To the Tythes - The tythes belong to the College of Dublin.

To the Bounds - The premises are bounded on the East with the sea, on the South with Merrion, on the West with Donnybrook, and on the North with Ring’s-end.

Lord of Merrion,

Irish Papist Moiety of Merrion.

Estimate one plowland. Four score acres. Meadow 20a

Arable 60a

Pasture 0a. By the jury £40.

By us £70.

Observations.

To the Proprietor - The proprietor was possessed of the premises as his inheritance, and did mortgage the same to Richard Earl, of Corke, five or six years before the rebellion [1641].

To the Buildings - There is on the premises an old decayed castle, with a large barron, valued by the jury at £200.

To the Royalties, Tythes, etc. - The premises are a manor, and keep Court-leet and Court-baron. The tythes belong to the College of Dublin.

To the Bounds - The premises are bounded on the E. by the sea, on the S. with Butterstown, W. Rabuck, and on the N. with the Ring’s-end.

Sir Wm. Reeves of Rasallaght.

English Protestant. Butterstown. By estimate three plowlands. Two hundred and forty acres. Meadow 5a

Arable 200a

Pasture 35a. By the jury £100.

By us £125.

Observations.

To the Proprietor - The proprietor was possessed of the premises in right of a mortgage from the Lord of Merrion, about 14 or 15 years before the wars.

To the Buildings - There is on the premises one castle in repair, and a yard and plot valued by jury at £20.

To the Woods and Mines - There is on the premises a small grove of ash trees set for ornament.

To the Royalties, Tythes, etc. - The premises are a manor and kept Court-leet and Court-baron, the tythes to Christ Church.

To the Bounds - The premises are bounded on the E. with the sea, on the S. with Kill of the Grange, on the W with Rabuck, and on the N with Merrion.

The Census was made in 1659. it does not profess to give the religious denominations of the people enumerated but only their nationality, distinguishing those of English descent from those of Irish descent. Whilst we may assume the latter to have been all Catholics, it would he wrong to infer that all enumerated as English had been Protestants, for we know from other sources that the great majority remained Catholic. The returns are made by townslands, and give the number of individuals in each Townland.

English Irish Total

Dundrum 14 33 48

Churchtown 2 5 7

Roebuck 2 17 19

Symmonscourt 12 20 32

Stillorgan 13 25 38

Kilmacud 11 2 13

Little Newtown 2 2

Booterstowne

41 41

Ringsend 59 21 80

Irishtown 23 75 98

Donibrook 4 9 13

Baggotrath 3 29 32

143 279 422

Four hundred and twenty-two souls all told do not make too heavy a burthen for any Pastor; but look miserably few for such an extensive area. However, again we must remember, that the district had been ravaged more than once by the Irish (Confederate) forces in the civil war of 1641, and moreover it must have suffered from the battle of Rathmines fought on its very borders, and from the constant marchings and countermarchings of Cromwellian freebooters; whilst the plague which desolated Dublin during the Commonwealth did not spare this locality more than any other.

Whether Father Cahill survived the Cromwellian visitation or not we are unable to say, and the name of his immediate successor has not yet been recovered. A list of the Dublin clergy who attended Archbishop Russell’s Diocesan Synod in 1685, gives Patrick Gilmore, who from a later document we know to have been Parish Priest of Booterstowne and Donnybrook. But even supposing the latter to have commenced his Pastorship in 1680 or thereabouts, a gap still remains between him and Father Cahill which possibly further research may bridge over.

The Restoration of the Monarchy put an end to the wild * debacle *of the Parliament and brought some measure of comfort to the afflicted Catholics of Ireland. Priest-hunting was discontinued, at least for a time, and such of the clergy as survived could now come forth from their hiding places, and walk abroad in heaven’s sunlight. Quietly and prudently they re-assumed without apparent molestations, the discharge of their sacred ministry. Yet the amount of toleration vouchsafed during the first 20 years of Charles the Second’s reign was ever fluctuating, was sometimes suspended, and mav be said to have been altogether withdrawn when the Venerable Oliver Plunkett was martyred at Tyburn in 1681, and Peter Talbot, Archbishop of Dublin, imprisoned into death. This however was the culminating point, and the blood of the martyr purchased a period of tranquility.

It was during this period and the quickly following reign of a Catholic King, James II. - that the clergy with the aid of their faithful people ventured to erect our first unpretentious Chapels, or rather ventured to adapt existing out-houses, stables, and other such buildings to the purposes of a Chapel. To these years therefore we may safely refer the first appearance of public Chapels in Irishtowne and Booterstown - Donnybrook, as we shall see later on, had to wait a century longer before it saw a Catholic Chapel in its midst. The site of Irishtown Chapel has been recently built over, but can be easily identified from the name “Chapel Avenue” preserved to the adjacent thoroughfare. The site of Booterstown Chapel, called “Mass-House” in Roque’s survey early in the next century, is the same as that on which the present Parochial Church stands in Booterstown Avenue.

If, as we conjecture, Father Gilmore commenced Parish Priest in 1680-81 or thereabouts he began his ministrations in peace, and contrasted with all that went before, his lines may be said to have fallen in pleasant places. We first meet mention of him in a list drawn up at the Diocesan Synod of 1685, of those present who made the prescribed profession of faith. The Church was then resting beneath the quiet shade of James the Second’s protection and was looking forward to a period of prosperity and development which the events of the previous 120 years rendered absolutely impossible. But this peace was destined to be shortlived, and the disastrous issue of the struggle on the Boyne in 1690, dashed all hopes, rivetted our chains more firmly than ever, and was the prelude to a fiercer and more relentless persecution than almost any that had preceded it. Archbishop Russell was hunted down, arrested, and cast into prison, where he died. An Act of William’s first Parliament banished all Archbishops, Bishops, Vicars-General, and all the religious communities, whilst such of the secular clergy as were suffered to remain, were classified and listed for purposes of identification if at any time it should be thought expedient to call them to account The original of one of these lists is preserved in Marsh’s Library, dated 1697, and from it we make the following extracts:-

“Mr. Patrick Gilmore, Parish Priest of Donabrook and Kilgobbin, living for the most part within the union of Monkstowne,” and lower down, “Parish of Monkstown. Patrick Gillmore, Parish Priest of Stillorgan, living at Newtown-on-the-Strand (Blackrock), and officiates at Butterstowne.”

The introduction of Kilgobbin is clearly a mistake of the person who drew up the list, as we have reason to know that Kilgobbin was accounted as in the other Parish which had headquarters in Loughlinstown or Cabinteely. But these extracts, as well as the list of 1704, combine in fixing for us the residence of the Parish Priest as somewhere in the neighbourhood of Booterstowne, Blackrock, or Seapoint This list makes no mention of any curate or assistant to take charge of the Ringsend, Irishtown, and Donnybrook districts, but we may be sure that Father Gilmore had an assistant conveniently located, especially as in the later and more complete list of registered “Popish Clergy” of 1704, we find mention of Father Richard Fox as residing at Beggar’s Bush, though registered (to evade the law) as P.P. of Escor (near Lucan). The terrible succession of penal enactments during Queen Anne’s reign, and the merciless manner in which they were enforced, easily account for the absence of any details concerning the Parish whose history we are endeavouring briefly to record. The only notable event, and that a sad one, which occurred during this interval the apostasy of Fitzwilliam. Through storm and stress, through persecutions and confiscations, from Elizabeth’s time down, the Fitzwilliam family had remained staunch and loyal Catholics. Under the Act of Settlement they had recovered their estates confiscated by Cromwell, and Thomas, the fourth Viscount, was of James II.’s Privy Council, and at the time of the siege of Limerick was in command of a troop of horse which displayed considerable bravery in Kerry in an encounter with King William’s forces. For this he was attainted, but subsequently the attainder was reversed, and in 1695 he attempted to take his seat in the House of Lords, but being unwilling to take the Oath of Supremacy he was obliged to withdraw. His son, the fifth Viscount, succeeded to the title and estates in 1704, but being a vain man and ambitious of taking a part in public life, in 1711 he abandoned his faith that he might be able to take his seat in the House of Peers, and thus ended the long line of the Catholic Fitzwilliams. It was his eldest daughter who married the Lord Pembroke of that day, and thus, by will of the seventh Viscount, the house of Pembroke had the reversion of the greater portion of the Fitzwilliam estates when the latter died in 1776.

The defection of his leading parishioner must have been a sore trial to the Parish Priest, especially as all the other Catholic landed gentry of his parish, who had recovered their estates under the Act of Settlement, had gradually disappeared. Stillorgan knew the Wolverstons no longer, for even before the accession of James II. the lands had passed into the possession of Sir Joshua Allen. Kilmacud passed from the Catholic Archbolds to a Protestant branch of the same family; whilst Walsh of Ballawly had long since vanished and his property was in the hands of the Cromwellian Colonel Dobson. Now, the last and most influential of the group, conforms to the established Church that he may sit among his peers and help to frame cruel laws to trouble the conscience of his Catholic fellow country men. The list of renegades from the Faith in the early 18th century far exceeding the number of defections that occurred in the previous persecutions, proves how “ferocious” must have been the acts of Anne. We have no record of the year of Father Gilmore’s death, but from dates affecting his successor, it would appear to have occurred between 1724 and 1729. In the latter year we have a document signed in Latin “Franciscus Archbold Pastor de Ringsend.”

Before we enter on the period of Father Archbold’s administration, it may be well to take a look at the old Parish Church - Protestant since Elizabeth’s reign - and follow its vicissitudes. The last mention of it occurred in the report of Bulkeley, published in 1630, and there it is described as in “good repair and decency,” both Church and Chauncel. But the suceessive storms of the century evidently told on the venerable pile, for the Protestant Archbishop King, who took a great interest in Old St. Mary’s, and who flourished through the reigns of William III., Anne, and George I., spent a considerable sum of money in putting it in proper repair, so that it was thus enabled to live on for yet another century. He prepared a tomb for himself in the adjoining churchyard, and was buried there in 1729, but by a strange irony of fate not a trace of this tomb can now be found.

We do not pretend to be able to record the succession of the curates, so that we cannot say with certainty who succeeded Father Fox when the latter was promoted Parish Priest of Clondalkin before 1720. But if we might venture a conjecture, the interment of a “Mr. Barry, a Roman Priest,” entered in the Donnybrook Protestant Burial Register under the date of December 3, 1727, might refer to the then curate of Donnybrook.

Francis (Canon) Archbold succeeded Father Gilmore as P.P. about 1728. He was certainly Parish Priest in 1729. When we first met the name, we thought we might be able to trace him to the Archbolds of Kilmacud, but a letter written to Rome in the middle of the century by the then Catholic Primate of Armagh, describes him as of obscure origin. However that may be, he distinguished himself in his collegiate course abroad, and graduated laicentiate in Sacred Theology. Very soon after his return to Ireland in 1720, he was adopted into the Metropolitan Chapter as Prebendary of Donoughmore, and in 1726 promoted to that of Timothan, vacated by the death of Dr. Michael Moore, the learned rector of the University of Paris, and who had been, during James the Second’s time, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. Of Father Archbold’s pastoral administration no history has come down to us, and the only item concerning it calling for remark is the change of address which he adopted, for he always signed himself “Pastor of Ringsend.” This clearly indicates that he had shifted head quarters from Booterstown to Ringsend, presumably that he might be nearer town. We have this confirmed by an entry which we are now about to transcribe. During the reigns of William, Anne, and George the First, so many Acts of Parliament had been passed “to prevent the growth of Popery,” that they began to get confusing, and a Committee of the House of Lords in 1731, thought it was high time to cheek the results and see what progress had been made, and ascertain, if possible, “the present state of Popery.” Wherefore an Order was issued by a Committee of the house of Lords to all Ministers and Churchwardens to make a Return, each in their own Parish, of “the number of Popish Priests, Friars or Nuns, Mass-houses, and Popish Schools and Schoolmasters.” The Return for the Parish of Donnybrook was made on the 9th November, 1731 by Dr. Whittingham, Protestant Archdeacon of Dublin, and was to the following effect:

“In the Parish of Donybrook within the Liberties of the City of Dublin, there is one Popish Priest who goes by the name of Father Archbold and lives in Irishtown in the said Parish, where there is also one Mass-house, but noe Convent or reputed Convent of Fryars or Nuns, nor Popish Schoolmaster.

Die Martis, 9th Nov., 1731.

Chas. Whittingham,

This Return does not make mention of the Booterstown portion of the Parish, which had its own Mass-house and where the Curate was established as we may presume. But it would be strange if there had been no school, for, at any risk, every Parish managed to keep a School going during the Penal times, and the Priest and the Schoolmaster were equally the objects of the unwelcome attention of the authorities and had prices set upon their heads.

Canon Archbold appears to have taken a very active part in the doings of the Chapter as its records testify, and in 1742, his name appears with three others as postulated for in an abortive attempt to get a Coadjutor appointed to Archbishop Linegar, who, even then, was showing signs of age and infirmity. Ten or 12 years later the Primate of Armagh, Michael O’Reilly, writing to Rome in favour of a Coadjutor being then appointed, urges as an argument that His Grace of Dublin now approaching his 90th year, had become so enfeebled and childish, that his Vicars General felt compelled to resign, and that he was then entirely under the influence of an unnamed layman and of an old priest named Archbold. This must have been our Parish Priest as there was no other of the same name in the Diocese. He would appear to have lived up to the summer of 1759, but the exact date of his death or place of his interment are for the present unknown.

Canon Archbold had for his immediate successor Dr. Mathias Kelly3 who also was admitted into the Metropolitan Chapter on 23rd October, 1759, as Prebendary of St. Audoen. From the Archives of tIte Irish College, Rome, we learn that Dr. Kelly was of Connaught parentage, that he had entered the College on the 15th August, 1733, and he is described as a student *“di gran genio, studio a dottrina.” *later on, about the year 1740, and when this distinguished student - crowned with the aureola of a Doctor in Sacred Theology - had already entered upon his missionary duties, Father Alexander Roche, S.J., known in Rome as “della Rocca,” and who had been at frequent intervals Rector of the Irish College, writes of him to Cardinal Corsini, then Cardinal Protector of Ireland, as “a man of singular ability and profound learning, of saintly and exemplary life, and a zealous and indefatigable missioner.” Before assuming the Pastorship of Booterstown and Donnybrook, Dr. Kelly had been for some years previous Parish Priest of Skerries, and left there behind him, as a *memento3 *a renovated Chalice still in use and bearing the following inscription: *“Me augeri et renovari fecit ad usum paroeciae de Holmpatriek, R.D. Mathias Kelly. *1759.” Father Archbold as we have seen elected to reside in Irishtown, but Dr. Kelly returned to the older practice, and again made Booterstown head-quarters, leaving Ringsend, Irishtown and Donnybrook in charge of the Curate, a Father Brady. The changed aspect of the locality and growing importance of the southern end of the Parish may have determined this change. For some 20 years past Booterstown and its neighbourhood had been in a state of transition from a purely agricultural to a residential locality. There was no longer any need to be in dread of mountain raiders, or of the restless clans of the O’Byrnes and the O’Tooles. For more than a century the prolonged, but fruitless, yet not inglorious struggle of these valiant native warriors had come to an end, and peace had definitely prevailed. Moreover, Lord Fitzwilliam, the sixth Viscount, whose residence was now fixed at Mount Merrion (Merrion Castle being long since abandoned and suffered to fall into ruin) had begun to let out the lands in small plots for the building of country houses, and by the time of Dr. Kelly’s advent in 1760, St. Helen’s and Sans Souci had already come into existence, and many other such commodious residences began to increase and multiply. Yet another Parliamentary Return, completed in 1766, and which has the additional advantage of furnishing a Religious Census at least by families, gives us a fair idea of the advance made in the matter of population.

“St. Mary’s, Donnybrook, 1766.

No. of Families. Protestants. Papists.

In Ringsend 103 79 24

In Irishtown 103 5 98

Brickfields 10 5 5

Ballsbridge and neighbourhood 48 16 25

Maidenwell and Old Merrion as far Blackrock 19 9 10

Butterstowne 43 15 28

Mt. Merrion 35 2 33

Priesthouse 5 0 5

Simmonscourt 11 5 9

Town of Donnybrook and places adjacent 59 39 20

Total Families 433 174 259

.Two Popish Priests reside in said Parish, one John [Mathias] Kelly at Old Merrion near Butterstowne and - Brady at Irishtown.

L. Grace, Curate Assistant, St. Mary’s, Donnybrook.”

If we multiply the number of families by five we get almost 1,200 souls committed to the care of Dr. Kelly. But to this we must add Dundrum, Stillorgan, Kilmacud, and what was beginning to develop into Blackrock as far as Seapoint, for all this was included in his parish.

We have now come to a period when authentic Diocesan records commence and thenceforward continue without interruption. The first complete list of parishes and their corresponding pastors that has been preserved to us dates from 1771, and is made out in the clear and beautiful handwriting of Archbishop Carpenter. On this list, after the denomination “Booterstown,” we find entered as its pastor “Mathias Kelly,” and on the next page, containing promotions and exchanges, we read at January 17, 1775, “Rev. James Nicholson P. of Booterstown.” This clearly indicates that Dr. Kelly had just passed to his eternal reward, and that he was succeeded by Father Nicholson.

We have no details of the antecedents of Father Nicholson, unless a confused memory of having read somewhere that he had been a curate in Liffey Street Chapel, and the certainty that he was adopted into the Chapter as Prebendary of Kilmactalway on the 18th April, 1768, seven years before he became Parish Priest. During the time of his administration, however, a momentous change was made in the condition or the parish, and the Donnybrook portion was severed from Booterstown and erected into an independent parish. From this forward, therefore, we shall say no more of Booterstown, leaving it to he dealt with in its proper place, and confine our brief history to the progress and development of the new Donnybrook Parish.

1787 marks the year when the division of the parish was effected, and the boundaries separating Donnybrook from Booterstown, then fixed by Archbishop Troy, subsist, with slight modifications, down to the present day. Canon Nicholson was left Parish Priest of Booterstown, Dundrum, etc., whilst for the new Parish of Donnybrook, Irishtown, and Ringsend, the Archbishop selected as first Parish Priest, quite a young man, only just ordained, the Rev. Peter Richard Clinch, aged 24. He was of the same family as Councillor Clinch, so well known as first Professor of *Belles Lettres *in Maynooth College, and author of the celebrated controversy with “Columbanus ad Hibernos.” Father Clinch went through his studies at Louvain University, and had only just returned from Belgium when he was appointed to the parish. The first immediate result of his fresh zeal and youthful energy was the erection of a chapel at Donnybrook. For over 200 years, since Old St. Mary’s was turned over to the Protestants, the village and neighbourhood was without any place of public Catholic worship. The residents were compelled to go either to Booterstown on the one side, or to Irishtown on the other, in order to hear Mass. The site for the new erection was secured from Lord Downes within the old churchyard, close beside what was left of Old St. Mary’s, whence the pealing of the organ during Protestant service could be heard while Mass was being offered in the new structure. As soon as it was in a fit condition, Father Clinch began to say his second Mass in Donnybrook each Sunday and Holiday, having said his first in Irishtown. He had no curate. This active young pastor of such promise was destined to fill the office but for a short time. When only five years in charge he got an accidental blow of a boat oar which broke his jaw, from the effects of which he soon afterwards died. This tragic termination to such a promising career elicited universal sympathy, and amid the deep regret of Catholics and Protestants alike, he was interred in St. Matthew’s Churchyard, Ringsend, where his tombstone may yet be seen. The following eulogistic epitaph is inscribed on the stone

“To the Memory of the Rev. Peter Richard Clinch, Roman Catholic Pastor of this Parish, who died on the 29th of December, 1791, in the 29th year of his age, and the 5th of his Mission.

In humble hope with Christ again to rise,

Beneath this stone the Friend, the Pastor lies.

His manners open, elegant and sage;

His youth revered like venerable age;

His charity, which oft her all bestowed,

And oft in sorrows for the helpless flowd,

Alas, could not reverse the mournful doom

And torture sunk him to an early tomb.

Here still his image lives in every breast;

Here laid in peace his honourd ashes rest;

Here all with tenderness his virtues own,

And grateful rear this monumental stone,”

A fine portrait of this esteemed clergyman was preserved in the family.

We now reach a personality of no small importance whose life and labours are still within living memory. In Dr. Troy’s register the following entry occurs (we translate from the original Latin):- “3rd April, 1792, Rev. Charles Joseph Finn is instituted Parish Priest of St.

Irishtown, in the place of Rev. Peter Clinch who died in the month of October [December?] 1791.”

Dr. Finn, appointed in 1792, survived into the year 1849, thus achieving the almost unequalled record of being 57 years Parish Priest of one and the same parish. Much was accomplished during his time, So we shall be obliged to tarry with him a little.

Dr. Finn, like Father Clinch, made his studies at Louvaun University, and became so distinguished there as to win his Doctorate in Theology, and had the flattering compliment paid to him of being pressed to remain in the University as Professor of Hebrew. This he declined, either through personal motives, or what was still more likely, because summoned home by his Diocesan, who repeated in him the experiment so successfully tried in the case of his predecessor, and appointed him Parish Priest of Irishtown immediately after his ordination, he being then 25 years of age.

In answer to some queries issued by Archbishop Murray in 1830, he writes:- “I received it [the parish] as the Parish of Irishtown, and was inducted into it by Dr. Talbot, then Vicar-General - the Chapel of Donnybrook was not then entirely finished - but Mass was said in it four or five years before. I got the insides of it completed, and made some additions to it afterwards. The title of the whole parish when held by Rev. Mr. Nicholson, with the single Chapel of Irishtown, was St. Mary’s - and I suppose none of the Chapels in that district would have been dedicated under any other name. The Chapel of Irishtown and the Priest’s house is held from the heir of Lord Pembroke who succeeded to Lord Fitzwilliam, under the annual rent of £2 1s. 6d., which sum is returned to me. The Chapel at Donnybrook is held by lease from Lord Downes, as long as it shall be occupied as a Chapel - in trust to Mr. John Madden, of Donnybrook - the rent is £1 per annum.” We have here in this brief extract a perfect picture of the parochial situation in 1792. A Chapel and residence in Irishtown rent free, a new Capel just completed and enlarged in Donnybrook, the pastor young, active, and learned, dispensing with the aid of a curate, and passing rich on £60 a year; for such was the sum total of his income as given in a return furnished by Dr. Troy to the Government in 1800, and published in the “Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereagh. (Vol. IV. p. 133).

This was ease and affluence compared with the condition of his predecessor, Father Gilmore, of a hundred years previous. The days of persecution were numbered, and the foul spirit that inspired the Penal laws was slowly but steadily receding into an inglorious past, and the way was being prepared for the long promised measure of Catholic Emancipation.

It was Dr. Finn’s destiny just at this period to be brought into immediate touch and intimate familiarity with the future Emancipator. Daniel O’Connell was engaged to be married to Miss O’Connell, of Tralee, his own second cousin. The engagement was not agreeable to many of his relatives and friends, and he fully expected to be cut off by the uncle on whom he placed most reliance. But it was a case of genuine affection, as his published letters amply testify, and he was determined to go through with it. So they were married privately in 1802 in the house of a relative in Dame Street, and Dr. Finn it was who blessed the union.

The Opening years of the 19th century reveal nothing unusual in the parochial life of Irishtown and Donnybrook, except the nomination of the Parish Priest to a stall in the Metropolitan Chapter so early as 1801. He was then made Prebendary of Howth, a prebend which he held to his death, 40 years later. But this precise period may be said to have inaugurated that “out of town movement which went on through the whole century and even now shows no sign of abating. The region now known as Sandymount was the first to wake up. In ancient deeds and leases it was designated “Scalled Hill” or “Scallet Hill,” and was a mere agglomeration of sand-dunes and rabbit warrens. In the 18th century Lord Fitzwilliam utilised a large portion of it for the manufacture of bricks wherewith to build the houses of Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square, and the streets adjacent. Hence for a while it was known as “Brickfield Town.” But with the 19th century came developments. The citizens of Dublin were attracted by the fresh sea breeze wafted in by each returning tide, and longed to settle down in a place so favoured and so convenient to town; so house was added unto house, slowly but steadily, and the progress thus commenced continued throughout the century and made it the flourishing suburb which it has since become.

Similarly, though some 10 or 12 years later, another district in the neighbourhood was roused from its prolonged slumber. This was Baggotrath. Extending from Merrion Row to Ball’s Bridge in one direction, and from Donnybrook Road to Ringsend and Irishtown in the other, for centuries it was used as pasture land for the use of the citizens of Dublin. Occasionally it was let out to good substantial tenants, and in 1280, Sir Robert Bagod, Chief Justice of Ireland, was the occupier. He gave it its name, and constructed, towards the southern end of it, a strong and well fortified castle, which in 1649 fortified the centre of the opening struggle between the Parliamentarians, under Colonel Jones, and the Irish Confederate forces under Ormonde, culminating in the disastrous defeat of the latter, an event known in history as the “Battle of Rathmines.” Soon after the castle was dismantled and suffered to fall into ruin. Some remnants of it survived into the beginning of the last century, but now all traces are blotted out, and we only know that it stood on the site now occupied by the houses Nos. 42 and 44 Upper Baggot street. The lands at the northern end of Baggotrath, of which Lower Baggot Street formed the main artery, began to be built upon towards the middle of the 18th century, but the section stretching from the Grand Canal to near Ball’s Bridge remained ” void and empty” until about 1815 or 1816. Then a few houses appeared in Upper Baggot Street, a terrace of cottages round the corner on Haddington Road, and one or two in Percy Place. Within 50 years this region blossomed into a bustling and attractive township, and now in what had been so long a *terra inanis et vacua, * and which continued so until after 1800, scarce a square yard can be got for building purposes. All this progress beginning to develop so rapidly in the first quarter of the last century, set the Parish Priest thinking, and in order to meet increasing responsibilities he resolved to ask the assistance of a curate. In 1825 his first curate was appointed to him in the person of Rev. John Baptist Grosvenor.

This clergyman had been for many years a Christian Brother, and one of the first and most energetic disciples of Mr. Rice, the founder. In Dublin he had charge of the school opened by the Brothers in Hanover Street East, but feeling himself called to a higher state, he passed into Maynooth, and after a short course of study was in due course ordained. He worked hard and energetically, principally in the Donnybrook district of the parish, but his time was, destined to be short, and within two brief years, after a short illness, he died, greatly regretted. To perpetuate his memory the parishioners erected a handsome marble tablet in Donnybrook Chapel, with the following epitaph inscribed on it:-

Near this spot are deposited

The Mortal remains of

The Revd. Thos. John Baptist Grosvenor,

For several years Superior in the City of Dublin,

of the Religions Society of Christian Schools,

For the last two years of his life

R.C. Curate of the United Parishes of

Irishtown and Donnybrook.

His Sacerdotal career was short

But replete with merits,

In him society possessed a member ever active to promote its best interests;

Youth found him a wise and gentle instructor;

The unfortunate a friend, the poor a parent;

His last request was

That his bones might repose among those

For whose sanctification he had laboured,

To record the gratitude of an admiring people,

And by every means in their power,

To perpetuate the edification

Which his virtues had inspired.

The inhabitants of the above-named Parishes have erected this simple Monument to his memory.

He died on the 4th November, 1827. Aged 48 years.

When the chapel fell into disuse and was unroofed, this tablet would have shared in the general impending destruction did not the present Parish Priest thoughtfully take steps to have it taken down and removed to the new church, where it is carefully preserved.

To Father Grosvenor succeeded as curate Father Paul Smithwick, who died Parish Priest of Baldoyle in 1880. Meanwhile two events occurred which deserve special mention. The first was the final disappearance of “old St. Mary’s,” Donnybrook. It had come down through many changes and alterations certainly from the 12th century, and possibly from the days of St. Broc and her convent of nuns, but being found too small and inconvenient, the new Protestant Church of St. Mary, Simmonscourt, was built and opened in 1827, whereupon the old church was demolished and the materials sold to the great indignation of many of the Protestant parishioners. The other important event is the enlargement of the parish. The tract of land lying between the Canal and Lansdowne Road did not originally belong to Donnybrook parish, but to St. Andrew’s, Townsend Street. However the canal, which was opened in 1791, seemed to offer a more scientific frontier than the irregular course of the Swan river coming down through Clyde Road, crossing to Lansdowne Road, and thence to the Liffey. Moreover, this stream, which for so long had formed the parochial boundary, was gradually being covered over and could no longer safely serve its delimitation purposes. So some time between 1825 and 1830 that portion of Baggotrath, intervening between the Swan river at the upper end of Pembroke Road, and the canal, was added to the Parish of Irishtown and Donnybrook, and placed under the jurisdiction of Dr. Finn.

We have now reached the year 1830. In this year Dr. Murray included Irishtown in the list of parishes in which he would hold confirmations and visitations. On these occasions it was the Archbishop’s practice to send out before him a printed and tabulated query sheet which he required to be filled up, signed both by Parish Priest and curate, and handed to him on his arrival. The query sheet for this year is fortunately forthcoming, and gives a brief but satisfactory account of the parish, which we think worth transcribing. We have already transcribed the answers to the queries in first column referring to titles and title deeds of church property. The second column deals with the items of church equipment in chalices, vestments, altar linen, missals, and number of volumes in parochial library, and Dr. Finn’s answers are:- Two chalices, one of which is for Irishtown, the other for Donnybrook; there are three pixes, and a large one which we use as a ciborium. I have 8 or 10 suits of vestments, 5 of which are nearly new. There are 4 albs and three or four suits of altar linen. There are 4 missals, and about 200 volumes in the parochial library I have been since informed by the librarian that there are 300 vols. in the library.”

The chalice described as “for Irishtown” is a venerable and interesting piece of church plate. It is a solid silver chalice of early 17th century style and workmanship, and has a Latin inscription running round the base which, with the exception of two words, are easily decipherable. “Orate pro animabus Dni *Joannis Burgatt et Dnae Genetae … qui me fieri fecerunt filio sus fratri Henrico … Ord. Praed. Thos. Burgatt.” *The letters H. B. are rudely incised under the base. There is no date on this chalice, but a short paper in Vol. XIX. of the R. S. of Antiquaries’ Journal, p 216, gives a description of another chalice still used at St. Saviour’s, Limerick, and presented to the Dominican Convent, Kilmallock, in 1639, while *Brother Henry Was Prior. *This is the same Henry Burgatt to whom his parents donated our chalice about the same time or perhaps earlier, so that it is over 270 years in service. It is still in daily use in St Patrick’s, Ringsend. It may be asked how a chalice presented to a Dominican Friar found its way to Ringsend. It would be difficult to answer this question, but if a surmise would suffice, we venture the following:- In the year 1697 all Friars and religions were banished the kingdom, and as Ringsend was then the port of Dublin many of them took shipping there. It is just possible that the then possessor of the chalice presented it to the Chapel of Irishtown in return for some kindness or hospitality received at the hands of the local priest whilst awaiting the favour of wind and tide.

O’Heyne, the Dominican writer of the 17th century, gives a rather lengthy account of Father Henry Burgatt, and pourtrays him as a very learned man and a saintly man as well. In fact he does not hesitate to attribute to him the gifts of prophecy and miracles. He was remarkably successful in the conversion of heretics, and died sometime after 1684 in the house of Sir Simon Pourdon, High Sheriff of Limerick, and was buried in Askeaton. (See Irish Dominicans of the 17th century, O’Heyne, edited by Father Coleman, O.P.) The Donnybrook chalice has no date, but is comparatively modern provided probably at the time the chapel was built in 1788. It has for inscription - “This Chalice, purchased by subscription of the parishioners of Donnybrook who beg to partake of the Sacrifice,” The “large Pixis used as a Ciborium” sounds oddly at the present day, but it was then a common practice, especially in rural parishes, where it was found convenient for bringing about on stations. There is no mention in this list of Monstrance or Thurible - clearly the beautiful Rite of Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament had not yet penetrated as far as Irishtown. To column 3, inquiring about the number of confraternities, monthly Communions, observance of Easter duty, etc., he answered:- “There are confraternities of the Christian Doctrine both in Donnybrook and Irishtown. There are, I think, upwards of 100 monthly communicants, many of whom communicate weekly, and I believe within these eight or 10 weeks 900 persons, adult and otherwise, have received Communion. There are many no doubt who have not approached the Sacrament at Easter, but I don’t think their number is very great, and a considerable number are yet going to confession, for whom Communion has been deferred. There is also a Purgatorian Society.”

Column 4 inquired about school statistics, and the following are the replies:- “There are three or four small schools in the parish where parents pay for the education of their children. There is a Sunday school in Sandymount, the Catholics do not attend it. There is an Erasmus Smith school in Donnybrook, but the Catholics have discontinued going there. There are two free schools in Irishtown for boys and girls. The boys’ school is supported by a charity sermon and the contributions of the school, but chiefly by a collection made every Sunday through the parish. On an average 80 boys receive instruction in it - the master’s name is Christopher Leeson. 70 or 80 children are generally in the girl’s school - it is supported by a penny a week from them, which is, however, not insisted on - and in every other respect by Mrs. Verschoyle who pays the rent and gives a salary to the mistress. Her name is Mary Gravenor. There is a boys’ free school in Donnybrook, at which on an average upwards of 70 boys attend. There is also an evening school kept by the same master. This is supported like that of Irishtown by its share of the product of the charity sermon - a penny a week from the boys, which many, however, do not pay, but chiefly by some subscribers and a Sunday collection made in that part of the parish. The master’s name is Michael Carroll. There is a very good school for girls in Donnybrook and a schoolhouse, at which there are sometimes 120 children. They are furnished with books and every requisite for education, free of any expense. It is supported by subscription front some respectable families in the neighbourhood, many of whom attend frequently and assist in the education of the children. The name of the mistress is Agnes Gaffney.”

From these statements we can easily infer that the schools were well in hand and well worked, and this, be it remembered, before the Board of National Education had come into existence and without public subsidy of any kind. To the questions of fifth column respecting number of public Masses, Catechism, Vespers, etc., he answers:- “There are two public Masses in Irishtown and one in Donnybrook. The catechism is taught in both places immediately after Mass by their respective confraternities. Vespers in present circumstances cannot be celebrated in either chapel.,

Signed. C. J. Finn, P.P

P. Smithwick, C.C.

Irishtown, June 8, 1830.”

The special mention of a benefactress - Mrs. Verschoyle - calls upon us to say something of this good lady. She was the widow of Richard Verschoyle, who died at Brighton in 1827, and was a devout Catholic. Her husband in the latter years of his life resided in Mount Merrion, and acted as agent to the Fitzwilliam estate. Strangely enough, .after his death, the agency was continued to his widow notwithstanding her sex and religion. She was known to enjoy very great influence with the then owner, the Hon. Sidney Herbert, and this enabled her to do many kind services for her co-religionists in the two parishes of Booterstown and Irishtown. To her must we ascribe the great parochial event of the next year, 1831 - the coming of the Sisters of Charity. Mary Aikenhead had been labouring to establish and consolidate this great religious congregation for the service of the poor which, in conjunction with Archbishop Murray, she had inaugurated just 15 years before. Stanhope Street and Gardiner Street stood out as the first glorious results of her work in Dublin. The schools of the latter were just barely getting into order when Mrs. Verschoyle applied to the Rev. Foundress for a small community to superintend a poor school which she had just erected in Sandymount with £500 bequeathed for that purpose by the Lord Fitzwilliam. Mrs. Verschoyle kindly undertook to build the convent, and to settle upon it about £1,200, the interest of which, as it was specially named for annual Masses, was to go towards the payment of the chaplain. On the 16th of August, 1831, Mrs. Aikenhead and four sisters took possession of the convent, situated at the Sandymount end of Sandymount Avenue. The house was very small, the chapel was to be open to the public, and as no provision was made in the way of a choir for the nuns, they had to hear Mass in the parlour which opened on the Sanctuary. Small as the house was, it was a veritable Godsend at that precise moment, for the health of Mrs. Aikenhead had been rudely shaken by the anxieties and labours of the past 15 years, and perfect rest and bracing air constituted the only hope for its restoration. So for four years the Rev. Foundress, bedridden and suffering, guided and governed this rising institute from the humble little convent of Sandymount. Here again we have a chalice carrying on history. The chalice of the convent has the following inscription:- “*Donum Barbarae Verschoyle Conventus Sororum Charitatis Sandymount Fundatrici AD. *1831. *Orate pro ea. *

The advent of the Sisters of Charity, with their Chapel open to the public entailed the services of yet another assistant to Dr. Finn. So towards the end of the year 1831, the Rev. John Hussey was appointed second Curate.

This year was moreover a census year, and the first of its kind in which a census was made by religious denominations. The result for Donnybrook and Irishtown Parish gives a total of 10,394, and of those 6,712 were returned as Catholics. Dr. Finn was not quite satisfied with this return, and claimed 8,000 Catholics out of the entire population. Of course, in the civil enumeration, the parts of Taney and Roebuck included in the Catholic Parish were not counted, neither was the new acquisition of Bagotrath which belonged to St. Peter’s Parish. But allowing for all this, and leaving nearly 3,000 as the population of Ringsend and Irishtown alone as Dr. Finn contended, we still think that *seven *would be nearer the exact figure than *eight *thousand. A considerable advance on 1766, when, with Booterstown and Dundrum included, the Catholics only numbered 1,200.

In the course of the year 1833, a Royal Commission was issued to inquire into the condition of the poor in Ireland, which may be quoted as “Poor Inquiry Ireland,” Archbishop Murray and Richard More O’Ferrall were the two Catholic members of the Commission. In pursuance of the inquiry they sent their Query Sheets to a limited number of Parish Priests, and amongst others to Dr. Finn, whose clear and comprehensive answers merit transcription as giving a faithful and vivid picture of the social condition of the Parish in 1833.

Query 1 - Name of the Parish, etc.

Answer 1. - “The name of the Parish is the Parish of St. Mary’s, Donnybrook. According to the R.C. Division, it. takes in a considerable portion of the Parish of Taney, - part in the Co. of Dublin, and part in the County of the City.”

Q. 2. - Number and description of the houses.

A. 2. - “I have no means of taking an exact calculation of the number of houses. It may be ascertained however by an inspection of the books of the Collectors of Grand Jury Cess and parochial taxes. The houses (except in Ringsend and Irishtown and those in general inhabited by the poor) are of a good description; those which are now building in Upper Baggot Street are fit for the residence of people of fortune.”

Q. 3. - Has the population of your Parish increased of late?

A. 3. - “The population has been on the increase for a considerable number of year’s.”

Q. 4. - What is the population of your parish?

A. 4. - “In the last census the population was taken very accurately. I do not now remember what it was rated at; I have however a distinct recollection that the population of Ringsend and Irishtown alone ran above 2,000, from whence I should conclude this Parish according to the R.C. division contains certainly not less than from 9 to 10,000 people.”

Q, 5, - If the population has increased from what period do you date the increase?

A. 5. - “The chief increase has taken place within these 10 or 15 years.”

Q. 6. - What number of houses, and of what description have been built within the last three years in your Parish and of what average rent?

A. 6. - “Forty or 50 houses have been built in Upper Baggot Street within the last three years; perhaps the same number in other parts, besides a few cottages and smaller houses; the new houses in general are only fit for wealthy people; the smaller houses which have been built for the poorer classes are much more comfortable than those which they have replaced. The average rent of the houses in Baggot Street (I am informed) is about £52 10s. a year with a fine; that of the smaller houses and cottages from £12 to £30 a year.”

Q. 7. - What description of persons are the proprietors of the new houses?

A. 7. - “The best description of houses are occupied by persons apparently affluent; in general, all the new houses are occupied by persons in comfortable circumstances.”

Q. 8. - Have you any, and what, manufacture established in your parish. How long established, and in what condition ? What trades are most prosperous?

A. 8. - “In Ball’s Bridge, there is Duffy’s cotton manufacture; in Ringsend, Clarke’s foundry, some salt works, about 20 fishing boats, and some ship carpenters. These have been established a great number of years. I believe their present condition, just now, is not very prosperous.”

Q. 9. - What are the chief occupations of the labouring classes?

A. - Their employment is uncertain - in various kinds of labour as they may be wanting.”

Q. 10. - Do women find any employment and of what description?

A. 10. - “Some women get employment at the cotton factory at Ball’s Bridge, spinning, etc., etc.; women from Irishtown and Ringsend sell fish.”

Q. 11. - Do children find any employment. Of what description and from what age?

A. 11. - “Some children also get employment at Duffy’s factory in Ball’s Bridge, spinning, assisting in printing, etc., from 7 to 12 or 13 years of age.”

Q. 12.-What may be the average earnings of an average family - say a man, his wife, and four children, all of an age to work (the eldest not more than 16 years of age), obtaining an average amount of employment?

A. 12. - “I am informed that the earnings of a family of that description, even in full employment, would not amount to more than a £1 a week. In the case of artist or regular tradesman it surely would be more.”

Q. 13. - Are the wages of working tradesmen or labourers in your parish always paid in money? Or if not in what other modes?

A. 13. - “Always paid in money.”

Q. 14. - On what kind of food do the labourers and working tradesmen of your parish subsist?

A. 14. - “The labourers chiefly on potatoes, seldom flesh meat more than once it week; the working tradesmen (except when addicted to drink, which often is indeed the case) live better.”

Q. 15. - Has any alteration taken place in their food, clothing, and habitations. If any, from what period do you date that alteration, and has it been for the better or worse?

A. 15. - “1 know of no great alteration in their food or clothing. From want of regular employment, however, from sickness, and particularly in this season of the year, the condition of many of them, in these respects, is indeed most wretched.”

Q. 16. - Have any new sources of employment been open to the labouring classes, or has any change, beneficial or otherwise to them, taken place?

A. 16. - “No new sources but the railroad [Dublin and Kingstown] Labourers, however, from the country are principally employed.”

Q. 17. Are there any saving’s banks or benefit societies in your parish? In what state of prosperity are they in respect of the contributions made thereto, and what description of persons generally, are the contributors?

A. 17. - “There is no saving’s bank. There may be some societies among the poor, but no benefit society of any note which I am acquainted with. There is a loan fund, chiefly under the direction of a single individual, and supported by private subscription, in which money is lent on * unexceptionable *security, and therefore, not so much wanted by those who apply for it; they are persons generally in employment, or in such circumstances as their more opulent neighbours who go security for them, can safely trust to but there is no fund for the relief of the really poor, who are in great numbers, in a starving state in many parts of the parish.”

Q. 18. - Are the working tradesmen generally industrious and sober in your parish?

A. 18. - “I do not think there is any want of industry among them, or desire of remaining idle; they are desirous of getting employment, and keeping it when obtained. I wish I could speak equally advantageously of the manner in which they spend their earnings, too great a portion of which many of them certainly waste on drink, to the manifest injury of their minds and bodies, and the total neglect and ruin of their families; generally speaking, however, I think tradesmen are more sober and industrious than they used to be,”

Q. 19. - What hospitals, dispensaries, or other charitable institutions, are there in your parish? how long established, and how supported?

A. 19. - “There is a local dispensary at Donnybrook but no public medical relief for Sandymount, Irishtown, or Ringsend; there is also an hospital for incurables in Donnybrook, supported partially by an annual grant from Parliament, which is extremely well conducted, and gives relief to a great many poor people in the most liberal kind of way; there is also a surgical hospital, lately established, in Upper Baggot Street, supported by subscription, and the revenue arising from medical and surgical lectures.”

Q. 20. - Of what class of persons generally are those who seek admission into these charitable institutions?

A. 20. - “With the exception of some, who may have met with accidents and apply for admission to the surgical hospital in Baggot Street, they are persons destitute of all means of support and sunk in the greatest misery.”

Q. 21. Do you often receive applications for admission from persons whose friends are able to support them, yet have refused to do so?

A. 21. “Those who apply have scarcely ever any friends able to give them the least assistance; besides the Catholic clergymen have no power of procuring admission, nor indeed, I believe, has any clergyman; their signature and recommendation are required for the Hospital of Incurables, but nothing more.”

Q. 22. - if a house of industry has been established in your parish, how marry individuals are supported in it, and is the number of applicants for admission increasing?

A. 22. - “There is no house of industry in the parish.”

Q 23. - What number of persons are there ordinarily resident in your parish, who from old age and infirmity are incapable of work, and how are they usually supported?

A. 23.-” It would not be easy to determine their exact number, but it must be very considerable indeed, particularly in Ringsend and Ball’s Bridge, where many old and infirm and others without employment drag on a wretched existence, destitute of everything, in the severest season, without fuel, food, or covering for themselves and many children. How they do live has been often to me a matter of surprise. Some of them beg, but are much oftener relieved than get anything. I have often advised them to go and take their children with them to the Mendicity, but they seldom do so. They have certainly no visible means of support, and I believe their chief dependence is on the compassion of their next neighbours in every sense, who are scarce able to support themselves and who are just a step above them.”

[The next few queries have reference to deserted children, their number’, etc., so we pass on to]

Q. 27. - Are there any persons known to have died from destitution in your parish within the last three years?

A. 27. - “I have heard of no persons who have died of actual starvation, but life I am persuaded is greatly shortened with the greatest number of the destitute poor from the incredible hardships and privations of every kind which they endure, to say nothing of the sick who when enabled by strength of natural constitution to shake off disease, finally sink from mere weakness, having no suitable nourishment or comfort of any kind.”

Q. 28. - Where two or more families reside in the same house, state the number of families so resident, and the number of individuals in each family.

A. 28 - “In some houses there are from five to six families ; some families contain, perhaps from six to seven individuals.”

Q. 29. - How are those lodging houses which are frequented by persons of the lower classes, usually provided as to beds and bedding? In what condition are they as to ventilation and general repair?

A. 29. - “Nothing can be more wretched than the beds and bedding in such houses; some have none whatever; in some the broken panes admit freely both air and rain; when stopped there is no ventilation; the window is never opened.”

Q. 30. - What is the state of your parish with respect to sewers and cleanliness generally?

A. 30. - “There are no sewers in Ringsend or Irishtown, nor in general, sufficient room behind the houses to build offices; besides the great want the inhabitants labour under of fresh water by pipes from the city, though, as I understand, paying city taxes; until these circumstances are changed it is unreasonable to expect cleanliness. Some improvement, indeed, has of late taken place, by having the streets more regularly swept.”

Q. 31. - What are the number of public houses or houses where spirituous liquors are retailed in your parish?

A. 31. - “There are 20 or 30 licensed houses for the sale of spirituous liquors within the parish.”

Q. 32. - What number of pawnbrokers’ shops are there in your parish?

A. 32. - “There are no pawnbrokers’ shops in the parish ; the poor, however, here as everywhere else, are pawning their things continually, but they go to town for that.”

Q. 33. - What are the classes of persons with whom their dealings are principally carried on?

A. 33. - “Labourers and tradesmen, and, among these, chiefly the drunken and the dissolute. Few persons emgrated from the parish. They went chiefly to America.”

Such is the sad and lurid picture of the conditions of labour, homelife and surrounding of his poor, which the pastor of 1833 was compelled to draw. Let us hope that the prevailing dark tones have since been somewhat brightened, and that though we must have the “poor always with us” - and a blessed thing that it should be so - yet that the devices of charity, coupled with the advance of social science, have gone far to better those conditions in our days.

The year we just referred to - 1833 - followed the terrible visitation of cholera in 1832 - a visitation still quoted as epoch. The cholera had begun to subside, and all but disappear in the city towards the close of that year, but the summer of 1833 brought it back with increased virulence to the villages of Ringsend and Irishtown. Then it was that the Sisters of Charity proved their worth. In a letter of Rev. Mother’s of this date, she says:-

“We are in the midst of cholera. In Irishtown and Ringsend it is much worse than last year. By the aid of Sister Francis Teresa’s brother (More O’Ferrall) we got £20 from the Lord Lieutenant. I sent her and another to the fine house of the landlord’s agent and we have obtained a store in Ringsend. With God’s blessing we open our poor hospital this evening,” and writing somewhat later she adds:- “Sisters M Jerome and Francis Teresa spend all their time in the poor little (cholera) hospital.”

But a letter which Mrs. Aikenhead addressed to the Commissioners of Inquiry into the condition of the Poor in answer to their Query Sheet, which escaped the notice of her gifted and industrious biographer, will better than all else give us a true idea of the sufferings and privations of the poor, and furnishes us at the same time with a concise exposition of the works to be promoted by the Sisters of Charity - their * Magna Charta *in a word - declaring it to be their sole and single purpose, “to be ever ready to lend our humble assistance in those works of mercy which may tend to alleviate the sufferings of our fellow creatures of every creed.” With this noble device, and the document which authenticates it, we may fitly conclude this first part of our brief history.

Convent of the Sisters of Charity,

Sandymount, 30th Dec., 1833.

“My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN - A copy of the ‘Queries for Parishes in large Towns’ has been sent to me, requesting that I will favour ‘The Commissioners of Inquiry into the State of the Irish Poor’ with an early reply to such of them as may come within my cognizance.

“There are many of the Queries which I cannot be expected to reply to; therefore, I have preferred furnishing the Commissioners with such information on the state of the poor, in the district in which our convent is situated, as I have been able to collect in discharge of the duties of a Sister of Charity.

“Our convent has been established at Sandymount, Parish of St. Mary, Donnybrook, City of Dublin, about three years. The object of our Institution is to attend to the comforts of the poor, both spiritual and temporal; to visit them at their dwellings and in hospitals, to attend them in sickness, to administer consolation in their afflictions, and to reconcile them to the dispensations of an all-wise Providence in the many trials to winch they are subject.

“The education and relief of orphans, and the religious instruction of the lower orders, is part of our duty. The villages of Sandymount, Ball’s Bridge, Irishtown, and Ringsend are more immediately within our care. It would be painful to describe the instances of heart-rending misery which we daily witness. Many in the prime of life are reduced to debility from want of food, subsisting for 48 hours on one meal, without sufficient clothes to cover them, their wretched furniture and tattered garments being pledged as a last resort. Within the last year we have witnessed 40 cases of men willing to work, if they could procure employment, who were reduced to sickness, which in some instances terminated in death, from excessive misery. There is no dispensary in this neighbourhood, all the poor have no other medical aid than such as we can bestow. In the course of the last summer the *cholera morbus broke out in the villages of Sandymount, Irishtown, Ball’s Bridge, and Ringsend, and raged for five weeks with great violence. We found some in the agonies of death, without the means of procuring even a drink; many perished without medical aid, till at length the bounty of Lord Anglesea, who contributed £20 from his private purse, added to £20 given by the Hon. Sidney Herbert, and a private subscription of £30, *enabled us to open an hospital containing 12 beds, which were constantly full to the termination of the epidemic. The same subscription enabled us to give medicine and relief to 100 extern patients, attacked with incipient cholera, and since that period we have continued to administer medicine under the charitable advice of a medical practitioner in Dublin. When the poor are confined to bed by fever they frequently fall victims to the want of medical aid, and more frequently relapse for want of proper food when in a convalescent state. It is difficult to imagine how the population of these villages is supported. There is a factory at Ball’s Bridge, which employs a few families, but the wages are so low, and the rent of their wretched hovels so high, that they have not the means to procure wholesome food. The distillery at Dodder Bank employed eight families; it has been closed within two months, and they are now obliged to pawn their clothes and furniture to procure a scanty subsistence. The glass work at Ringsend has been closed since last May, in consequence of which a great number of individuals are thrown out of employment. The proprietors of salt works, which formerly employed a great number, and of a foundry once in a flourishing condition, have so much curtailed their establishments, that we now find many reduced to the utmost misery, who formerly earned an honest livelihood in these establishments. The fishermen and poor sailors, often without friends, and reduced to sickness by cold and want, are objects of great compassion. Excessive poverty produces a want of cleanliness which aggravates their misery. The lanes and streets are filled with filth in Ringsend and Irishtown; there are no sewers; no attention is paid to the ventilation of the houses, and the poor are obliged to buy even the water which they drink; it is of the worst description, and tends to promote diseas as much by its scarcity as by its quality. The poor have no bed clothes ; we have often seen them expire on dirty straw, and are frequently obliged to furnish them with covering before we can approach to administer to their wants. Their sufferings from want of fuel, want of water, and of covering, can only be credited by those who have witnessed them. The poor are inclined to indulge in spirituous liquors; they often resort to it in despair to drown the recollection of their sufferings. The small sum which will procure spirits is insufficient to provide a meal, yet we have reclaimed many from the habit of drinking by remonstrance and a small supply of food.

“The poor are, generally speaking, very docile and remarkably patient under their sufferings and privations; they are grateful beyond measure for the least kindness shown to them, and are most anxious to procure employment even at the lowest wages.

“The sufferings of the poor children cannot be described; many perish, and those who survive are in many instances so debilitated by want as to become sickly and infirm at an early period of life. There are no public establishments in this populous district for the relief of the poor. Some charitable persons send small sums to our convent for the relief of the distressed, which enables us to distribute broth to the most destitute - three pints of broth being the only subsistence, for two days, of families consisting of eight persons. In this way we are enabled to assist 20 families out of the many who require it. It is most painful to witness distress beyond all description without having the means of relieving it.

“We shall be most willing to furnish any further information on the state of the poor in this district which may tend to their relief. We are at all times ready to lend our assistance in superintending hospitals, or administering relief to the sick at their own dwellings in fever or cholera morbus; and most sincerely deplore that we have not the means to erect an hospital, where our care of the sick might be attended with more beneficial results than any we can possibly effect amid the desolation of their wretched homes.

“In any provision which you may recommend for the relief of poverty in any of the towns where the Sisters of Charity are established, I pray you to recollect that we are ready to lend our humble assistance in those works of mercy which may tend to alleviate the sufferings of our fellow-creatures of every creed.

“I have the honour to be, my Lords and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant,

Mary Aikenhead.”

To the Commissioners of Inquiry, etc., etc.

(For continuation see Part II.)

**A Short History

Some Dublin Parishes

Part II.**

In the *Freeman’s Journal *of May 26, 1835 - just 70 years ago - we find the following advertisement on its front page:

The Managers of the Fund for erecting an R.C.* * Church near Upper Baggot St., urged on by the repeated solicitations of the inhabitants of the immediate neighbourhood, the manifest want of some sacred edifice, have great pleasure in acknowledging the assistance received from the Hon. Sidney Herbert, both in money and in a low-rent lease. They now appeal to the citizens of Dublin, etc.”

Then follows a short list of subscriptions, including £200 from the Hon. Sidney Herbert, £100 from the Parish Priest, £10 each from Mrs. Verschoyle, Wm. Quinlan, R. Corballis, Lt.-Col. Blakeney, Laur. Martin, J. Fleming, mostly of the immediate neighbourhood; John Power, Roebuck, £10; Mr. Dollard, Upr. Baggot St., £5; Mr. Haughton, Sandymount, £5; Mr. Nedly, Sandymount, £1, etc., etc. The total acknowledged amounted to £578 5s. 3d.

This was the first intimation the general public had of any intention to erect a church near Upper Baggot-street. There does not appear to have been any public meeting but Dr. Finn, so far back as 1832, had secured a site and obtained a lease of it at a yearly rent of £20. According to popular rumour, whilst the lease was being negotiated, Mrs. Verschoyle, the agent, urged Dr. Finn to take the whole field which extended down to Northumberland Road and covered what has since become St. Mary’s-road - a slice of territory that would now have constituted a snug endowment for the parish - but he was deterred from this by the dissatisfaction expressed by a section of the parishioners, who accounted him a madman for thinking of building a church in a *place where it was not wanted. *They were but poor prophets in these days!

The appeal to the citizens of Dublin seems to have fallen, not perhaps on deaf, but certainly on pre-occupied ears, for a supplementary subscription list, published about two months late; only brings the building fund to little over £800. The time was indeed unpropitious, as contemporary enterprises of a similar character in other parishes absorbed all the attention and surplus resources of their respective parishioners. It was the opening of what may be described as the church-building era - an era which has not yet reached its close. Nevertheless, the work on the South Circular-road - this very year called Haddington road, from the name of a departing Viceroy - went gaily on. We cannot find the name of any architect, or of anyone that might have furnished the original design, but the contractors were Arthur M’Kenna and Son of Thomas-street, whose efforts were supplemented by a good deal of free labour, and free cartage of stones, lime, and sand. The near prospect of a church convenient gave a great stimulus to house-building in the neighbourhood. Northumberland-road was opened in 1832, but not yet built on, and Cook’s Map, corrected up to 1836, shows the north side of Upper Baggot-street and Pembroke road almost entirely built on. Baggot-street Hospital was opened in 1834, and Beggars’ Bush Barracks had been some time in existence.

Allowing the contractors to proceed with their work, we may now direct our attention to other matters of parochial interest and get on to the year 1837. This was a Confirmation year, and it gives us a new visitation report from the Pastor. The report shows little progress since 1830. The number of chalices had increased to three. There is a Ciborium this time as well as the large pixis, additional suits of vestments had been procured, and the number of public masses was five - two in Irishtown, two in Donnybrook, and one in Sandymount Convent.

In the autumn of this year a new settlement of Sisters of Charity was effected in the parish. In the year 1797 a few humble tradesmen utilised their spare time and limited resources in a charitable endeavour to rescue some of the fallen ones of the city. They opened a Refuge in Townsend-street, and by their zealous efforts, begging for it and working for it, manfully kept it going until 1833, when Mrs. Aikenhead was induced to take it over from them, and place it in charge of members of her own sisterhood. The house in Townsend-street was very small, much dilapidated, and ill-suited for its purpose, and as the careful matron hitherto in charge

a Mrs. Ryan - had by her economical administration accumulated a reserve fund amounting to £1,500, this was handed over to the Sisters, who immediately began to look about for a more suitable location. After some searching, and much deliberation, they fixed their eyes on what was then known as Donnybrook Castle, with its surrounding five statute acres. This building was indifferently called the “Mansion House” or “Donnybrook Castle.” At the time of the Restoration it was occupied by Sir William Usher, and was rated for the purposes of taxation as containing 13 hearths. “At the beginning of the 18th century,” Mr. F. Elrington Ball tells us, “it was held under Christopher Usher by Mr. Thomas Twigg, and on his death it became vested in trustees for the purposes of sale. One of these trustees was Sir Francis Stoyte, Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1705, and, as mentioned in Dean Swift’s Journal to Stella, some of Stoyte’s relatives afterwards occupied it.” The interest of the Twiggs was in 1726 sold to Robert Jocelyn, afterwards Lord Chancellor, and, falling into decay, the Mansion was finally demolished in 1759. The house at present on the grounds was not built until

The date is engraved in stone over the hall door. Previous to 1837 it was known as the “Castle School.” The Sisters when they effected the purchase resolved to lay out one of the fields as a cemetery for all the deceased members of the Order, as hitherto they had no place of interment except the old churchyard in James’s-street or the vaults of Marlborough-street Pro-Cathedral. A laundry was quickly erected at considerable outlay, and on Rosary Sunday, 1837, the community and penitents under their charge took possession of the premises, and thus commenced “St. Mary Magdalen’s Penitent Asylum, Donnybrook.” Rev. Fr. Donohoe was appointed Chaplain, but he had no connection with the Parish. It depends for support on the produce of the laundry worked by the penitents, on the proceeds of an annual Charity Sermon still preached in St. Andrew’s, Westland-row, and on the bequests and gifts of the charitable. Quite recently, by additional acquisitions of small surrounding plots, they have been enabled to open a very handsome approach from the high road, which contrasts most favourably with the rather forbidding aspect of the previous means of access.

Meanwhile the work on the new church proceeded satisfactorily, but the progress of the collection was quite the reverse. In two years but £304 were added to the original fund. Wherefore, on December 26, St. Stephen’s Day, 1837, the parish priest held a public meeting of the parishioners, and laid before them a full statement of the progress of the works, and of the liabilities incurred. Mr. John (afterwards Sir John) Power of Roebuck was voted into the chair, and the report stated that £1,349 15s. 1d. had been already expended, and that a considerable sum remained due for work already done. A committee was formed to collect subscriptions, and all subscriptions were to be forwarded to “Dr. Finn or Fathers Smithwick and Hussey, Parochial House, Irishtown.”

Within a fortnight after this meeting the junior curate, Father Hussey, quite a young man, died, greatly regretted by the parishioners, and a few months later Father Smithwick was transferred to the curacy of Castledermot, which he continued to occupy until he proceeded to be P.P. of Baldoyle and Howth in 1850. The clergy sent to replace them were the Rev. Andrew Colgan and Rev. James Sohan.

The financial difficulty continued to cause the P.P. much anxiety, so in order to place things on a proper footing he executed some legal documents calculated to secure the continuance of the work without interruption. The first document was a declaration of trust. By the lease of 1832 the site of the church was conveyed to him personally. By this new Deed, executed on the 18th April, 1838, lie declares all that lot or piece of ground, etc., on which the church is being built to be held by him in trust for and on behalf of himself and the other Roman Catholic inhabitants of said Parish. From this Deed we also gather that up to the date of its execution £2,421 1s. 9½d. had been expended on the building, of which sum £1,148 14s. 11d. had been raised by subscriptions and paid to the contractors, also a further sum of £201 0s. 2d. paid to the said contractors out of the private monies of said Dr.. Finn, for which the latter made himself responsible on the faith of being indemnified by the parishioners, and that £1,070 6s. 8d. with interest were still due to the contractors, for which on faith of same indemnity he had made himself responsible. This Deed was followed up by a Deed of Mortgage of the premises to the contractors for £1,948 18s. (which included additional works costing £655), executed on October 8th, 1838, at six per cent. interest, and by this arrangement and the collections still going on, he was enabled within little more than a year to carry the work so far forward as to declare the church ready for opening.

This memorable event came off on the 4th November, 1839, the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.

The church then blessed and opened was neither so spacious nor so ornate as the existing edifice. It was simply a glorified version of the old-fashioned T Chapel, at a good elevation, with well-proportioned pointed windows, and without side galleries. The altar was set up against the western end wall, and the communion rail protruded far into the present sanctuary.

For the opening day no more than the shell was ready, the walls rough, and unplastered; the roof just laid on, and no ceiling; no floor but the bare earth; no furniture but some forms procured for the occasion; a temporary altar and pulpit, and a small gallery, made up with beams and planks, erected at the western end, just strong enough to carry a small hired organ and a few members of the Marlborough-street choir3 who, under the direction of Haydn Corri, and in accordance with the fashion of the period, sang Haydn’s No. 3 Mass, with Zingarelli’s * Laureate *as an Offertory Motet. Archbishop Murray blessed the church, and presided at the High Mass, which was sung by the Parish Priest; the Rev. P. Woods, of the Pro-Cathedral, preached the Sermon, and Dr. Yore, Canon Laphen, and Fathers Carroll and Sheil, assisted, with Rev. Gregory Lynch as Master of Ceremonies. The newspaper report states that the building was crowded, and that the preacher made a strong appeal for funds to complete the work.

This being now the largest and principal church of the Parish, Dr. Finn had it dedicated under the title of St. Mary, which hitherto gave a title to the entire Parish, and he commemorated the event by a durable *souvenir *- its first silver chalice - presented by himself, and bearing the following inscription:- “For the new R.C. Church of St. Mary’s, Donnybrook, near Upper Baggot-street. The gift or Rev. C. S. Finn, P.P., A.D. 1839.”

The opening of the new church did not entail ally addition to the regular clerical staff of Parish Priest and two curates, but additional Masses had to be provided on Sundays and Holidays, and for this purpose a Rev. Joseph Murphy was retained, without being adopted as one of the parochial clergy. Towards the end of 1839 Father Sohan was transferred to Kingstown, where he died in 1843, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Murphy; and before the close of 1840 Father Colgan was removed to Rathdrum, and had as successor in St. Mary’s, Rev. John M’Hugh.

Dr. Finn remained on at Irishtown in his quiet little cottage residence, and did not care to move up to the more important district of his Parish now established on Haddington-road. The work on the church had been stopped for the moment, and by steady perseverance in the arduous task of the collection he had reduced the debt in 1842 to £876 9s. He now thought that he might safely attempt the internal plastering. The system of open pannelled wood ceilings, with which we are now so familiar, had not then come into general use, and the only treatment practised was plaster worked out in imitation of groinings in stone. Had the treatment in wood been adopted it would have given splendid elevation to the whole interior, which with the plaster treatment is necessarily dwarfed. However, it must be said that the plaster work was effectively designed and well carried out. To meet the expense Dr. Finn executed a second mortgage for the full amount of the estimate £1,460, and this may be said to have been his last effort to complete the building. This permits us to count up the cost of the work carried out under his administration, which apart front the interest payable on the mortgages, and apart also from the free labour contributed, reaches the sum of £4,557 12s. l1d.

Dr. Finn found that it would be a great advantage to have a passage on the S. side of the church so as to give access through the side doors. Whereupon he applied for and obtained from the landlord a lease dated 24th May, 1844, of the open passage on S. side, having 15 feet frontage, and 200 feet from font to rere, for a term of 138 years, at a yearly rent of £3 15s.

The year 1844 brought about another change in the clerical staff. Father Thontas Murphy was transferred to Arklow, and on October 6th Father M’Hugh was called away by death. He left a holy memory behind him and the parishioners were not slow to commemorate his brief but pious career by a marble mural tablet set up in old Donnybrook Chapel, where he was buried. It bore the following insscription@-

“Sacred to the Memory of

The Rev. John Bernard M’Hugh, R.C.C.

of this Parish

who departed this life on the 6th of October, 1844,

Aged 28 years.

This Tablet is erected over his mortal remains by the faithful Flock whose spiritual care engaged every thought of his youthful and pious mind, his most cherished aspirations to Heaven while living, and won from their sorrowing hearts over his early grave this inadequate but sincere testimonial.

Requiescat in Pace.”

As in the case of Father Grosvenor, this Tablet was also taken down and moved to the new church, where it is carefully preserved.

The “Irish Catholic Directory” of 1845 gives the names of Rev. E. Mulhall, and Peter [*recte *Patrick] Smith as the two curates then in residence. During this year the Rev. Joseph Murphy, O.S.F., was permanently appointed Chaplain to St. Joseph’s Asylum, and Dr. Finn, availing himself of this opportunity of making a permanent addition to his staff; had the Rev. Richard Wood, recently returned from Rome, appointed as third curate.

Meanwhile the neighbourhood had begun to expand rapidly. Waterloo and Wellington Roads were opened in 1846, and commenced to be built upon, and soon after, those fine mansions that line the southern side of Pembroke-road, began to make their appearance. Ball’s Bridge, originally built in 1751, rebuilt in 1791, was again rebuilt in 1832, and this year, 1905, it was widened considerably, a work which may be considered equivalent to another rebuilding. The fine broad roadway which opened from it through Pembroke-road, flanked as it was by handsome houses, made a unique approach to the city, and became a Royal highway when it was selected as the starting point of the late Queen Victoria’s State Entry into Dublin on her first visit to Ireland in 1849.

The good old Parish Priest, however, did not live to witness this Royal progress through his Parish. In the beginning of 1849 he showed unmistakable signs of infirmity, and the people began to miss the quiet jog-trot of the little white pony and trap in which he had been accustomed to drive about. At length, during the month of May, his illness took a decisive turn for the worse, and on Thursday, June 28, 1849, he peacefully breathed his last. His coffin plate bore the inscription “Rev. C. J. Finn, D.D., P.P., died 28 June, 1849, aged 82 years.” Thus ended a career of great zeal, profound piety, and incessant hard work, and a Pastorate, possibly without a rival in duration, of *fijty-seven years. *His remains were borne on the shoulders of his faithful people of Irishtown on Saturday, June 30, to St. Mary’s, Haddington-road, where his obsequies were celebrated on the following Monday morning amid an immense concourse of clergy and laity. He was interred in Golden Bridge Cemetery, whither his brother, sister, and a faithful domestic had preceded him, and on the tombstone raised to his memory the following inscription is engraved:-

I. H. S.

“To the memory of the late Very Rev. Charles J. Finn, P.P., for over 50 years the revered and respected Pastor of St. Mary’s, Donnybrook. Erected by his Parishioners and Friends as a sincere but inadequate tribute to one whose ministry was illustrated by the exalted virtues which distinguish a faithful servant of God, and in whose character were blended the high qualities of a profound scholar and the simplicity of a child. He departed this life at his residence, Irishtown, on the 28th day of June, 1849. Aged, 82 years. May he rest in peace.”

Though Dr. Fin no left no published writings after him he was admitted to have been a very accomplished scholar. We have already seen how they wished to retain him in Louvain University as Professor of Hebrew, but his special talent was Greek, and the deciphering of difficult Greek manuscripts. He might often be seen in the Library of Trinity College, and could be found almost daily at a certain hour in the old Dublin Library, D’Olier-street. Yet, he was as simple as a child, greatly beloved and respected by all who came in contact with him. He is yet remembered with reverence by the older Parishioners, who have no prouder boast than that they had often heard Dr. Finn’s Mass.

By his Will, dated May 23, 1849, he devised and bequeathed unto Most Rev. Dr. Murray, Archbishop of Dublin and his successors, and to the Rev. E. Mulhall, all the interest he had acquired in the site of the church which he held in trust for the parishioners. He appointed Father Mulhall and his nephew, Charles Whelan, Executors, and in a Codicil, dated June 14, directed them to pay out of his personal assets £141 to the Executors of the late Arthur M’Kenna, which would leave £700 still due on the two Mortgages of 1838 and 1842 respectively. He gave £50 to Father Mulhall for Masses, £30 to the Poor or the Parish, and, after some few trifling legacies, condoned all monies that might be due to his personal estate from advances made by him from time to time to carry on the building.

Very Rev. Andrew O’Connell, D.D., P.R

Dn Murray did not leave the Parish long without a Pastor. Popular selection precognised Dr. Laphen as the coming man, but all doubts wore soon set at rest by the announcement that Dr. O’Connell, Parish Priest of SS. Michael and John, was, on the 12th of July, transferred to the suburban Parish of Donnybrook and Irishtown. The fact is thus recorded in the Archiepiscopal Register.

1849, 12 *Julii. Rev. D. Andreas O’Connell, resignata Parochia SSrum Michaelis et Joannis nuncupata, institutus est Pastor Parochiae de Irishtown, vatcantis per obitum Rev. D. Caroli Finn, qui die *29 *Junii diem clausit extremam.” *

Dr. O’Connell was born of respectable parents in the City of Dublin within the last decade of the 18th century. He left Maynooth College an ordained priest in 1817. He was 57 years of age when he received this new appointment, thus covering in length of years the exact period of his predecessor’s Pastorship. For a short time he served as assistant in the Parish of St. James, and later on in the same capacity in the Parish of St. Audoen, but, at a comparatively early period, he was transferred to a curacy in the then Pro-Cathedral, Liffey-street Chapel. When it was determined to finally abandon Liffey-street, it was Dr. O’Connell who privately removed the Blessed Sacrament to its new resting place in Marlborough-street.

In 1831 he was appointed Parish Priest of SS. Michael and John, a trust which he discharged with great zeal and distinction for 18 years. In September, 1838, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was established in Dublin, and Dr. O’Connell was named its first Secretary. To this work he devoted himself with great energy, and whether as Secretary or later on as Chairman, he was seldom absent from its weekly meetings down to the day of his death. An exceedingly good portrait of him is preserved in the offices of the Society, 22 Parliament-street.

The Parishioners of SS. Michael and John promptly assembled in order to express their regret at his departure from amongst them, and to organise the presentation of a testimonial of their veneration and esteem, which took the shape of a handsome brougham.

A clause in Dr. Finn’s Will directed that his house in Irishtown and its contents should not be disturbed until two months after his decease. Dr. O’Connell was compelled, therefore, to look out for a new residence; and choosing the neighbourhood of the new Church of St. Mary, he rented a house on Heytesbury-terrace, Wellington-road, where he continued to reside until his death.

Dr. O’Connell’s administration was destined to be a very active one, as we shall see presently, and full of the most gratifying and durable results.

His first care was to increase the clerical staff of the Parish, and thus multiply the conveniences of the people for complying with their religious obligations. To the three curates already in residence-Fathers Mulhall, Smith, and Wood - he joined as assistants the Rev. P. Moran, D.D., fresh from Maynooth, and the Rev. Michael Mullally, transferred from Barndarrig. He then directed his attention to the completion of St. Mary’s. The earthen floor, referred to in the account of the opening ceremony 10 years before, still remained, and he would have it replaced by something more seemly and more comfortable. All deficiencies in necessary furniture and other pressing requirements had to be made good, and the church brought into line with the growing importance and respectability of its surroundings. The prompt execution of these works is thus summarised in Battersby’s Directory for 1850:-

We are delighted to see this church so much extended, improved, and beautified.”

There was a debt on the building of £700, bequeathed by his predecessor, which necessarily engrossed his thoughts. It was the residues of £300 and £400, respectively, still outstanding on the two mortgages effected by Dr. Finn with the Contractor, Arthur M’Kenna. The latter had died in July, 1846, and his widow and children being left joint executors and trustees, it was thought desirable to simplify the matter, and have fewer creditors to look to. Wherefore, having received an assignment from the executors of Dr. Finn of the leases of the site, etc., the Archbishop and Dr. O’Connell conjointly made an Indenture, dated March 7, 1850, with George Turner, Coal Merchant Capel-street, agreeing to borrow front him £1,000 at 5 per cent., for a term of 12 years. In this way he was enabled to settle up matters with the M’Kenna family, and had £300 in hand to meet the expenditure already incurred on the church.

But a bigger work awaited him, The old chapel at Irishtown, which dated back to the days of Charles II., and had thus fulfilled nigh two centuries of service, was literally crumbling. The ceiling had to be propped up with heavy beams, and the bulging walls were giving significant signs that they were getting fairly tired of the burthen so long imposed upon them. Wherefore a new church for the locality became a pressing necessity. Application for a site was made to the landlord, the Hon. Sidney Herbert, and, with the latter’s usual liberality, it was promptly granted. A new road, to the left of the then existing thoroughfare through Sandymount, was being struck out towards the Strand, and on the left of this road, some distance south of the old chapel, but within the same townland of Irishtown, the spacious site on which the Star of the Sea Church actually stands, was allocated for the purpose of church, presbytery, and school, at the nominal rent of £10 per annum.

On Sunday, May 5, 1850, Dr. O’Connell held a meeting of his parishioners in the old chapel, and proposed to them the building of a new church, more in accordance with the requirements of that very populous portion of the Parish. ‘The first person I called upon1” he remarked in his speech, “was the venerable mother of our Secretary (Mr. Murphy), and she, with a grace and goodwill that added tenfold to the donation, gave me £100. Tens and fives followed. To that list I have appended my name for £100, and did my means permit, my offering to the noble work would not be limited to that sum; but when I tell you, in truth, that after more than 30 years in the ministry, I am not worth £300 in the world - and in this I rather glory than otherwise - you will take the will for-the deed. Well, the commencement is not a bad one, and I leave yourselves to say, shall we, thus cheered on, follow up this auspicious beginning. As regards the building itself, my present intention is, with your assistance, to adopt this plan - (here he exhibited Mr. M’Carthy’s plan) - and, under the inspection of the architect, Mr. M’Carthy, having secured the constant and undivided attendance of a competent person as superintendent of works, to employ under him at weekly wages men of the various trades required, giving, of course, the preference to those we may find in the Parish, not, however, to the exclusion of all others. Our new church is to be called ‘The Church of St. Mary, Star of the Sea’; under this title, as under her patronage, let our proceedings be commenced. May God bless and prosper the work which we have now entered on for His honour and glory.”

The first list of subscriptions published credited the collection at the meeting with a sum little short of £400. A numerous and energetic committee was appointed to carry on the collection, and a ladies’ committee was also formed to supplement the efforts of the principal committee.

No sooner was this weighty matter off our Pastor’s mind than a chance bequest of £300 enabled him to embark in another project, not indeed, of such magnitude as the building of a new church, but one of no less urgency and importance. The new population that had grown up, and was still growing up, around St. Mary’s, Haddington-road, was as yet unprovided with a school of any kind. This want must not be allowed to endure, so thought our energetic Pastor.

Again the good landlord was applied to, and with no less success than on so many previous occasions. Dr. O’Connell having got permission, with promise of lease, to utilise some portion of the void ground surrounding the church on its south-western side, on the 4th July, 1850, Sir John Power, at the Parish Priest’s request, laid the foundation stone of the existing Boys’ School, designed with no small architectural pretensions by Mr. M’Carthy. It was Dr. O’Connell’s intention to erect also a Girls’ School alongside, but this was not so pressing, and could afford to wait, especially as the Convent Schools in Lower Baggot-street were fairly convenient. The promised lease was not executed until 1872, when the neighbouring ground was laid out in building plots, and St. Mary’s-road opened. Then the triangular plot of ground, at present surrounding the church, and occupied by the schools, was walled in by the landlord, and leased to the P.P. and the Archbishop for a term of 150 years, at a rent of *one shilling *per annum.

It is pleasant to be able to place on record such good relations between a landlord and his people, as we find to have existed between the Hon. Sidney Herbert and his tenants, and still more pleasant to find that the people fully appreciated them, and had the good taste to appoint a numerous and influential deputation, headed by the Parish Priest, to wait on him in October following with a complimentary address, which he most graciously received and replied to.

On the 28th of this same October the senior curate of the Parish, the Rev. Edward Mulhall, passed to his eternal reward, and his place was filled by the appointment of the Rev. Thomas Byrne.

The year 1851 was signalised by two events in connection with the new church in Sandymount. On the 7th of May the first stone of the sacred edifice was blessed and laid by Archbishop Murray, in presence of a large concourse of clergy and laity, and the ground was at once handed over to the contractor, Mr. Beardwood, with instructions to make the most rapid progress possible. In the following month of August a Bazaar and Promenade Fete was held on the Church grounds, which added a handsome addition to the building fund,

The year 1852 was, we may say, ushered in by a great loss for the Diocese of Dublin. That “angel of a man,” as J. K. L. described him, the Most Rev. Daniel Murray, Archbishop of Dublin, was on the 26th of February translated to his everlasting reward in heaven. Among his intimate friends Dr. O’Connell did not hold the last place, and he was one of the foremost to mourn him. The widowed diocese was consoled on the 20th of May following by the news that His Grace, Most Rev. Dr, Cullen, Archbishop of Armagh, had been translated to the See of Dublin, and on the 29th of June, the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, he was solemnly enthroned in the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough-street, amid an immense concourse of bishops (15), clergy, and laity.

The work on the “Star of the Sea” Church progressed rapidly, and gave every evidence that it would be ready for an early opening. But a disaster supervened. In Christmas week of 1852 a terrific storm raged for two or three days over and around Dublin. Trees, roofs, and entire houses were demolished by it, and many accidents to life and limb were reported. The new church did not escape. It was ready for roofing when the storm burst, and front and rear gables, with their elaborate Gothic windows, went down before it. Renewed efforts were promptly made to repair the disaster, the cost of which, however, had to fall for the most part on the contractor.

At length, on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1853, the church was solemnly dedicated by his Grace, Archbishop Cullen, the sermon being preached by the Very Rev. Dr. Russell, O.P. A very large and distinguished congregation assisted at this Ceremonial.

Mr. M’Carthy designed the church in the chaste and severe style of mediaeval Gothic, the material employed being Dublin granite. It comprised a nave with square chancel receiving the high altar, and north and south aisles, with corresponding small chancels and side altars. The nave and aisles are roofed with triple gables, after the example of Old St. Nicholas, Galway, and other old churches. The timber supporting the roofs is exposed, with open and sustaining braces and interlacings, all stained and varnished. The church front, having a western and southern aspect, embraces a central deeply-moulded doorway of dressed granite, with a large mullioned window of five lancet lights over it, and the chancel gable bears a corresponding five light window over the high altar. Provision is made in the design for a tower and spire, 150 feet high, at the south-western front corner. The interior dimensions are 130 feet in length by 57 in width. The special building account is unfortunately not forthcoming, but tradition tells us that the cost was about £6,000.

The marvellous efforts which had to he made to bring this work to such speedy completion told on the robust frame of the Pastor, and a serious illness ensued, from which, to the great joy of his people, his complete recovery was announced on September 29th following.

The opening of the new church, and consequent increase in the number of Masses, entailed yet another addition to the clerical staff. Father Wood had been just transferred to the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough-street, and replaced by the Rev. P. J. Nowlan, who took up his residence in Donnybrook, and, in addition, Father William Donnelly, just returned from the Irish College, Rome, was attached to the Parish.

In the course of 1855 the Parish Priest took a well-earned holiday, and paid his first and only visit to the Eternal City, where he had the happiness of being received by the saintly Pio Nono, and of obtaining his blessing for himself and his flock.

The year 1856 was noticeable for two events; namely, the elevation of one of the curates of the Parish to the episcopal dignity, and the introduction of the Nuns of Mount Carmel.

Dr. Moran, a native of the Co. Wicklow, after a distinguished course in Maynooth, served as curate in this Parish for about seven years. He was now appointed by Papal Brief, Vicar-Apostolic of Grahamstown in South Africa. During his career as curate he was noted for great zeal and devotion to duty, and took a deep interest in the “Catholic Young Men’s Societies,” just established by Dr. O’Brien of Limerick. At the meetings of these societies he delivered several lectures on various subjects of interest, historical and otherwise. He was consecrated on Low Sunday, 1856, together with Dr. Walsh, the newly appointed Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, in Carlow Cathedral, by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Cullen. He laboured hard in his distant mission until 1869, when Dunedin, in New Zealand, being erected into a Diocese, he was transferred to this new See, which he most successfully ruled until his death in 1896, and was then succeeded by the present bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Verdon, so long and so favourably known to us in Dublin as President of Holy Cross College, Clonliffe.

Dr. Moran’s place in the staff of St. Mary’s was soon filled by the translation of the Rev. D. P. Mulcahy, the present respected P.P. of Swords, from St. Audoen’s, High-street, where he had been serving since his ordination two years previous.

The second event of the year was the coming of the Carmelites. The gift of £3,000 from one benefactress, and of £400 from another, to the Carmelite Community of North William-street induced them to think of moving to some more secluded spot, where they could devote themselves exclusively to the strict observance or the Rule of St. Teresa; and, after due consideration, they selected a handsome private residence standing in its own grounds, known as Lakelands, Sandymount. They had hoped by this move to be freed from the care of managing an orphanage which they considered to be a hindrance to strict observance, but as none of the active Orders were then in a positiou to take it over, they were compelled to bring on the orphans with them to Lakelands. The establishment of this new religious community necessitated the appointment of a Chaplain, and Rev. Thos. Leahy was transferred from Rathmines and attached to the staff of this Parish. This brought the number of the Parish Priest’s assistants up to seven; viz., Rev. Fathers Smith, Mullally, Byrne, Mulcahy, Nowlan, Donnelly, and T. Leahy.

Early in 1858 the Parish Priest commenced to realise his day-dream, in which he made public confession of having indulged when on his knees before the shrines of the Apostles during his visit to Rome in 1855. The new church in Sandymount did not prove quite satisfactory to the villagers of Ringsend. It was farther removed than the old chapel in Irishtown, and even though much larger than the latter, and infinitely more commodious, such was the rapid increase of the population in both districts that it was already beginning to prove insufficient for the claims made upon it. Wherefore, the good Pastor, solicitous for his poor people in Ringsend, resolved to bring the consolations of religion nearer to them by building in their midst an unpretentious edifice sufficient to meet all requirements. He secured the assignment of a lease from James Patrick Conran, who had obtained it only the year previous. This gave the plot of ground on which St. Patrick’s now stands for 80 years and six months, at a yearly rent of £28. On the plot stood two buildings, one allocated to an Evening School subsidised by the Local Conference of St. Vincent do Paul, the other used as a Presbytery, in which the Sisters of. Charity from Sandymount conducted a Sunday School for Girls. On April, 13, 1858, Dr. O’Connell laid the first stone. On May the 2nd, following, he held a public meeting in the Schoolroom, Ringsend, in which he unfolded to the people his project of erecting a becoming but unpretending edifice, to be dedicated to the Apostle of Ireland3 and which would place within reach of the crowded population of this locality all the consolations of religion. A subscription list was opened at the close of the meeting, and was headed by a bequest of £200 of the late Miss Farrell; other donations followed from the P.P. and Mr. T. Laphen Kelly of £10 each, from Mr. Lynam £5, etc., etc. Such were the modest beginnings of St. Patrick’s, Ringsend, The untiring energy of Dr. O’Connell, ably seconded by by the curate in immediate charge, Father Tom Leahy, ran up the subscription list quickly; the work at the building was carried on without interruption, and in little over a year from its inception this new church in the Parish, costing £800, was opened on July 14, 1859, by His Grace Archbishop Cullen, the sermon being preached by Very Rev. Dr. Anderdon, M.A.

On the 25th of March preceding, a bell for the use of this church had been blessed by Dr. O’Connor, Lord Bishop of Saldes, and the altar and tabernacle were presented by Mrs. Scully of Haddington-road.

This almost magical appearance of a second church in the Parish within such a short time might be considered to have satisfied the zeal of any ordinary Pastor, and be quoted as a not unworthy record for 10 years’ service, but it was an open secret for some time past that he was meditating yet another, and that the most formidable, of his undertakings; viz., the erection of a new church in Donnybrook.

Meanwhile death had been again successful in claiming one of the most devoted of the parochial clergy. Father Thomas Byrne of Sandymount died on the 11th of January, 1859. He was greatly beloved by the people, and in little more than a month after his demise a large meeting was held in the church, at which it was resolved to erect a suitable monument to perpetuate his memory. The handsome marble cenotaph set up in the northern aisle is the realisation of this resolution. His place was immediately filled by the Rev. Michael Doyle, transferred from SS. Michael and John, and, as Ringsend was now in complete working order, the Rev. Dionysius Heffryon was also attached to the Parish, thus bringing the number of assistants up to eight.

New Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook.

The old chapel in Donnybrook, which Father Clinch had commenced and Dr. Finn had completed, as already recorded, was now entering its 80th year of service. Sufficient at the time of its erection, it had now become too small for the demands made upon it, and its absurdly irregular shape - its northern wall having to be accommodated to the varying projections and sinuosities of the adjoining police barrack and barrack yard

rendered it very inconvenient in many ways. Moreover, contrasted with the new edifices erected in the other districts of the Parish, it was miserably out of keeping with them, and the people of the district clamoured loudly for equal treatment. But there was another motive underlying the project of a new church which powerfully influenced both the Pastor and his indefatigable resident curate, the Rev. P. J. Nowlan; this was, that some expiatory monument was necessary in the neighbourhood to atone for the unholy orgies, intemperance, and riotousness, annually indulged in at Donnybrook Fair, and that a church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, was the proper form for such a monument to assume.

The history of this celebrated Fair may be briefly told. A Royal Charter of King John established it in 1204. This was confirmed by the same King in further letters, and again by Henry III., who altered the date of its commencement from May 3 to sometime in July. Edward I. again confirmed it, and transferred the date to August 26. From that time out this Fair was held for 15 days all through the subsequent centuries without attracting any special attention from either chroniclers or historians. Not until about the middle of the 18th century did it begin to gain notoriety, and degenerate into a wild and reckless gathering of a multitude devoted to all manner of unrighteousness. Sir Jonah Barrington, in his “Personal Sketches,” vol. iii., gives an unflattering account of a visit he paid to the Fair in 1790; and in 1828 a foreign visitor furnishes a description too awful for reading. A committee was formed to collect subscriptions to buy out the patent, and in their circular the following paragraph occurs:- “Deluded by the specious show of recreation and amusement multitudes were caught and allured to vice; and servants, mechanics, tradesmen, and even clerks and shopmen in respectable employment, were led into courses which entailed loss of situation, forfeiture of character; and consequent misery to themselves and to their families.” Efforts had been repeatedly made for its suppression. Alderman R. Smyth, Lord Mayor in 1824, succeeded in having the Fair closed down on Sundays, but now (in 1854) and for some years previous, all classes and creeds joined in a determined agitation to have it finally abolished. No one went into this struggle mere thoroughly, or more perseveringly, than the curate, Father Nowlan. He addressed meetings, he helped in committees, he indited letters and newspaper articles, which appeared in rapid succession in the Irish Times, just then established, and waited almost alone, on Protestant, Presbyterian, and Catholic alike, to solicit contributions towards extinguishing the patent rights of the Fair. These rights of levying tolls, etc., passed in 1812 into the hands of Mr. John Madden of Donnybrook for a consideration of £750. His sons, Joseph and Peter Madden, inheritors of the patent, conveyed their readiness to surrender it for a sum of £3,000 by way of compensation. This sum was in time collected, and paid over to them in 1855 by Lord Mayor Boyce, and so ended the humours of Donnybrook Fair. But there was one party in this transaction who had not been consulted, and who strained every nerve to keep the Fair as a going concern. The Fair Green (on the left side of the road going from Dublin) was indeed closed against visitors, and tents and show booths were conspicuous by their absence, but a Miss Eliza Dillon, who rented a licensed house on the opposite side of the road and a triangular field adjoining, managed, with the help of her license, to set public opinion at defiance, and maintain the semblance of a Fair for some years longer. The Archbishop felt called upon to denounce it by a public circular in 1860, arid even so late as 1864 the daily papers thought “Walking Sunday” entitled to a detailed description. At length the Police Magistrates, for cogent reasons urged by the Crown, refused to renew the license of Eliza Dillon, and thus this remnant of the Fair finally disappeared.

Now was the time to strike the iron thus made hot, and inaugurate the work of the proposed new church. On August 12, 1860, a public meeting was held in the old chapel, with Dr. O’Connell in the chair, to consider and resolve on the selection of a site for the new church. The Parish Priest, in a short but effective speech, set forth the reasons for entering upon the project and announced that he had in hands a subscription of £500 from two sisters, whose initials only would he publish, but which we, at this distance of time, may be permitted to expand into the name of Blake. The P.P. himself put down his name for £100; R. Corballis, £50; Mr. Reddy, £25; Mr. Thos. O’Reilly, £20, and the latter’s son, Rev. Thos. J O’Reilly, still a student of Maynooth, £5. Altogether the result of the day’s meeting was over £1,000. This happy commencement was followed up by weekly meetings of a very active committee, and by a well-organised weekly collection made amongst the humbler parishioners

The site that all ambitioned was the very spot on which the handsome new church now stands. It overlooked the Fair Green, and would remain as a kind of Angel Guardian to watch and see that none of the impiety that so long disgraced that spot should ever again be permitted. This corner lot contained more ground than was needed for the purpose, but the conditions wore all or none, so the P.P was compelled to negotiate for the acquisition of the whole plot, including, as it did, the large cottage residence and grounds of Belleville adjoining. The plot was to be had at an annual rent of £105, with an option of purchase for a tenure of 1,000 years at £2000. It was resolved to take the option, and a loan of £2,000 being effected, the plot was purchased out, though the Conveyance was not executed until 1863. A solvent tenant was found for Belleville, and £60 annual rental helped to pay the interest on the money borrowed.

The year 1861 chronicled the early and much-lamented death of Rev. William Donnelly. He died in Dalkey, at the house of his relative, Denis Florence M’Carthy, on the 10th September, 1861. His missionary career just lasted eight years, and his obsequies were celebrated in Haddington-road, where he had constantly ministered. A stained glass window in the church perpetuates his memory. The vacancy thus created was filled by the removal from St Catherine’s to this Parish of Rev. Joseph Hickey, and Father Heyfron being about the same time transferred to the Pro-Cathedral3 Father Daniel Kane came from Howth to replace him. Father J. Hickey was early in 1862 appointed Curate of Maynooth, and was succeeded by Father Alfred Byrne, just returned from Rome.

The work in connection with Donnybrook new church went forward without flagging. No sooner was the conveyance of the site executed in 1863 than Dr. O’Connell proceeded with the blessing and laying of the first stone. This solenm ceremouial took place on June 12, 1863. His Grace, Archbishop Cullen officiated, and delivered an interesting address to the assembled parishioners, and with a handsome donation encouraged the work in hands.

Originally Mr. P. Byrne had been chosen as architect, but he dying soon after big appointment, the design of Messrs. Pugin and Ashlin was accepted, and has proved one of the happiest and handsomest of their clever conceptions. Mr. Michael Meade was appointed contractor, and with £1,324 in Bank Stock, and about £170 in cash - the result of two years’ collecting - the building of the church commenced.

Father Pat Nowlan, who was fertile in resources for getting in the funds, had a drawing for a handsome oil painting in April, 1861, which, together with a small raffle later on, realised between them £100. But this was only tentative. In January, 1864, he hold a two-day Bazaar in the Round Room, Rotunda, with a full suite of drawing-room furniture as first prize, and brought into the building fund £600. The appearance, however, at this juncture of the ex-Lady Mayoress’s (Mrs. P. P. M’Swiney) carriage and horses as a prize for the Blind Asylum Bazaar rather overshadowed the efforts being made in Donnybrook, and Father Nowlan found it necessary to visit Paris, where, fortified with introductions, he contrived to interview Marshal MacMahon, Monseigneur Dupanloup, and other distinguished Frenchmen, and with their help succeeded in getting the Empress Eugenie to patronise his work, and present him with a handsome mantelpiece clock, to be drawn for on behalf of the Donnybrook Church Fund. The chimes of the “Empress Clock” were heard over the length and breadth of the land. Tickets for the drawing were printed and distributed in hundreds of thousands, and when the great event came off; in the following November, and the clock had found its legitimate owner, a net sum of £1,140 was added to the building fund. Towards the middle of 1864 £1,500 had been paid away to the contractor, and a fresh architect’s certificate was imminent. So on June 12, 1864, the Parish Priest celebrated in St. Mary’s, Haddington-road, the anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Donnybrook new church. The Archbishop presided at a High Mass and preached, but being unable to remain for the meeting which followed immediately, he left a representative in the shape of a £20 note, and the meeting was conducted by the Parish Priest as chairman, with Father Nowlan and Mr. Francis P. Nolan as secretaries.

This year witnessed the elevation of the Parish Priest to the rank and responsibility of Dean of the Metropolitan chapter in succession to the late Dean Meyler. This dignity had to be conferred from Rome, as was the case also, when a short time previous, he was appointed Honorary Chamberlain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor.

It was in this year, moreover, that Father Michael Doyle was transferred to St. Andrew’s, Westland-row, and his place was filled by the appointment of the Rev. James Baxter, the present P.P. of Clondalkin. In the following year Father Mullally, after 16 years in this Parish, was promoted Parish Priest of St. Nicholas, Francis-street, in succession to Canon M’Cabe, transferred to the Parish of Kingstown. Father Mullally’s place was filled by Rev. Philip M’Carthy, moved up from Enniskerry.

Once more the resourceful nature of Father Nowlan succeeded in discovering yet another novelty in the way of prizes. This time it was a cottage in Dalkey, rent free. However, this venture was not attended with the success of his previous efforts. The sum total which he received towards the building fund up to 1869 was £6,940. To this a second loan of £2,000 had to be added, so that the full cost of the completed church was £8,940. Mr. Meade’s contract for the mere stonework amounted to £6,200, and out of this he generously handed back £100 as his personal donation.

The opening ceremony was fixed for August 26, 1866. In many ways it was a memorable event. It was the Old Fair Day. But an exceptionable brilliancy was added to the ceremonial by the presence of Ireland’s first Cardinal. Just two months before, Pius IX. had raised Archbishop Cullen to the princely dignity of Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. It was the first time such an honour was conferred on the Emerald Isle. No wonder that the crowds at the celebration were stupendous. The church was dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, and the sermon, well worthy of the occasion, was preached by that incomparable orator, Father Tom Burke, O.P. A large and very effective choir rendered Gounod’s * Messe Solennelle *for the first time in Ireland. Thus was repaired the scandal of Donnybrook Fair, and Dublin blessed with a handsome new church that is an ornament to the locality.

It is time for us now to take a short retrospect, and study the topographical development of the Parish. At the time of laying the first stone of Donnybrook Church, Ailesbury or Eglington Roads were not in existence; Belmont-avenue was known as Coldblow-lane, and the greater part of the road from Upper Leeson-street to the village of Donnybrook, formerly called Donnybrook-road, became thenceforward known by the more fashionable designation of Morehampton-road. In the Haddington road district Raglan-road came into existence in 1857, on the conclusion of peace after the Crimean War, and was named from Lord Raglan, the first Chief Commander in that war. Elgin and Clyde Roads, similarly commemorating the heroes of the Indian Mutiny, were opened in 1863-64, and finally St. Mary’s-road, so called from its proximity to the church, appears on the Map of Dublin for the first time in 1877. Sandymount expanded in corresponding proportions. In 1863 an Act of Parliament was passed with the following preamble:- “Whereas the district of Baggotrath, Donnybrook, Sandymount, Ringsend, and Irishtown, in the barony of Dublin, and county of Dublin, comprises several villages, and is a large, populous, and improving district, and the population thereof has of late years greatly increased, and is increasing … . it would be of advantage if the district were formed into a township, etc.” It was thus the Parish was incorporated as the “Pembroke Township” on September, 1863, and is now, under a recent Act, designated the “Pembroke Urban District.” The first Census taken after the incorporation was in 1871, and the result (29,982) fully justified the Act.

The completion of Donnybrook Church gave the venerable Dean, as he was now accustomed to be called, an opportunity of enjoying a comparative rest after 17 years unceasing toil, and his friends amongst the clergy were quick to note an anniversary which furnished an occasion for paying a well-deserved personal compliment. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of his ordination, which occurred on September 19, 1867, and it was celebrated by an elaborate entertainment held in Gayfield, and presided over by the Cardinal Archbishop. In 1871 he inherited a legacy which enabled him to liquidate the mortgage still encumbering St. Mary’s, Haddington-road. It will be remembered that at the very commencement of his administration in 1850 he had borrowed £1,000 on Haddington-road. Of this sum only £250 had been paid back. With this bequest he was able to get a receipt in full for £756 from George Thornton, executor of George Turner, deceased, and thus before his departure he left the church perfectly free from debt. Father Patrick Smith, the Senior Curate, after 25 years service in the Parish, passed to his reward during the course of 1868, and in 1872 Father P. Nowlan of Donnybrook, after two years lingering illness, brought on, there is little doubt, by his extraordinary efforts in connection with the new church, paid at length the last debt of nature.

The Dean’s own health was beginning to show signs of breaking, yet he survived for some years, but eventually closed his remarkable career on August 21, 1876, at the venerable age of 84. Few men could look back on such an active quarter of a century. His obsequies were celebrated on the 23rd of August in St. Mary’s, in presence of an immense concourse of clergy and laity, presided over by His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop. His remains were interred in the church behind the High Altar. His Will was simplicity itself. It left all he died possessed of to his executors, Cardinal Cullen and Mr. Chas. Kennedy. It was sworn under £450, this covering furniture, books, linen, plate, and personal effects.

We may now note the exchanges and promotions which occurred among the clergy of the Parish since our last review. In 1868 Rev. A. Byrne and Rev. J. Baxter were transferred to St. Audoen’s and St. Kevin’s respectively. They were succeeded by the Rev. J. G. Mooney and Rev. R. Duggan. In 1869 Father Thomas Hickey was aggregated to the Parish, and in the year following Rev. Bernard Farrell. In 1874 the transfers of Father Farrell and Father Duggan to the Pro-Cathedral and Blanchardstown respectively, made way for the Rev. Daniel Lawlor, and Rev. M. Butterfield. So that at the time of the Dean’s death the curates and assistants were Rev. D. Mulcahy, Rev. T. Leahy, Rev. P. McCarthy, Rev. D. Kane, Rev. G. Mooney, Rev. T. Hickey, Rev. D. Lawlor, and Rev. M. Butterfield.

In this year 1876 the Carmelites of Lakelands, finding themselves unable to manage the Orphanage, now transformed under the new Act into an Industrial School, after 20 years abiding there, finally induced the Sisters of Charity in Sandymount-avenue to change quarters with them, and with Lakelands, to take over the orphans with all their appurtenances. After a brief sojourn in Sandymount-avenue, they eventually transferred themselves to their present convent at Roebuck.

We have now come to the parting of the ways. The marvellous increase in the population of the Parish within the preceding 30 or 40 years induced the Cardinal Archbishop to consider the necessity of better providing for the spiritual interests of those 30,000 people, scattered over such a large area, than could possibly be done by leaving them under the jurisdiction of but one Pastor. Nothing, however, was done during the months of September and October. But in the month of November, 1876, it became generally known that the late Dean’s Parish was divided into three Parishes, of which the church on Haddington-road, the new church in Donnybrook, and that of the Star of the Sea, Sandymount, would be respectively the Parish Churches. Ringsend, for the present, went with Haddington-road as a Chapel of Ease. The Pastors were named immediately; viz., Rev. James J. Lee, C.C.,* *Blackrock, to be P.P. St. Mary’s, Haddington-road; Rev. Thomas M’Cormack, P.P., Saggart, to be P.P. Donnybrook, and Rev. Thomas Leahy, C.C., Sandymount, to be P.P. Sandymount. Our history now divides itself into a separate history for each of the three parishes.

Parish of St. Mary, Haddington Road.

Father James J. Lee entered upon the administration of this Parish in the 55th year of his age. The record of his baptism in the private Register of his Grand-Uncle, Archbishop Troy, takes care to mention that he was born on the 9th of November, 1821, at four o’clock in the morning. He was younger brother to Dean Lee, Parish Priest of Bray. He studied at Maynooth, and was ordained priest on August 2nd, 1845. His first appointment was to Lucan, subsequently he was put in charge of the Female Penitentiary, Grangegorman, and eventually, from 1852 to 1876, he served as Curate in the Parish of Blackrock. His first care on coming to St. Mary’s was to honour the memory of the great pastor who had just preceded him. No sooner was the fuss and bustle of Christmas out of the way, than a preliminary meeting was held on February 2nd, 1877, in the vestry of St. Mary’s, with Francis P. Nowlan in the chair, at which it was resolved:- “That we, who have benefited by the kind and fatherly services of the late V.R. Dean O’Connell, P.P., who ministered for 27 years in the united districts of this Parish, and to whom we are indebted for the beautiful churches of the ‘Sacred Heart, Donnybrook,’ the ‘Star of the Sea,’ Sandymount, and ‘St. Patrick’s,’ Ringsend, which shall be lasting memorials for ages to come, and an immortal crown for his indefatigable exertions, pledge ourselves to erect a suitable monument to his memory.” This was followed by another resolution calling a public meeting for Sunday the 4th, at which Sir Bernard Burke was voted to the chair. The resolutions passed at this meeting advanced the project a stage, for they determined the form which the memorial should assume, namely, a “handsome High Altar,” adding this very significant rider, “and that a suitable position he provided for in it the church.” In this rider we encounter the germ of the idea which later on blossomed out into the addition of an Apse to the church. A sub-committee was appointed, authorised to confer with Mr. C. Geoghegan, architect, and see what could be done to find this “suitable position.” The sub-committee presented its report on April 24th. It showed a balance to credit of £491 4s. 10d., all accounts being paid up to date, and it contained this important paragraph: “It is recommended, in order to meet the requirements of the case, to throw down the wall behind the present altar, arid to extend the church on that side by the erection of an Apse. This Apse will contain the new altar, and afford room for its surroundings, arid the entire church, as it at present stands, will thus become available for the accommodation of the people. Mr. Geoghegan has prepared plans of the proposed extension. The cost of the altar and the Apse combined is estimated to be about £1,500.” This report was adopted, though the estimate, as we shall see, was much below the actual cost. The money already in hands was earmarked for the altar, and a new committee was formed to promote and collect funds for the building of the Apse. This committee on the 29th of June issued a circular soliciting subscriptions, and then did not meet again until February, 1878. Mr. Geoghegan was appointed architect, and Mr. John C. Hare, of Newry, was selected as contractor, to erect and complete the Apse for the sum of £1,789 8s. 9d. On May 22nd the foundation stone was laid by the Bishop Auxiliary, Dr. MacCabe, immediately after Confirmation, which he came to administer.

The month of October, 1878, witnessed the death of that truly great Churchman, Cardinal Cullen, in whom Ireland lost the most distinguished ecclesiastic that it had seen for many a century. He was succeeded after an interval of four months by his Auxiliary, Dr. MacCabe, who was destined to rule but for a few years. The Apse Committee resumed its meetings in April, 1879, and reported, as the result of the year’s collection, a total of £1,379 8s. 1d., of which £1,067 1s. 5d. had been expended, leaving a balance to credit of £312 6s. 8d. This balance was manifestly insufficient to meet the amount of the contract, so a public meeting was assembled on May 18th, where a special appeal was made, and by September following £435 was added to the balance, which enabled the works to be carried on without interruption.

The opening of the Apse was fixed to come off on November 9th, 1879. Admission to the ceremony was by tickets only, the sale of which realised £230. This new Apse was undoubtedly a most suitable and necessary addition to the church. It added 30 feet to its length, and provided a becoming recess for the High Altar, which previously usurped space that properly belonged to the faithful. Its whole cost was £2,583. The altar cost £576 1s. 4d. The seven stained glass windows, which were gifts, cost £557 10s. On one panel of the Apse a marble tablet was inserted, bearing an inscription in Latin, which records it as a memorial to Dean O’Connell.

We may now glance at the clerical exchanges that followed the dismemberment of the old parish. During the course of 1876, Father MacCarthy had been transferred to St. Andrew’s, Westland Row, and had been replaced by Rev. J. Lyons, assigned to Sandymount. For Donnybrook, Father T. Jones was appointed solitary curate; so that at the end of 1876, the curates were thus allocated, to Haddington Road, Revs. Mulcahy, Kane, and Butterfield, with Father Mooney in the Ringsend district, then united to Haddington Road; to Sandymount, Revs. T. Hickey, D. Lawlor, and J. Lyons; and to Donnybrook, Father Jones. The opening days of 1877 witnessed the death of the pious and gentle Father Daniel Kane, whose place was not filled, as two curates were then found sufficient for St. Mary’s. In 1879 the Parish Priest was adopted into the Chapter as Canon, and in the same year Father Mulcahy was appointed Parish Priest of Swords. His place at St. Mary’s was taken by Father D. Downing, transferred from Maynooth. In 1881 the latter got a further transfer to the Pro-Cathedral, and was replaced by Father Wm. Murphy, the present P.P. of Kingstown. In May of this year the Ringsend district was detached and definitely united to Sandymount.

The eighties opened with various improvements and decorations in the church, and with the painting of the entire edifice. To meet the liabilities incurred by these additional works the Canon organised a bazaar, which came off in April, 1882, and realised a net sum of £507. Just a month earlier the Archbishop was created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. He only lived to enjoy this highest ecclesiastical dignity little less than two years, for he died in February, 1885, and was succeeded in the following June by our present illustrious Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Walsh.

After a few years tranquility the Canon again began to bestir himself, and made a final effort to complete the equipment of the Parish. Up to the present time no residence for the clergy had been provided. They all lived about in separate lodgings, to their own and to the Parishioners great inconvenience, especially when there was question of sick calls. A former President of the Confraternity (Mr. Connolly) had indeed bequeathed two houses on Haddington-road as a residence for the curates on condition that they would pay the ground rent - upwards of £30 - and celebrate a certain specified number of Masses for the repose of his soul and those of his relatives. One of these houses known as “The Lodge” was occupied by one of the curates, the second was let in order to pay the ground rent. Fortunately the testator left the option of selling them at any time, the purchase money to be funded in trustees, and the interest applied for the celebration of the Masses. This was done, and the “Connolly” Masses are regularly celebrated. Early in 1889 Canon Lee approached Lord Pembroke’s agent with the view of securing a convenient site for a parochial residence. In June of that year a draft agreement was entered into, whereby Lord Pembroke agreed to convey to Canon Lee and his successors the actual site of the existing parochial houses for a term of 150 years at an annual rent of £8. The formal lease was not executed until 1892. In 1890 a loan of £2,000 was obtained from the Glebe Loan Department on the usual conditions, and then an appeal was made to the Parishioners to furnish the remaining third of the estimated cost, £3,000. The answer to this appeal was £685 13s. 7d. This was supplemented by a further loan of £300, which, however, was liquidated before the Canon’s lamented death. This melancholy event occurred with appalling suddenness on Sunday, June 10, 1894. The good Pastor was proceeding from his house vested in surplice and soutane, and prepared to preach the sermon customary at the 12 o’clock Mass. Whilst crossing the threshold of the door leading to the church he fell down and expired instantly. One can more easily imagine than describe the painful sensation which was caused when this sad news was announced to the expectant congregation. He was sincerely regretted, for he was a man full of zeal, remarkable for his piety, and straightforward in his dealings with every man. He was interred in Glasnevin Cemetery. Through some informality in a Draft Will it could not be proved, so he died intestate.

Very soon after Canon Dillon, Parish Priest of Wicklow, was transferred to St. Mary’s. We should have mentioned in its proper place that in 1889 Father Wm. Murphy was transferred to St. Andrew’s, Westland-row, and was succeeded in St. Mary’s by the present Senior Curate, Father Henry J. Lube, who had already done good service in Athy, Kingstown, and Cabinteely.

Very Rev. Canon Dillon, P.P.

The events of Canon Dillon’s residence in the Parish are of so recent date and so well remembered that it will only be necessary to set them down after the manner of a chronicle.

Imitating his immediate predecessor, his first thought was to respect that predecessor’s memory, and within a month after Canon Lee’s decease a meeting was held to consider the best way of perpetuating it. It was thought, that as he himself had raised a monument at one end of the church to Dean O’Connell’s memory, the most suitable monument to Canon Lee would be to connect his name with the other end of the church, and complete the front facing Haddington-road, which had continued in its unfinished and unseemly condition ever since it was first erected in 1839. A public meeting was summoned for Sunday, November 4, 1894. The chair was taken by His Grace the Archbishop, and there was a large attendance of Parishioners and other friends, including the Lord Mayor.

His Grace delivered a very interesting and eloquent discourse, and headed the subscription list with a donation of £100, which, on hearing that the total raised at the meeting was over £1,000, he raised to £200. Mr. J. C. O’Callaghan of Nassau-street was selected as architect, and Mr. James Kernan of Talbot-street was declared the contractor. The specifications were divided into three sections. Section No. 1, comprised the facade and tower as far as string beneath belfry windows, £5,482. Section No.2 completed the tower, £2,832. Section No.3 added aisles to the nave, £3,411. It was decided to contract for sections 1 and 2, leaving over the aisles for some future effort. To the contract figures we must add £435, architect’s fees, and £867, extras, which bring the total cost to £9,617. This was a formidable undertaking to finance; however, with subscriptions which totalled nearly £3,000, with a Bazaar in June, 1896, which realised £1,560; with a terminable loan (the O’Grady annuity) of £2,700, and with a further indefinite loan of £2,500, the work was finished and paid for. Of the monies borrowed £500 was paid back in 1900 and the terminable loan was cancelled by the death of the surviving annuitant on September 4, 1895, which frees the Parishioners from their promised guarantees for the interest. There remain £2,000 of a parochial debt on these works, It was a great undertaking, and it was bravely and quickly carried through. Twenty-four feet were added to the length of the church, giving now an inside measurement of 168 feet, and a handsome front and handsome tower were secured as external ornaments. The fine bell within the tower was specially subscribed for, the Men’s Sodality alone contributing £50. No sooner was this work out of hands than Telford and Co. were commissioned to build an organ, and the result was the truly beautiful instrument which occupies the gallery, and in erecting which the Women’s Sodality had an important share.

We must not forget to mention amongst Canon Dillon’s labours the laying out of the grounds around the church; hitherto a common goose green, now a handsome shrubbery; nor the concreting of all the approaches; nor the interior decoration of the church; the new benches and confessionals; the introduction of the electric light, and not least the building of a large addition to the Boys’ School. But there remained yet another work of great importance. Up to this date the Parish was without a Girls’ School. A pious lady gave the Canon £500 for this purpose. He applied to the Sisters of the Holy Faith at Glasnevin, who at once accepted his proposal. They rented a small house on Haddington-road as a convent, and at the rere thereof erected a handsome Schoolhouse for (paying) day pupils, girls and very young boys, an institution much wanted in the neighbourhood. With the Canon’s £500, largely augmented by his own private bounty, and the resources of the Sisterhood, they erected the splendid new Female Schools which go to fill up the space around the church. They are free in every sense of the word, even from the vexations of the National Board; they are without subsidy of any kind, and yet have never cost the Parishioners one penny either for their erection or maintenance. They have an average attendance of 250 children. It was whilst superintending this last work that the Canon’s health, at no time vigorous, completely broke down, incapacitating him from all work during the last two years of his life, and finally terminating his career on April 16, 1904. His Will was sworn under £350, represented mainly by books and furniture, and bequeathed in unequal portions to the Diocesan Clerical Fund and the new Female School of the Sisters. He was buried in Glasnevin. As soon as his obsequies were over his successor was appointed in the person of the writer of this brief history, transferred from the Parish of Bray. During Canon Dillon’s administration Father Butterfield died on April 9, 1898, and was replaced by Father Francis Wall, B.A. At the same time Father J. M’Grath was added to the staff as an assistant, who immediately after the Canon’s death was transferred to a curacy in North William-st., and was succeeded by Father David M’Kee.

The boundaries of the Parish, as settled finally in 1894, are, on the west, the Grand Canal from Leeson-street Bridge to the Railway Bridge at Grand Canal-street; on the north, the D.W. & W. Railway from said Bridge to Lansdowne-road Station; on the east, the River Dodder from same Station to Ball’s Bridge; on the south, from Ball’s Bridge by Clyde-road to Upper Leeson-street, and so back to Leeson-street Bridge.

The population of the Parish according to the latest Census (1901) is reckoned as - Catholics, 4,506; all others, 3,252.

Parish of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook.

The year 1877 opened with Father Thomas M’Cormack first Parish Priest of the newly deliminated Parish of Donnybrook, having Father Thomas Jones as his curate. It was not long, however, before it became necessary to provide a second curate, especially as the Chaplaincy of St. Mary Magdalen’s Asylum, which had changed hands three or four times since the lamented death of Father O’Donohoe in 1809, was finally absorbed into the Parish, and Rev. Michael Flynn became the new curate. The Parish Priest in his external work concentrated his energies on the providing of a parochial residence. With a glebe loan of £2,000, and some money collected, he commenced and completed the two commodious parochial residences - one for the Parish Priest and one for the curates - which stand on the south side of the church. This work occupied practically the whole time of his administration, which was destined to be very short. After a brief illness he died on the 25th January, 1879, when he had been little more than two years Pastor. The See was vacant at the time of his death, and no appointment could be made to the vacancy until a new Archbishop had been appointed in the person of Dr. M’Cabe in the following month of April. Then Rev. Michael Doyle, Adm. St. Andrew’s, was appointed Father M’Cormack’s successor

Very Rev. Michael (Canon) Doyle, P.P.

It was with reluctance that Father Doyle surrendered the administration of the large and important Parish of St. Andrew, and took upon his shoulders the building of Donnybrook, with its crushing debt of £5,000. In June, 1879, he was made a member of the Chapter, and soon after by the sale of Belleville, which was still Church property (see Part I.), he was able to pay off £1,600 of the debt. During his time also a good and faithful servant of the Parish was provided with a small pension, and relieved of her arduous duties, namely, Agnes Gaffney, the venerable schoolmistress, whose name figures in Dr. Finn’s Returns more than 40 years back. Canon Doyle’s tune in the Parish was even shorter than Father M’Cormack’s, for he died on April 5, 1881, and was interred at his own request in the vaults of St. Andrew, where a handsome monument, with a good likeness in relief, was erected to his memory in the north transept of the church. After a brief interval he was followed by the present Pastor.

Very Rev. Charles (Canon) Horris, P.P.

His first appointment was to the Assistant Chaplaincy of the South Dublin Union, under the late Father Fox, O.M.I. From that he was transferred successively to curacies in St. Laurence O’Toole’s, St. Michan’s, and Kingstown, where for many years he took charge of the pretty church of Monkstown, a twin sister to Donnybrook. The principal incidents of Parish progress that have occurred during his administration, which we pray maybe continued for many long years, may be chronicled thus:-

Shortly after his induction he organised a public meeting to devise means of dealing with the large debt that still remained on the Parish. The Archbishop (Dr. MacCabe) took the chair, and a good round sum was collected at the meeting. This was supplemented by a Bazaar held in 1882, and by a second Bazaar in 1884, both realising between them £1,800. The outcome of all these efforts was to reduce the debt to £2,400, a figure at which it still remains, exclusive always of the £2,000 terminable globe loan.

In December of this year Father Jones died, and was succeeded by Rev. Sylvester Burke, transferred from the Pro-Cathedral for reasons of health. The Female and Infant Schools after Miss Gaffney’s retirement were taken up by the Sisters of Charity of St. Mary Magdalen’s Asylum, and very soon the uncomfortable hovel that had hitherto served as a schoolhouse was replaced by a handsome two-storeyed building within their own grounds, with an imposing approach from Belmont-avenue.

In 1892 the Parish Priest was adopted into the Metropolitan Chapter, and within the last few years he has made an important addition to the Boys’ School, which now renders it one of the most commodious of suburban schools. The original school was erected during Dean O’Connell’s time by Mr. B. Corballis. A slab set into the school wall commemorates this fact. The neighbourhood of Donnybrook has improved very much within the last few years. The opening tip of new roads and the building work still going on are evidences, whilst the population is increasing in proportion. When Father Burke was promoted in 1904 to the charge of St. Laurence O’Toole’s Parish, Canon Horris took advantage of the vacancy to secure an additional curate, and he now has three assistants - Fathers Flynn, A. Farrell, and D. O’Byrne. Within the borders of the Parish is to he found the Hospital for Incurables, where the Catholic patients are attended by the Donnybrook clergy. Close beside it is St. Mary’s, Gayfield, which serves as a Scholasticate for the young religious of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The latest addition to the religious institutions of the Parish is a convent on the grounds of Simmonscourt Castle of Poor Clares of the strict reform of St. Collette. It was founded by the munificence of the late James M’Cann, M.P., whose only daughter is a member of the Order.

The boundaries of the Parish extend citywards as far as Dartmouth-road, on Upper Leeson-street, and with Clyde road to Ball’s Bridge proceed up Merrion-road as far as the footpath leading to Stillorgan-road, thence by a stream to Roebuck, on to the Clonskeagh-road as far as Sallymount-avenue, and so back to Upper Leeson-street. As the Parish embraces so many different parcels of other civil Parishes, such as Taney, etc., etc., it was found impossible to get an exact return of the Census of 1901, but roughly the population may be reckoned as nearly 4,000 Catholics.

Star of the Sea Parish, Sandymount.

The popular and energetic Curate, Father Thomas Leahy, was marked out by all as first Parish Priest of Sandy-mount, and was appointed thereto in November, 1876. Although his health had been precarious for years previous, his energy was indefatigable, and no sooner was he well settled in his new responsibility, than he took steps to provide a school for the parish, and in a short time had erected the commodious Boys’ School which stands at the rere of the church. The girls were already provided for in Lakelands Convent. In December, 1877, his young Curate, Father Dan Lawlor, died, and was not replaced, and in the year following, Father T. Hickey was compelled to retire on account of his health. He was succeeded by Father M’Entee, the present P.P. of SS. Michael and John. Yet another change occurred in 1880, when Father Lyons was transferred to Lusk, and Father William Murphy, at present P.P. Kingstown, was brought up from Kilcullen to succeed him. The Parish Priest’s constantly recurring fits of illness predicted a short reign, and the prediction was verified on the 13th May, 1880, when he passed to his eternal reward. Within a month after his death a meeting was convened, and a committee formed to promote the erection of some public memorial, and the Pulpit and Communion Railings were resolved upon. In addition, his brother, Very Rev. Canon James Leahy, P.P., Sandyford, commissioned the late Sir Thomas Farrell to execute, in Carrara and Sicilian marbles, a handsome mural tablet, giving a medallion likeness of the late Parish Priest. This monument occupies a conspicuous position near the Virgin’s Altar.

Ver. Rev. John (Canon) O’Hanlon, P.P.

For the next quarter of a century the Parish of Sandymount had the distinguished honour of being presided over by that industrious *litterateur, *most worthy priest, and true Christian gentleman, the Rev. John O’Hanlon. This is not the place to recount the long list of his published works, amongst which his “Lives of the Irish Saints” will be best remembered, but to record that, notwithstanding his engrossing literary labours, no parish was more carefully tended or better equipped whilst he was in charge. A native of Ossory, he first volunteered for the American Mission, and for several years ministered in St. Louis, U.S.A. For reasons of health he was compelled to revisit his native air, when he became affiliated to the Diocese of Dublin, where his first appointment was to a curacy in SS. Michael and John. Here he remained for 20 years, until he was promoted to Sandymount in June, 1880.

A generation had passed away since the Star of the Sea Church had been built, and yet no special memorial had been erected to commemorate its founder, Dean O’Connell. In May, 1882, Father O’Hanlon determined to remove this defect, and a meeting was assembled. An influential committee was formed, subscriptions were handed in, and on Trinity Sunday of that year a simultaneous collection was made at all the Masses, both in Sandymount and in St. Patrick’s, Ringsend, which in the year previous had been definitely incorporated in Sandymount Parish. In this year Father Murphy was moved into Haddington Road Parish, and Father John Maxwell was sent to succeed him. The collection for the Dean O’Connell Memorial was actively carried forward, with Father M’Entee as Honoraryy Secretary, but his removal to St. Kevin’s, soon after the inception of this work, compelled him to resign the office, when his place was taken by Father John Purcell, appointed to succeed him. The result of the committee’s labours enabled them to erect handsome side porches, built in granite and in a style harmonising with that of the church, and, furthermore, a graceful mural monument designed and executed by Sir Thomas Farrell.

This was erected in 1883 on the Gospel side of the High Altar. The whole memorial cost about £400. In January, 1884, the P.P. had a visit from a very dear friend, the illustrious Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia. Their close friendship dated from their St. Louis days, and hearing of the works undertaken by his friend, the Archbishop kindly offered to preach a sermon, at which the collection should be devoted to the liquidation of any liabilities lying over for the various improvements. Quite a festival was made of this event. Pontifical High Mass was organised, and the sermon which was preached after the First Gospel was most eloquent and most effective. A full report of it is given in a *brochure, * prepared by the Parish Priest, furnishing the whole history of the memorial and a complete list of the subscribers.

In the following year Father O’Hanlon was adopted into the Metropolitan Chapter, and very soon after he arranged for the building of a house in Ringsend for the use of the priest residing in that district. It is a commodious, two-storey house on Cambridge Road.

The lord of the soil very generously undertook to build a very substantial and handsome edifice in Ringsend for the purposes of a technical school. The Canon took a very active interest in this work, satisfied that it would be most useful to the young lads of the district in giving them a skilled knowledge of many trades that would be sure to turn out profitable to them.

In 1897 Father Maxwell was appointed P.P. of Dunlavin, and to replace him Father Smyth was sent from James’-street.

In July, 1903, the Parish sustained a very serious loss by the death of a well-beloved Curate, the Rev. John Purcell. For more than a year he had been ailing, giving from time to time strong hopes of a permanent recovery, but it was not to be, and in God’s own time he passed to a better world. The universal esteem in which he had been held is amply testified by the handsome marble cenotaph with medallion likeness erected in the church, a tribute which was insufficient to use up all the funds subscribed, and these flowed over into new Confessionals and other works connected with the church.

His place was taken by Father Conroy, transferred from Wicklow. The Canon himself soon began to show signs of failing, and in the beginning of the present year had to abandon all duty. He was now past his 84th birthday, and he had won his crown. Early in May he quietly passed to his Heavenly Father, leaving sacred recollections behind him. He was buried in Glasnevin, and the Archbishop of Philadelphia in his recent visit to Ireland, did not fail to visit his grave and pray for his eternal repose.

After a reasonable interval the Archbishop promoted his secretary, Very Rev. Dr. Magrath, to the Parish, who was inducted thereunto with all canonical solemnity. But in his appointment Ringsend is withheld from his administration with a view of creating it an independent parish. Father Mooney, so many years identified with the district, was named to its pastoral charge.

St. Patrick’s, Ringsend.

Ringsend parochially has yet to make history, as it has only achieved parochial autonomy this present summer but, * topographically, *a few words are wanting to complete the general survey we made of the whole union of Parishes as they existed previous to 1876.

Ringsend and Irishtown are usually spoken of in company, and their interpenetration makes it difficult to know where one begins and the other ends; but formerly they were quite distinct, and of the two, Irishtown is the more ancient.

In the “Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin,” edited by Sir John Gilbert, Vol.1., p. 280, there is given a Decree of the then Corporation of Dublin ordering all manner of men and women of Irish blood, whether Nuns, Clerics, journeymen, apprentices, servants, beggars, etc., to quit the city within four weeks, and any one found within the city gates after that date shall forfeit goods, chattels, etc., he cast into prison, an(l stiffer other penalties. This was in the year 1454. It will not require a very lively imagination to follow the track of this new exodus, and fleeing with the poorer folk, to pass out in a southerly direction, when coming to the welcome view of the sea, they rested a while on the beach, and finding themselves unmolested elected to remain there, near enough to the city to be useful as hewers of wood and drawers of water, and remote enough not to offend the nostrils of the predominant partner. This settlement became known as the Irish Town.

Ringsend is much more recent. Up to the commencement of the 17th century it was only the “end of the point” projecting into the river at the junction of the Liffey and the Dodder, and was uninhabited. Cross-Channel and other maritime traffic had towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign being diverted from Dalkey, which for centuries served as the Port of Dublin, in favour of Ringsend, where ships could cast anchor, unload cargo, and cart it quickly into the city; but the Revenue suffered by this arrangement. Wherefore in 1620 it was decided to station a Revenue Officer permanently at Ringsend. Those acting under him naturally settled down in his neighbourhood, and thus it grew into a village, showing at the Restoration, 40 years later, a population of 59 persons of English, and 21 of Irish descent, contrasting with the adjacent village of Irishtown, where the figures were reversed, giving 75 Irish and 23 English. A century later, 1766, these figures were practically maintained (see Part I., p. 18). Ear1y in the 18th century the Protestant Church, Irishtown, was built for the convenience of these official people, who could only contribute £23. The rest had to be advanced by the State, whilst the tower had to be provided by the Corporation of Dublin. Ringsend was then described as being a clean, healthy and beautiful village, with houses on the walls of which vines were trained.. But at the close of the same century it had a different tale to tell. Floods rushed down upon it from the mountains, and for a while converted it into an island. The embankment of the Dodder, carried through by Captain Vavasour, prevented a recurrence of this calamity, but did not restore its pristine beauty, and the accounts given in Part I., furnished by Dr. Finn and Mrs. Aikenhead, are melancholy reading.

The population of both Parishes, Sandymount and Ringsend combined, in 1901 was 8,922 Catholics, against 3,851 of all other denominations.

Succession of Pastors since A.D. 1615.

Of Donnybrook, Irishtown, Ringsend, Booterstown, Stillorgan, Kilmacud, Dundrum, and part of Monkstown.

Rev. Father Cahill.
(Unknown).
Rev. Patrick Gilmore.
Rev. Francis (Canon) Archbold.
Rev. Dr. Matthias (Canon) Kelly.
Rev. James (Canon) Nicholson.

Of Donnybrook, Irishtown, Ringsend, and Sandymount.

Rev. Peter Richard Clinch.
Rev. Dr. Charles Joseph (Canon) Finn
Rev. Dr. Andrew (Dean) O’Connell

Of St. Mary’s, Haddington Road.

Rev. James J. (Canon) Lee.
Rev. William (Canon) Dillon.
Most Rev. Dr. N. Donnelly, Bishop of Canea, V.G.

Of Sacred Heart, Donnybrook.

Rev. Thomas M’Cormack
Rev. Michael (Canon) Doyle.
Rev. Charles (Canon) Horris.

Of Star of the Sea, Sandymount.

Rev. Thomas Leahy.
Rev. John (Canon) O’Hanlon.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Magrath.

Parish Index.

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