The ‘Church of Ireland Notes’ in ‘The Irish Times’ today [20 January 2018] begin with this report:
A new book, Perspectives on Preaching: A Witness of the Irish Church, published by Church of Ireland Publishing (CIP) in conjunction with the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (CITI), will be launched by the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe, in the Music Room of Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, next Monday evening at 5.30pm. With contributions from a wide range of notable preachers and thinkers, the book has been edited by Canon Maurice Elliott (Director of CITI) and the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey (Lecturer in Missiology and Pastoral Studies at CITI).
The book engages with the themes of preaching scripture, denominational charisms and preaching to the culture, across twelve different chapters. In addition to the editors, the contributors include three bishops, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Bishop of Down & Dromore and the Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh; Katie Heffelfinger from CITI and her former colleague, Canon Patrick Comerford; the Revd Barry Forde, Chaplain in QUB; and the Revd Dr Robin Stockitt, Rector of Donemana. There are contributions also from outside the Church of Ireland by the Revd Dr Shane Crombie, Curate of Tullamore; the Revd Dr Brian Fletcher, Minister of Cullybackey Methodist Church; and the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Morrow, Minister Emeritus of Lucan Presbyterian Church.
At €11/£10, the book will be available at the launch and thereafter from https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store/product/140/perspectives-on-preaching-a-witness-of
COMERFORD WAY: Patrick Comerford’s online journal on Anglicanism, theology, spirituality, history, architecture, travel, poetry, beach walks ... and more
20 January 2018
An impressive landmark
bank building finds
a new life in Limerick
Patrick Comerford
As banks close their branches and try to make us use more plastic and to do our banking online, they may leave many customers unhappy and frustrated. But they also leave a legacy of some fine buildings that are of immense architectural interest and that retain their imposing presence on squares and street corners in towns and cities across these islands.
In recent weeks I have written about buildings like these on the squares, streets and corners of towns from Limerick and Listowel to Lichfield.
Another fine example of this type of commercial architecture designed to make a grand statement is the former bank on the corner of Sarsfield Street and Henry Street. It began as the Munster Bank, later became the National Bank of Ireland, in more recent years was the Limerick branch of United Colours of Benetton, and is now Hook & Ladder.
When I passed by earlier this month, it was still delightfully decorated in Christmas colours.
Back in 1872, this site was marked on maps as the Munster Bank. The present building dates from around 1880 and possibly incorporates a number of earlier structures.
It is a six-bay, three-storey over basement building, distinguished by a full-height two-bay entrance breakfront, a full-height three-bay bow to the north-facing side elevation, and a two-bay three-storey return facing Henry Street.
There is a hipped artificial slate main roof with an eye-catching semi-conical slate roof over the bow end bay, with copper flashing lining the junction of the two.
The painted ruled and lined rendered walls have stucco detailing, rusticated quoining and a parapet entablature. The windows have moulded stucco architraves, and triangular pediments and plain and shouldered entablatures.
There is a centrally-placed square-headed door opening at the breakfront, and a classically inspired limestone doorcase with fluted Doric pilasters on a plinth base joined by a Doric entablature, elongated beneath the frieze to form a name plate with raised limestone lettering reading: National Bank of Ireland.
The building was extensively renovated in the late 20th century, and the ground floor window sill levels were lowered to create display windows. However, the façade composition of the former bank building remains largely intact.
Hook & Ladder refitted the ground floor and basement, opening the living café concept in May 2014. Today, the Hook & Ladder Living Café offers a unique experience with a variety of store concepts under one roof – café, cookery school, furniture and home accessories store. There is a wide selection of premium coffees, speciality teas and assortment of fine wines. In addition, there is unrestricted Wi-Fi, books and daily newspapers.
Old mill complex is a reminder
of Askeaton’s industrial heritage
Patrick Comerford
I have been writing these days about how there are still signs in Askeaton that this was once a thriving, trading port on the Shannon Estuary, shipping grain, corn, cattle and agricultural produce to and from Limerick.
Two clues of this past are provided by the derelict Victorian corn warehouse on the Quay and the former Tall Trees Nursing Home or Abbey Lodge, which was once the miller’s house.
Abbey Lodge stands on the east bank of the River Deel, beside the site of the former Abbey Mills.
The Abbey Mill may have originated with a mill established by the Franciscan friars to utilise the power available from a small stream as it fell from a significant height into the River Deel as it flowed swiftly into the estuary of the River Shannon.
The succession of waterfalls on the river upstream of the town was used for milling and the mill site at Aghalacka may have served the castle from an early date.
The River Deel is navigable up to Askeaton at high tide and this facilitated the establishment of a significant fishing industry that existed until the mid-20th century, and it also allowed for the export of corn and flour to serve the local economy.
Abbey Mills is a substantial mill complex with a frontage of about 30 metres to the River Deel, and stretching back more than 90 metres. Beyond this to the east there is a sluice at the roadside that originally governed the water supply to the mill wheel.
The two main surviving buildings from the mill complex are four storeys in height and built of limestone, with a dressed stone façade to the river.
The larger building, at the water’s edge, was built in 1796 and is three bays in width and 10 bays in length. The smaller building is two bays wide and four bays in length. The roofs are hipped and slated. This was originally a corn mill and in the 20th century was used as a creamery.
Although no longer in use, the buildings retain many of their original form and features, including brick surrounds, timber battened doors and slate roofs. The tooled limestone walls lend textural interest to the buildings.
The Condensed Milk Company of Ireland acquired the mill in 1909 and it was used as a creamery from 1927 until recently.
The mill complex has been vacant for some years since the plans to develop an hotel on the site were abandoned during the recent economic crisis. But these buildings retain their architectural, technical and historical interest, and they are a reminder of the industrial heritage of Askeaton.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)