11 August 2020

Archdeacon Wayne Carney
(1952-2020), a priest,
a friend and a colleague

With Archdeacon Wayne Carney (left) and the then Dean of Killaloe, the Very Revd Gary Paulsen (right), when the Church of Ireland General Synod met in Limerick

Patrick Comerford

It is sad to learn of the sudden death of my friend and colleague, the Ven Wayne Carney, who was Archdeacon of Killaloe, Rector of Birr, Co Offaly, and Prebendary of Taney in the Chapter of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

Wayne’s sudden death on Monday (10 August 2020) robs the Church and the Diocese of a priest of the highest calibre and an outstanding pastor.

Wayne Carney has been Archdeacon of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert and Kilmacduagh since 2002.

Wayne Carney was born in 1952 and grew up in south-west Ontario.

After graduating BA from the University of Toronto, he taught in primary schools in Toronto for eight years. After receiving a Master of Divinity from Trinity College Toronto, in 1984, he was ordained deacon in 1984 and priest in 1985.

He was a curate in Scarborough, Toronto, and then the incumbent at Roche’s Point, Newmarket, Ontario, in the Diocese of Toronto from 1984. He came to Ireland in 1995, first as Rector of the Clonfert Cathedral Group of Parishes (1995-2003) and then as Rector of the Birr Group of Parish from 2003.

He was appointed Archdeacon of Killaloe and Clonfert in 2002. He became the Limerick and Killaloe diocesan member of the Chapter of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, as Prebendary of Taney, in 2012.

His many roles in the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe included those of president of the United Diocesan Youth Council, Warden of Lay Readers, and Diocesan Director of Ordinands. He was a keen supporter of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel). Wayne was a supportive and active participant in the monthly seminars and training days I organised for clergy and readers in the diocese.

Wayne married Norma-Jean in 1973, and they are the parents of two adult children: Kathleen, who is married and living in France with two children, and Brian, who is married and living in Canada with two children.

Bishop Kenneth Kearon said: ‘It’s impossible to describe the shock and sadness we all feel at Wayne’s sudden passing. He was a good and loyal friend, a true pastor and an able and caring Archdeacon. He will be greatly missed by the church communities in Birr and beyond where his ecumenical commitment and community engagement was well known. He served his diocese in many roles and was widely known and respected throughout the church and in wider society.’

The Dean of Killaloe, the Very Revd Rod Smyth, is working with the family on the funeral arrangements which will be announced later.

Two Victorian houses
in Harold’s Cross retain
their charm and elegance

75 and 77 Harold’s Cross Road … an attractive and unusual pair of houses with charming details (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)

Patrick Comerford

My stroll through Dublin last week eventually ended in Harold’s Cross on Thursday evening. I spent part of my childhood in Harold’s Cross, and as I waited for a lift from a family member, I found myself standing opposite a fair of Victorian houses that I have found engaging since that time.

Nos 75 and 77 Harold’s Cross Road stand on the east side of Harold’s Cross Road, at the pointed north end of Harold’s Cross Park and almost opposite the entrance to the Hospice. I remember how in my early teens I noticed details such as their symmetry, the occuli, Venetian windows, carved balconies with elegant timberwork, the details in the brick work, the tiling on the roof and the unusual arrangement of the shared façade.

This pair of houses was built ca 1885, about the same time as building work began on the Hospice on the opposite side of the road and as Harold’s Cross was beginning to emerge as a suburb.

Harold’s Cross Road is a continuation of Clanbrassil Street, and runs from the Grand Canal to Terenure. The area, like Rathmines to the east, once formed of the Manor of Saint Sepulchre, and its name is said to come from a cross that marked the boundary of the lands of the Archbishop of Dublin.

The Rathmines township was formed in 1847 to encourage the development of the suburban area south of the Grand Canal, and it was later extended to include Rathgar and part of Harold’s Cross then in Saint Catherine’s Parish.

The Rathmines and Rathgar township kept rates low to stimulate growth, and by 1859 there was a prolific development of villas, terraces and semi-detached houses throughout the area. These two houses, in many ways, embody that development.

These two houses at 75 and 77 Harold’s Cross Road have an unusual form, scale and architectural style. The elaborate brick detailing enlivens the façade and is an example of the skilled design and work involved in building these houses.

There is a strong sense of symmetry in both the form of the roof and in the arrangement of the façade. There is elegant timberwork, including the carved balconies and the well-executed doorcases. These features add decorative interest to this pair of houses.

This pair of semi-detached, two-bay, two-storey houses, was built ca 1885. They share a projecting central bay at the front elevation with a catslide roof, a recessed entrance bay on either side, and shared return at the back of the houses.

The hipped slate roof has a central polychrome brick chimneystack, there are terracotta ridge tiles, more recent rooflights, carved timber barge boards, cast-iron rainwater goods and a dentillated moulded brick eaves course.

The brown brick is laid in a style known as English garden wall bond. There are moulded red brick string courses on the first and second floors, a red brick continuous sill course on the first floor, and a moulded red brick plinth course.

There is a moulded dentillated brick cornice over the second-floor windows to recessed bays. The square-headed window openings have moulded brick voussoirs and keystones. There are two-over-two pane timber sash windows in No 75, but No 77 has replacement uPVC windows, and there are granite sills.

On the first floor, there are paired, round-headed window openings at the entrance bay, with moulded brick surrounds and keystones and timber sash windows with leaded lights. Each house has a carved timber balcony that has a balustrade and a decorative apron, supported on carved consoles.

There are oculi over the paired windows, and these have brick surrounds and keystones – there are timber louvered vents at No 75, and a patterned window at No 77.

There are square-headed door openings, with stepped brick piers that have moulded brick capitals, and moulded brick segmental-headed hood mouldings. The houses have timber panelled doors with leaded glazed panels, timber doorcases with decorative carved cornices, and leaded overlights.

Granite steps with cast-iron boot-scrapes lead up to the front doors. Cast-iron railings divide the front gardens of the houses. The cast-iron front gates have matching railings on carved granite plinths, and there is a square-profile polychrome brick pier on the south-side house, No 77.

Despite the loss of some details in the original design, these houses make a striking impression and enhance the streetscape in this part of Harold’s Cross, and continue to attract my attention every time I pass by them.

Ireland’s oldest family
music shop is still in
business in Dublin

Charles Byrne Musik Instrumente, 21-22 Little Stephen Street, Dublin … ‘Ireland’s oldest family music shop’ (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)

Patrick Comerford

In the small, narrow streets and passageways that run between George’s Street and Grafton Street, there is new life in the coffee shops, cafés, stalls, wine bars and restaurants.

But in Little Stephen Street, Charles Byrne Musik Instrumente claims to be ‘Ireland’s oldest family music shop.’ This quaint shop at Nos 21-22 is a landmark in this part of Dublin, alive with musical wonder and stuffed to the gills with every stringed instrument imaginable.

It must be difficult for music lovers not to fall in love with the shope, with shelf upon shelf of musical delights.

The quaint name seems a pretence. But Charles Byrne Musik Instrumente dates back to 1870, and with four generations of expertise behind them, they are specialists in stringed instruments and traditional Irish music.

Whether it is an Irish fiddle you are looking for, or perhaps a bouzouki, the staff there can help you find what you are after. They are specialists in stringed instruments, and sell classical and traditional Irish instruments, as well as a variety of folk instruments.

This family-owned and run business boasts a long tradition of excellence. It was established in 1870 on the north side of Dublin by the original owner, David Charles Byrne, and at first the family business specialised in pianos, harps and harpsichords.

When David Byrne’s son, Charles Byrne, ‘piano tuner,’ married Christina Monahan of Saint Kevin’s Parade in Saint Kevin’s Church, Harrington Street, on 19 April 1923. Soon after, the Byrne family shop moved to Byrnes’ barber shop in Little Stephen Street, close to the junction of George’s Street and Aungier Street. The shop has remained there for almost a century.

In its time, the premises have seen many historic events, from the Home Rule era to Independence, and played its part in activities during the Rising and War of Independence. The family likes to say, ‘Booms and recessions, times of conservatism and progress, we’ve seen them all.’

Since the 1960s, the shop has specialised in stringed instruments, including violins, violas, cellos, mandolins, banjos, bouzoukis, and Irish traditional music, including bodhrans, low and standard whistles, wooden flutes, spoons and bone.

In recent years, they have added many specialist and unique lines from music gifts – Curiosa Devon, Hal Leonard, Music Gifts, and Ceolnet Designs – to hand-made instruments such as Tim Adams Flutes, Kingstown Ukes.

Today, this is Ireland’s oldest family-owned music shop, specialising in classical stringed instruments and traditional Irish music. They stock beginners to professional level violins, cellos, violas, ukuleles, guitars, banjos, bodhráns, whistles, mandolins, and accessories.

Ukuleles have become a favourite part of the inventory and they are proud to represent many major brands, including Kala Lanikai Freshman and more.

Four generations of expertise here are combined with a strong after-sales service, as well as repairs and restorations, and a mail order service.

As I walked by late on Thursdayevening, I fretted, fearing the shutters indicated the shop had closed. Thankfully, those fears were misplaced. It’s simply that the shop keeps unusual hours.

The shop’s opening hours in 2020 are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 1 pm to 5 pm, Saturdays, 11 to 5. If you are planning to visit soon, the shop is closed for annual holidays from 15 August until 1 September.