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St Nicholas of Myra Church, Dublin

St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Francis Street Dublin stands near the site of the

Franciscan Friary which lay outside the city walls during medieval times and gave its

name to the street.

 

The present Church was built between 1829 and 1834. Inside, the Church has a splen-

didly decorated ceiling and a fine altarpeice. The side altars are decorated with jesso

reliefs of the Last Supper, and the Marriage of Mary to Joseph, based on Perugine's painting,

one by John Hogan and one by Smyth, two distinguished Irish artists.

 

The impressive High Altar, (which was built in Italy), is flanked by two marble angels, also the work of Hogan.

Above the tabernacle is the beautiful Pieta, unique in Hogan's oeuvre and it had the effect of establishing his

reputation as a major sculpture in Rome.Above the sanctuary the ceiling is decorated with a circle depicting

the 12 apostles and the four corners contain pictures of four of the early Fathers of the Church:

St. Gregory the Great, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome and St. Augustine.

 

The ceiling of the nave is highly

decorated with celtic designs and Christian symbols. Two panels are of particular interest:

one depicts the arms of the lsle of Man, reminding us of it's links with this parish and the other

commemorates the Foundation of the Legion of Mary in Myra Hall in l92l.The Nuptial Chapel contains a

stained glass window by Hany Clarke depicting the Marriage of Mary and Joseph.

 

St. Nicholas of Myra, patron of the church, is represented by a statue showing the three

gold bags, which indicate his role as Santa Clause, and in the stained glass window in which the saint holds

a model of the church building in the crook of his arm. At his feet is an anchor which marks him as the patron

of seafaring folk, the probable reason for his link with early Dublin.

 

The above text is taken from a card offered by the church, and gives a brief history of this beautiful church.

 

 

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Uploaded on April 26, 2011
Taken on April 26, 2011