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The Arts Council

St Paul's Church

Architect: Patrick Byrne
No Interior Access


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On entering the church, the height of the ceiling is obscured until you emerge out, around a third of the length of the church from the door, from under the organ balcony. Then your eye is drawn immediately to the altar and the large mural behind it. The gently curving apse behind the altar is top lit by an unseen skylight which bathes the altar in light.


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The curved ceiling is quite decorative without going overboard and looks most impressive when seen from the back of the organ balcony when the curve can be appreciated.


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The side walls of the church have large round headed windows interspaced with simple philasters. The windows to the left and right of the altar have glass with a figurative design, while the others have a more simple geometric pattern.


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Like many churches in Ireland, the original altar fittings and railings have been removed in line with Vatican II guidelines. With their absence, the area seems empty, but this also serves to attract the eye to the marble altar in the centre. The interior still has good wooden confessionals and traditional stations of the cross, along with various other statues and shrines underneath the balcony.

Video Footage
  View from midway down aisle toward altar view
  The balcony and organ as seen from the altar. view