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The Arts Council

Chapel

Architect: Sir William Chambers
Interior Access


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The chapel was designed by Sir William Chambers in 1798 to match his Examination Hall across the quadrangle. The chapel is much more elaborate and is unique in Ireland in that it is used by all religious denominations. Externally like the Examination Hall, with a classical temple front, the chapel proper is buried with the larger block seen above. As in the Examination Hall the interior is lit by semi circular windows set into the ceiling. Unlike the Examination Hall, the chapel has one wall, the west, which is unencumbered by external structure and has three large round headed windows.


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Internally the building is graced by fine plasterwork on the ceiling by the renowned Dublin stuccodore Michael Stapleton. The chapel retains its traditional layout of oak pews facing each other across the central aisle. A gallery at the south end contains an excellent example of Irish organ case design.