Churches and Convents

St. Joseph's Church, Boyle built in 1876

A colour tinted photo postcard of an original Lawrence photograph. This shows St. Joseph's catholic church, built in 1876 by architect George Goldie. The church body consisted of a central nave, with cylindrical limestone columns and two side aisles. Built in the Gothic style, it had a magnificent pitch pine, hammer beam style roof, and a striking rose stained glass window above the alter. The convent primary school is the building in the left background of the card. This building was later used as a secondary school. The church was burned down in 1977 and the new St. Joseph's RC Church was built on the same site in 1980.

St. Joseph's Church, Boyle built in 1876

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According to Reverend J. J. Kelly in his "Abbeytown of Ireland" the town of Boyle owes its existence to the Cistercian monastery, built in 1161 upon the banks of the Boyle River.

Places of worship were important to the lives of the people, and many beautiful churches dot the townscape of Boyle.

The old St. Joseph's church postcards show the importance of the photographic record, as inevitably fire will sometimes obliterate a building from the landscape.

Gallery

Church of Ireland, Boyle

This detached cruciform Church of Ireland church was built c.1790, by the King family. It is set on an elevated site, and commands superb views of the town. It stands today almost unchanged from the view in this Woolstone reproduction. It's striking castellated tower, home to a carved limestone clock surround, it's stained glass windows to the east end of the nave and it's timber panelled double door, with spoked fanlight sets this late 18th century church apart.

Church of Ireland, Boyle -

Boyle Abbey, Ireland

Boyle Abbey,was described by Roger Stalley in "The Cistercian Monasteries of Ireland" (1987) as "the most attractive and rewarding Cistercian monument in Ireland". It is easy to see why with this view, concentrating on the tower, which is located at the intersection of the presbytery, nave and transepts. Cistercian towers were typically later additions, and as the western arch of the crossing is different from the other three, this indicates that the tower was indeed a later addition.This dull tinted postcard is from the Fine Art Postcards series.

Boyle Abbey, Ireland -

Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

This view concentrates on the nave, and on close examination one can see that the arches on the two sides are different. The left side arches are pointed and the right side arches have a round finish. The five eastern arches, on the south side with cylindrical piers on square bases were built c. 1180. The opposite five arches are pointed, whilst the piers are square, with small attached shafts. This was built possibly 1190-1200, and the photographer captured effectively the two styles of the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. Roscommon -

Boyle Abbey

This colour tinted view of Boyle Abbey was published by Woolstone Bros. It focuses on the west wall of the church. The single lancet Gothic style window was influenced by Christ Church Cathedral, and it has been suggested that masons from Dublin helped with the building of this part of the Abbey.

Boyle Abbey -

St. Joseph's Church and Convent of Mercy, Abbeytown, Boyle

This black and white postcard of the altered St. Joseph's RC church (old) and Convent of Mercy Boyle captured a hive of activity - schools, church, nun's chapel, laundry and outhouses. It is also important as it has a view of St. Joseph's church, which has the copper top of the bell tower, a post Lawrence addition. The photographer also caught for posterity the rose window. To the left of the postcard is the long chimney, since demolished, of the St. Vincent Laundry, which gave employment to local women. The nun's chapel with it's temple like classical facade is also visible to the mid right of this aerial photograph. The postcard, hand delivered to Roscommon Library requested that since the library van was calling to the Convent Secondary in Boyle (late '60's early 70's) the supply of books might include "the history & appreciation of art - reference type books for Leaving Cert. students. Sr. M.E. also requested Dickens Scott and Co. for the First Years!

St. Joseph's Church and Convent of Mercy, Abbeytown, Boyle -

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