Looking back up the central aisle, we notice its mosaic design. Many Irish cathedrals have quite detailed mosaic work. We see here too on the near columns a statue of Our Lady at left, and a sculpture of the Crucifixion at right. [Photo Credit: Jack O’Shea] INDEX
22. FRONT NAVE STATUES LZ LZ
The figure of Mary is ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’. There are many more graphic and detailed depictions of Our Lady of Sorrow, but here we can think of Mary grieving as she contemplates Jesus on the Cross, just opposite. The text ‘INRI’ on the Cross stands for ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’.
23. NORTH TRANSEPT LZ
We are now standing in the crossing – where the transepts intersect the main axis of the Cathedral. Here we look across to the North transept. We shall look in turn at the new baptismal font and aumbry just at the end of the near pews, the transept windows, and the Sacred Heart altar at right. Another pair of confessionals stands against the far wall.
24. NEW BAPTISMAL FONT LZ CP CP
The new font is the work of Mark Ryan. It is made of cast bronze mounted on Portland stone. The new font was necessary to accomodate the large numbers attending christening ceremonies.
25. AUMBRY CP
Close by the font is the aumbry, also designed by Mark Ryan. An aumbry normally contains the blessed Elements of the Eucharist, but this aumbry contains the holy oils: Catechumens, Chrism, and Infirmorum. These are used in the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, Ordination and Confirmation.
26. NORTH TRANSEPT WINDOW AFB
This triple window in the North transept has stained glass created by Earley Studio in Dublin depicting Our Lord’s Ascension.
27. NORTH TRANSEPT SAINTS AFB x4
The four lower windows were manufactured by Wailes of Newcastle. They depict (from left), St Francis of Assisi, St Ignatius of Loyola, the Virgin Mary, and St Dominic.
28. SACRED HEART ALTAR CP AFB
The altar in the North transept is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and is similar in design to the main altar It is made of white marble inlaid with precious stones, and is supported with six marble pillars in front and two at each side. The main feature of the altar is the tabernacle. The letters I.H.S on its door and the fish on the sides are worked in lapis lazuli and malachite. •• The large statue of the Sacred Heart in Parian marble is the work of the famous Italian sculptor Benzoni. The reference to the Sacred Heart is very subtle. A large canopy of Caen stone overhangs the altar and the statue.
30. PULPIT LZ
The pulpit was erected to the memory of Fr. Laurence Hayes in 1878. It is hexagonal and made of Sicilian marble. It has figures of the Four Evangelists and Our Lord.
31. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW AFB
The triple upper window in the South transept depicts Our Lady’s Assumption, with references to Our Lady of the Sea. It was created by Earley Studio in Dublin.
32. LOWER WINDOWS AFB x4
There are four small windows in a row below. They show, from left, St Joseph, Jesus Christ’s Sacred Heart, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and the Annunciation. These windows were all manufactured by Wailes of Newcastle.
33. OUR LADY ALTAR GSV
The altar in the South transept resembles the altar in the North transept in its panels, pillars and arcading. The tabernacle, made of statuary marble, is inlaid with lapis lazuli, agate and other precious stones. The two pillars flanking the tabernacle are of tinted onyx. The large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is by the same sculptor as that of the Sacred Heart. The canopy is exactly similar to the one which overhangs the Sacred Heart. [Photo Credit: Michelle Miller]
34. SOUTH TRANSEPT TABERNACLE AFB
On the Lady altar stands an impressive tabernacle. A Catholic tabernacle is a locked box or cabinet that holds the consecrated communion hosts, also known as the Eucharist. The word ‘tabernacle’ comes from the Latin word tabernaculum, which means ‘tent’ or ‘box’ Various symbols for Christ are displayed on this tabernacle: Alpha-Omega, Chi-Rho, IHS.
35. SANCTUARY LZ
We now turn our attention to the Eastern end of the Cathedral. A set of curved steps leads up to the sanctuary area. But we notice a closed off chapel on the North side. This was originally the Mortuary Chapel, but in 1979 it was redesignated the Croke Memorial Chapel, and in 1997 became the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The text on the separating arches reads: ‘panem angelorum manducavit homo’ (man ate the bread of angels Psalm 77:25); ‘Ecce Deus noster iste’ (behold, this is our God’ Isaiah 25:9).
36. CROKE CHAPEL LZ
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is used as a ‘holy place’ for prayer and meditation.
37. IN THE CROKE CHAPEL CP PC
The Chapel has two round windows, one of which is shown here. In one corner is a ‘repository for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament’. Like the new baptismal font and aumbry it is made of cast bronze mounted on a Portland stone base. The design is inspired by the Burning Bush in Exodus 3:1–6. This is where God spoke to Moses from the middle of the bush, and it was here that Moses accepted God’s call to free his people from slavery in Egypt. [Photo2 Credit: Patrick Comerford]
38. SANCTUARY AND APSE LZ
If we stand in the crossing we can get an overview of the sanctuary. The altar is at centre, and an ambo stands to the left. There is a statue on each of the side pillars. Further back at right is the cathedra. Then a whole row of coloured windows lines the ambulatory around the apse at the back. Finally we shall examine the large tabernacle behind the altar.
39. AMBO AND ALTAR LZ LZ
Near the front of the sanctuary stand an ambo and an altar. The ambo is often found in Catholic churches. It often combines the functions of lectern and pulpit. The altar is the focus of the mass: it is from here that the Eucharist is administered. As part of the Centenary Renovation of 1979, this altar was brought forward to be closer to the congregation. •• The altar is of white marble inlaid with precious stones (malachite, lapis, lazuli, rosso agate, to mention a few) and a variety of other marbles. The white marble is supported by an arcading of sixteen columns – six of which are yellow Sienna marble, six griotte and four of vert campan – with their bases and capitals of bronze supporting the table of the altar which rests on solid masonry.
40. ST PATRICK AND ST BRIGID CP CP
Statues of St Patrick and St Brigid are attached to the columns flanking the altar. Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the ‘Apostle of Ireland’, he is the primary patron saint of Ireland. Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (c. 451 – 525) is the patroness saint of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba.