CLONAGAM CHURCH

Numerous interior images from a four-day photo-shoot in 2010, also work in 2009 and 2011,

will be included in this new section. 

I am most grateful to Very Rev.Canon George Cliffe of the Fiddown Union of Churches

for permission to do this work.

I have used the spelling 'Clonagam' for the above graphic, as this is nearest to the original Gaelic spelling for the townland name, all part of the Curraghmore estate.

The opening exterior images have been taken at various times.

This post-Reformation church is located in a commanding position on the side of  Tower Hill,

with beautiful forest and parkland trees all around. 

Built in 1741, about twenty-four years after the first Beresford married into the ancient Norman de la Poer family, it is assumed that an R.C. church stood on the site prior to that.

No ruins of such an earlier church, however, can be seen,

but both Catholics and Protestants have been, and still are, buried in the cemetery.  

The Very Rev. Canon Patrick Power (1862-1952), noted Waterford author and historian,

suggested that the original pre-Reformation church was taken down to facilitate the building of the present church in 1741. He also suggested that the present building was built at right angles to it's predecessor.  

The church is comparatively small, but the many memorials within are surely amazing.

Note the chimney mid-way along the roof here.

It is obvious from looking at the window surrounds that they once had great strong shutters for protection. 

Some sheep are allowed into the cemetery occasionally in order to keep the grass low!

This semi-circular area directly in front of the church contains Beresford family only memorials,

and is considerably higher than the surrounding ground outside the boundary wall because of the steepness of the hill on which the church and cemetery are located.  

Magnificent views of the Comeragh mountains from the vicinity of the church delight the eye!

The church interior, photographed from inside door on left.

The fireplace can be seen on the south wall directly under a window, the chimney flue's location being obvious from the stains to the left over that window.

One left-click will enlarge the image for a better view.

View from right inside door. Note the two memorials covered with sheets;

this to protect them from the droppings of bats which inhabit the building.

There is a strict preservation order on bats in this country. 

The church fireplace. It appears it's use as a fireplaced ceased at some stage

and this fine marble effigy of a reclining young man was inserted.to fill the gap.

Talk of Hot Seats . . . ! 

Fireplace detail. 

The face of the young man, who obviously represents some classical figure? 

Memorial to Florence Grosvenor Rowley, wife of  the 5th Marquis of Waterford (1844-1895), who died in childbirth. 

This remarkable memorial, in a niche on the south wall of the church, is cleverly lit by a concealed high overhead window.

Florence Grosvenor Rowley was born in 1837, the daughter of Major George Rowley of the Bombay Cavalry and Emily Isabella Honner (a Cork lady), and first married widower, Captain Hon. John Cranch Walker Vivian on June 18^th, 1861 – an English Liberal politician, who was elected to the House of Commons  a few times between 1841 and 1871. In 1868 he had moved to Lord of the Treasury, They were divorced in August 1869.

In August 1872, she married the 5^th Marquis of Waterford. Bearing the title, Earl of Tyrone, from 1859 to 1866, he was an Irish peer and a Conservative politician

 

Lady Florence died in childbirth in London on April 4^th, 1873. Her remains and that of her still-born child are buried directly outside the front of Clonagam church, under a simple headstone, in that area reserved for the Curraghmore family.

The detail in the marble memorial, showing texture, stitchcraft and the human form, is quite amazing.

                                                                                                                                                              The sculptor's name is inscribed on the front edge thus:  Boehm fecit 1873.

The eminent Vienna-born sculptor, Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, who had studied in Italy and Paris, came to prominence in 1856 when he was awarded the Austrian Imperial Prize for Sculpture.  He then studied further in England, and following success at an important London exhibition in 1862, decided to live there permanently.

There he rose in popularity following some important commissions, which included a statue of Queen Victoria for Windsor Castle in 1869.  Elected to the Royal Academy in 1878, his output increased dramatically due to numerous commissions he received from royalty (over forty alone) and the aristocracy.        

  Thus he came in contact with the then 5^th Marquis of Waterford, John Henry de la Poer Beresford, a Conservative politician, husband of the late Frances Grosvenor Rowley, who engaged him to sculpt the memorial depicting his deceased wife and child, who had died in London in 1873, which he, Boehm,  completed the same year.  He is believed to have executed other work for the Marquis at that time.

Boehm’s illustrious career ended with his sudden death in London in 1890.

 Immediately over Lady Florence's memorial, can be seen the fine marble (?) plaque shown above.

No sculptor's name was visible. 

 A close-up shows two coats-of-arms and the motto 'Nihil Nisi Cruce', meaning - 'Nothing unless the Cross' - motto of the Curraghmore Beresfords.

I have searched through Rowley, de la Poer and Beresford coats-of-arms.
The shield on the left more-or-less matches the Beresford one/s.
Suggestions re the right-hand shield would be most welcome!

I am indebted to my friend, Jack Kelly, for helping to light up the above two scenes with a torch, as their location is permanently very much in the shade.

The above memorial (a two-piece panel) to James Power of Curraghmore who died in 1704, is located on the right side of the main window.

This panel is self-explanatory and mentions it's origins.

............................................................................................

 

Top Panel:

Here lies the Body of JAMES POWER Earl of

Tyrone who died the 19^th of Auguft 1704 in the 38 year

Of His Age.

Underneath panel:

And Also the Body of Ann his wife

Who Departed this life the 26^th day

Of September 1729.

THESE MEMORIAL TABLETS  WERE REMOVED

FROM CARRICK-ON-SUIR CHURCH IN 1982 AFTER ITS CLOSURE.

Spelling and capitalization as on the memorial.
 The church mentioned is obviously the Church of Ireland which had been closed for some years, and is now a Heritage Centre. 
..............................................................................................................................................

High up, on the left side of the main window, is a dark limestone  slab which bears the following inscription:
.

Here lyeth the body of the

Right Hon. John Power

Earl of Tyrone

Who died 14^th October 1693

In the 29^th year of his age.

This memorial MAY also have come from the Church of Ireland, Carrick-on-Suir, and must be the oldest extant memorial to the Curraghmore de la Poers.If not originally located at Carrick-on-Suir, then it must have surely have come from Clonagam cemetery itself?

On my first visit, it was impossible to read or photograph that memorial, due to the poor light.
On a second visit, in the company of Mitchelstown historian, Bill Power, it was possible to read, but not photograph  it by shining a torch at an oblique angle across the lettering!
.............

On a recent (March 2013) visit to Clonagam I have  been able to get a not-so-good copy of this 320-year-old memorial, in what is a very dark location.

Thanks to my friend, Jack Kelly, for shining a more powerful torch on the stone, while I worked from top of a ladder.  Remember, there is no electric light in the building!    

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The exquisite memorial to Marcus Beresford and his wife, Catherine de la Poer,
who died in 1763 and 1769 respectively.
This Marcus was the first Beresford to settle in Portlaw. 
It is believed Catherine de la Poer was also known as Caitlín de Paor.

The inscription on the memorial reads as follows:

 To the Memory of Marcus Beresford, Earl, and Viscount of Tyrone, Baron Beresford, and Baronet

who departed this life on the 4^th of April 1763 in the 69^th year of his Age, and of Catherine,

Baronefs Le Poer in Fee, his Countess, Daughter and Heirefs to James Power, Earl of Tyrone,

Viscount Decies, and Baron Le Poer, who dyed in the 68^th year of her Age on the 16^th of July 1769.

this Monument is Erected by their Son, George dela Poer Beresford, Marquis of Waterford,

in Testimony of his Duty, Gratitude and Affection.

(Spelling as on memorial. No sculptor’s name visible)

Coat of arms under the inscription shown in the previous picture.  

The memorial centre-piece, Marcus & Catherine Beresford.

The portrait busts surrounded by two disconsolate Cherubs.

The left cherub - side view.  

The left cherub - front view.

The right cherub. 

Memorial to a Bishop Beresford on the south wall.

The difficult-to-read inscription is as follows:

The Most Reverend Lord John George Beresford, D.D.,

Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland.

Prelate of the order of St. Patrick, Lord Almoner to the Queen,

Chancellor of the University of Dublin, a Privy Councillor.

Second son of the most Honble. George De La Poer Beresford, First Marquis of Waterford.

Born Novr. 22^nd 1773. Died July 19^th 1862.

Buried in the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, Armagh.

*

This bust is dedicated in affectionate remembrance . . .

Regrettably, the last line was not recorded.  
................................................................................

Lord John George was actually born at Tyrone House, Dublin (the town house of his father - Marcus Beresford, Earl of Tyrone - designed by Richard Cassells)). He was a son of George de la Poer Beresford, 1^st Marquess of Waterford, and Elizabeth Monck, his wife. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church College, Oxford.  He was ordained a priest in 1797 and in 1799 rose to the position of Dean of Clogher. Further appointments included, Bishop of Cork & Ross in 1805, Bishop of Raphoe in 1807, Bishop of Clogher twelve years after that.

By the end of 1820 he had become Archbishop of Dublin, and two years later Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, which position he held until his death in  1862. He is buried in the crypt of Armagh Church of Ireland Cathedral, which I had the pleasure of visiting in July 2012 and being allowed down to see where he was laid to rest.  

Lord John George carried out major restoration work on Armagh cathedral, and was succeeded as Primate by his cousin Marcus Gervais Beresford, then Bishop of Kilmore.  

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No further images will be added, as a page entitled - 'Clonagam Church Interior part 2' has been added on  March 28th, 2013.                   

Further history notes re the above memorials will, however, be added, if any come to light.

 

N.B. Both forms of the name (Clonagam/Clonegam) should be used if doing any research,

as I've seen both version used in old documents and books.

Each image will enlarge on a black background with a single left click!