Survey Data
Reg No
50130228
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Previous Name
St. Brendan's Church
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church hall/parish hall
Date
1860 - 1865
Coordinates
319770, 239071
Date Recorded
06/06/2018
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding T-plan former Catholic church, built 1864, comprising three-bay nave with porch to west end, single-bay transepts, later slightly recessed side aisles, and later slightly recessed porch to southwest re-entrant corner. Now in use as parish centre and offices. Pitched slate roofs to T-plan, with angled ridge tiles, leaded valleys and replacement aluminium rainwater goods; flat roofs to side aisles and to porch, with concealed gutters and cast-iron rainwater goods. Lined cement-rendered walls having concrete verges to gables surmounted by cross finials and to flat-roof parapets. Rose window to west gable, with raised mouldings and replacement light; side aisles have round-headed windows to long elevations and smaller triple windows to front ends, all with plain reveals, dressed-back render surrounds and chamfered sills, containing iron-framed windows with some replacement glazing and some panes of original leaded lattice windows. Square-headed doorway with plain reveals set in porch to re-entrant angle, with replacement glazed timber door; three intrusive square-headed openings to east elevation with replacement glazed timber French doors. Set in garden leading to St. Brendan's Church, with shared driveway to St. Brendan's Presbytery. Cement-rendered gate piers and cast-iron gates and railings.
Appraisal
Originally the parish church of the local Catholic community, St. Brendan's Parish Centre has been remodelled a number of times and has served as the parish and community centre since the 1970s. Its T-plan, window forms and gable finials still recall its earlier use, as does its prominent position on the main street in Coolock. The building is a reminder of the antiquity of the Catholic parish, which was one of few operating during the penal times. It contributes to the architectural and social history of the Coolock area.