Kingstown Parish

Was Kingstown Parish always called that? No. It was once known as Dunleary, “the fort of Leary”. The parish we see today, a beacon of faith in the heart of Kingstown, traces its roots back to 1829. This was a time of great change, a mere week before Catholic Emancipation reshaped the landscape of Ireland. It was then that Canon Bartholomew Sheridan, a man with church building in his blood, established Kingstown Parish. The parish encompassed a vast area, stretching from Monkstown to Dalkey, Killiney, and even Glasthule. But the Kingstown Parish we know today wasn’t always destined to be. Canon Sheridan, inspired by his previous work in Dalkey, envisioned a replica church here. Sadly, he passed away before this dream could take shape. A new vision was needed, provided by Canon James Cavanagh and a pair of talented architects – George Coppinger Ashlin and the renowned Edward Welby Pugin. Pugin, son of the celebrated Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, carried a legacy of architectural brilliance. His father’s mark on the world, from the Houses of Parliament at Westminster to St. Patricks College in Maynooth, was undeniable. And Edward, along with his partner Ashlin, would leave his own mark on Kingstown. Their creation, a testament to the French Pointed style, would become the Kingstown Parish you stand before. On December 30th, 1863, the dream began to solidify. Michael Meade, a builder from Dublin, signed a contract to bring the architects’ vision to life. Imagine the hustle and bustle as the church took shape. Materials arrived from all corners of Ireland and beyond, a testament to the collaborative spirit of this grand project. Finally, on September 8th, 1866, Kingstown Parish stood ready. The Freeman’s Journal announced its dedication with great fanfare, a beacon of faith, a symbol of a community’s enduring spirit.