ST PAUL’S CHURCH on Arran Quay in Dublin, one of the real landmarks of the Liffey quays, will be hosting a special event at 7.30pm on October 24th when its set of six “joy bells” will be rung by bell-ringers from St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The bells will peal to open a symposium focusing on significant buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries in the city centre and the problems many of these buildings face, with Prof Kevin B Nowlan kicking it off.
Brendan Grimes, author of a book on the church architecture of Patrick Byrne, will talk about his legacy which includes not only St Paul’s, but also St Audeon’s and the churches at Merchants Quay, Rathmines, Rathgar and St John the Baptist, Blackrock.
Historian Michael Fewer will focus on the bombardment of the GPO in 1916, the burning of the Custom House in 1920, and the shelling of the Four Courts during the Civil War – all of the three buildings were rebuilt by 1930 by the fledgling and penurious Free State.
Frank McDonald, Environment Editor of this newspaper, will give a talk about the future of Bank of Ireland, formerly the Parliament House, at College Green, and the need to repopulate the southside Georgian squares.
Organised by former lord mayor Alexis FitzGerald on behalf of the Friends of St Paul’s, the event is free, with pews available on a first-come, first-served basis.
