Saint Brigid's Catholic Church

Saint Brigid’s Catholic Church is a fine and imposing building that appears to retain most of its original form and character. Composed on a simple plan, and with elevations of austere detailing, the church is an attractive example of the restrained use of the Gothic Revival style. The church is of social interest as the ecclesiastical centre for the Catholic population in the locality and, having been built through a system of voluntary contribution amongst the parish, the church can be considered an historic artefact, representing the emerging confidence of the Catholic population following Emancipation earlier in the century. The construction of the church in fine materials attests to this emerging confidence, and the stone work in particular represents the high quality of stone masonry traditionally practised in the locality. This is especially evident in the cut-stone detailing that has retained a crisp intricacy, for example the traceried window opening to the chancel to east incorporating trefoil and quatrefoil motifs in an attractive arrangement. The exterior of the church retains most of its original features and materials, including fittings to the openings, and slate roofs having cast-iron rainwater goods, while the interior is similarly preserved. The stained glass fittings to the interior are of some artistic merit, while the open construction to the roof is of technical or engineering interest. The church is attractively set in its own grounds, the flat quality of which serve to emphasise the monumentality of the design. Complementing the church is the gateway to south-west, the piers of which again attest to a high quality of stone masonry, while the gates are good examples of early surviving cast-iron work and are of considerable artistic value. Saint Brigid’s Catholic Church is an important component of the architectural heritage of Clogharinka, and can be considered one of a pair with Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Garrisker, its sister church – the church at Clogharinka is distinguished by the fine, soaring tower to west that serves to articulate the skyline, while identifying the building in the locality.