Saint Patrick's Catholic Church

Freestanding seven-bay double-height Catholic church, dated 1842 and modified 1860 and 1891, having two-storey over basement sacristy to the centre of the south elevation (1842), single-bay canted chancel apse to the east end (1860), single-bay single-storey canted entrance porch to the west gable end, and having three-stage tower (on square-plan) to the centre of the north elevation having broached ashlar spire over (on octagonal-plan) having wrought-iron cross finial. Single-bay gable-fronted entrance porch attached to the north-east (north elevation, second bay to the west from tower). Three-bay single-storey extension, c. 1980, attached to the south-east corner (to east of sacristy on the south elevation). Pitched natural slate roof to main body of building having raised ashlar coping verges to gable ends (east and west) having carved stone Celtic cross finials to gable apexes and raised ashlar plinths over eaves, and with moulded cut stone eaves courses to side elevations (north and south), running across tower as stringcourse at base of third stage. Pitched natural slate roof to sacristy having raised cut stone verge/coping to south gable end with rasied ashlar plinths over eaves; ashlar chimneystack to gable apex. Hipped natural slate roofs to canted apse to the east and to canted entrance porch to the west; corbelled cut stone eaves course to apse. Pitched natural slate roof to gable-fronted entrance porch to the north elevation having raised cut stone coping to north gable end having cross finial to gable apex and cut stone kneeler stone at eaves level. Coursed squared rubble stone walls having chamfered cut stone plinth course, flush ashlar quoins to corners and with cut stone sill course to main body of building at clerestory level. Stepped diagonal corner ashlar buttresses to corner of main body of building and to tower. Cut stone corbelled stringcourse above clerestory window openings to north elevation. Statue of St. Patrick to gable end of sacristy at second floor level. Segmental-headed window openings to main body of building at ground floor level to south and north elevations having chamfered cut stone surrounds and cut stone sills and with stained glass windows; tall round-headed window openings over at clerestory level having chamfered cut stone surrounds, stained glass and having paired round windows with timber tracery having occuli detail to head. Round-headed openings to west gable end having chamfered cut stone surrounds; circular/ocular window opening with chamfered surround at clerestory level. Round-headed window openings with chamfered cut stone surrounds to the east gable end and to apse. Round-headed window openings to sacristy. Round-headed window openings to first stage of tower, segmental-headed openings over with timber tracery and leaded glass windows. Paired round-headed openings to tower at belfry/third stage level having timber louvers; pointed-arch openings to spire having timber louvers and with hoodmouldings over with decorative label-stops. Round-headed doorways to the north face of canted porch (west), to east elevation of gabled porch to the north, and to the north face of tower, having chamfered cut stone surrounds, timber double-doors and leaded overlights. Cut stone date plaque over doorway to tower inscribed ‘Dan Campbell, Builder, 1842’. Interesting interior with timber open queen post roof with timber tracery, extensive classical-style stucco panelling and moulding, engaged composition columns to chancel arch (separating apse and side chapels), Ionic pediments and aedicules to central bay of side elevations (north and south), and with timber gallery (now infilled below) to the west end supported on cast-iron columns. Set slightly back from road in an elevated site to the north of Ballyshannon town centre. Bounded on street-frontage to the north by low rendered boundary wall having chamfered coping and iron railings over. Carpark to the south. Modern grotto to south-west flanked by sections of modern walling. Celtic cross style stone memorials to the south-west of church.