The Honan Chapel in Cork has won a conservation award for its recent €1.2 million restoration. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings gave the chapel its John Betjeman Award for Ireland, which recognises excellence in the repair of places of worship.
The restoration project, devised by Peter Murphy of FMP Architects, incorporated structural repairs to the building’s fabric as well as specialist work on its mosaic floor and stained-glass windows – including 11 Harry Clarke windows.
Rachel Morley, director of the Friends of Friendless Churches, was among the judges of the awards for Ireland. She said the panel had “not to be beguiled by the inherent beauty [of the entries] but to focus on the philosophy and the skill of the repair”.
She presented the award at the SPAB Heritage Awards ceremony at Conway Hall in London on 3 November.
The Catholic chapel in the campus of University College, Cork was consecrated in 1916 as the Collegiate Chapel of St Finbarr, and remains part of the university’s chaplaincy. Built in the Hiberno-Romanesque style, it is regarded as one of the finest products of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement, and along with its fittings and liturgical collection possesses a rare unity of artistic style.
The chapel's restored high altar.
(All pictures FMP Architects)
Isabella Honan, the chapel’s benefactor, insisted that every aspect of the building should be made to the highest standard with local materials. The building and its fittings combine Art Nouveau elements with the period's growing enthusiasm for Celtic design.
It had not, however, undergone any significant conservation for 40 years. FMP Architects reported “worrying signs of decay”, with damp ingress visible inside and damage to the pointing, roof and gutters.
Water damage to the interior of the Honan Chapel.
Clarke’s windows, created between 1915 and 1917, are central to his reputation as Ireland’s greatest stained-glass artist. Eight other windows came from the An Túr Gloine studio.
They were restored to their original condition by Aria Stained Glass, and their storm glazing was replaced to provide better ventilation and storm-proofing.
The chapel’s mosaic floor, portraying signs of the Zodiac and a “River of Life” motif rich with Celtic symbolism, has been cleaned and repaired, and the interior cleaned and repainted.
Damage to the chapel's mosaic floor.
The River of Life aisle mosaic.
The project also repointed the Ballintemple limestone walls, where pointing was breaking down, and repaired the lead work on the parapets which had allowed water ingress and “streaking” along the exterior walls.
It also replaced damaged gutters and inappropriate newer wall grilles.
Water damage to the exterior of the chapel.
The restored exterior.
The FMP Architects project was also recognised at the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland awards in June, where it won prizes for adaption and re-use and for its awareness of climate change. The judges said the restoration was a “testament to the wealth of exceptional craftsmanship and conservation skills that can be found in Ireland today”.
The chapel is a popular wedding venue, especially for UCC students – the Munster and Ireland rugby player Ronan O'Gara was married there in 2006. It is owned and run by a charitable trust, which depends on donations and wedding fees to continue the chapel’s apostolate.
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