St. Brendan's Church, Birr, Co. Offaly

Formerly known as Parsonstown, the town of Birr is one of Ireland's Georgian gems. The town's great benefactors were the earls of Rosse; the Parsons family, whose home was at Birr Castle. The town expanded considerably from the mid-eighteenth century, and was enhanced by the erection of a series of Georgian style houses and malls. The town's aesthetics continued to be improved in the early 1800s, but by now the popularity of Georgian classicism had been superseded. By this time Gothic was beginning to emerge as the the more popular style, and was chosen for the new Protestant church in the town erected in 1815. 

The view from the west shows the cut stone front and the pinnacled, five stage tower. 

The new Gothic church was situated on Oxmanstown Mall. The mall was erected in the early 1800s as a promenade leading to the castle, and was flanked by a series of Georgian town houses. The new church was named after Brendan of Birr, a sixth century local abbot. In popular tradition Brendan is remembered as one of the 'Twelve Apostles of Ireland'; a group of monastic saints who are said to have studied under St. Finian at the great monastery of Clonard. The monastery Brendan founded at Birr is famed for one of the early Irish  Church's artistic treasures: the Gospel Book of MecRegol, now housed in the Bodleain Museum, Oxford. 

The architect, John Johnson designed this grand five bay church in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The chancel, seen here on the extreme right, was a later addition, added by the well-known architect, Sir Thomas Drew in 1876.  

Looking down the nave one's eyes are drawn towards the great east window. A gift from the fourth earl of Rosse, it was added in 1891, complete with intricate stone tracery in the perpendicular style. The slender columns which rise towards a ribbed vaulted ceiling, are flanked on either side by galleries.