Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception — TOBERCLARE

Detached Roman Catholic chapel on cruciform plan, built c.1830 and altered c.1860, comprising three-bay nave to the north, two-bay transepts to the west and the east and a shallow chancel to the south. Gable-fronted entrance porches to the ends of south-facing elevations of transepts and to the north end of east side of nave (built c.1960). Freestanding three-stage belfry, on square-plan, having belfry on octagonal plan and slated roof over added to entrance front (south), c.1860. Single-storey extension to the north. Pitched natural slate roofs with raised cut stone verges and cut stone kneeler stones to gable ends, terracotta ridge comb tiles and cut stone Celtic crosses finials to roof apexes at gable ends. Ruled-and-line rendered walls to main body of church with clasping corner buttresses. Belfry constructed of rubble limestone with extensive cut limestone trim including clasping corner buttresses and dressings to the openings. Pointed-arched and lancet window openings with rendered hoodmouldings over, block-and-start rendered surrounds, cut stone sills and (mostly) having stained glass windows. Paired lancet openings to south faces of entrance porches to south faces of transepts. Pointed-arched openings to freestanding belfry having timber louvered vents. Pointed segmental-headed door openings to east and west sides of transept porches having rendered hoodmouldings over, block-and-start surrounds and timber sheeted doors. Pointed-arched opening with dressed limestone surround and a cut stone hoodmoulding over to the south face of freestanding belfry. Set back from road in own grounds to the east side of Toberclare/Tubberclare with graveyard to the north and to the east. Bounded on road frontage (south) by a low plinth wall with cut stone coping and cast-iron railings over. Main entrance gates to south, comprising a pair of dressed limestone gate piers (on square-plan) supporting cast-iron double gates.