Catholic Church of the Four Masters — Main Street

Freestanding Catholic church on complex-plan, built between 1930/1 – 35, having gable-fronted entrance elevation, side aisles (gable-fronted to the south of the entrance gable), double gable-fronted transepts to the side elevations (north and south), projecting gable-fronted porch projections to the north and south side elevations (between transepts), three-bay single-storey sacristy to the north-east corner having stepped parapet hiding flat roof, and with offset slightly battered/tapered five-stage ‘round tower’ belfry with feathered conical stone roof attached to the north-west corner. Steeply pitched natural slate roofs with slightly overhanging eaves, copper flashings, cast-iron rainwater goods, and with cut stone ‘Celtic cross’-style finials to the entrance gable (west), to chancel (east) and to the gable ends of transepts to the north and south. Squared snecked/coursed granite chimneystack to gable end of aisle to the north at the east end. Wrought-iron cross finial over round tower. Squared coursed/snecked and mildly rock-faced granite walls, battered to base, with rock-faced squared granite quoins to the corners. Triangular arched window openings to gable ends of side aisles, to side aisles, and over doorways to entrance porches to the south and west elevations having flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds and leaded stained glass windows. Three graded triangular-arched openings to transept gables having flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds and leaded stained glass windows. Round/rose window openings to the entrance gable (west) having staged ashlar sandstone surround with Romanesque chevron motifs, and having stained glass window with Celtic cross motif; round window opening to chancel gable (east) having plain ashlar sandstone surround and stained glass window. Tapered square-headed openings to round tower having flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds; square-headed openings at belfry level having flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds. Square-headed openings/vents to gable apexes. Paired and triple-light square-headed window openings to sacristy having flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds with mullions and having leaded glass. Round-headed Hiberno-Romanesque doorway to the west gable end of nave having triple staged ashlar sandstone surround/reveals with engaged colonnettes, carved chevron motifs to head/hood, and with timber double doors with wrought-iron hinges having Celtic interlacing motifs. Round-headed Romanesque doorways to the porches to the north and south elevations having double staged ashlar sandstone surround/reveals with engaged colonnettes, carved chevron motifs to head/hood, and with timber double doors with wrought-iron hinges having Celtic interlacing motifs. Square-headed doorway to the west elevation of sacristy having replacement timber door and ashlar sandstone block-and-start surround. Groin and barrel-vaulted ceilings, colonnettes with cushion capitals, Romanesque arches with plaster decorative detailing including chevrons, gallery over entrance gable, mosaic and tile flooring, and marble altar goods. Set back from road in elevated grounds to the east of Donegal Town centre. Bounded on road-frontage to the north and west by rubble stone boundary walls. Main gateway to the west of site comprising a pair of coursed squared granite gate piers (on square-plan) having tapering heads, and with modern metal gates. Subsidiary gateway to the east having pair of coursed squared granite gate piers (on square-plan) having tapering heads.