Saint Mary's

Detached five-bay two-storey monastery, built 1894, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay full-height gabled breakfront; two-bay full-height side elevations. Sold, 1993. Now disused. Pitched slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on pitched (gabled) slate roof (breakfront) with perforated crested terracotta ridge tiles, yellow brick English Garden Wall bond chimney stacks on chamfered cushion courses on yellow brick English Garden Wall bond bases having stringcourses below thumbnail beaded-detailed capping supporting yellow terracotta pots, cut-granite "Cavetto" or stepped coping to gables on cut-granite "Cavetto" kneelers including cut-granite "Cavetto" or stepped coping to gable (breakfront) on cut-granite "Cavetto" kneelers with wrought iron Cross finial to apex, and cast-iron rainwater goods on yellow brick header bond thumbnail beaded-detailed cornice retaining cast-iron downpipes. Rendered, ruled and lined walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on rendered plinth with rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners. Segmental-headed central door opening approached by flight of five cut-granite steps, timber mullions on cut-granite padstones, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having bull nose-detailed reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing timber panelled door having sidelights on panelled risers below overlight. Camber- or segmental-headed window openings with cut-granite sills (ground floor) or cut-granite stepped sill course (first floor), and concealed dressings framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in landscaped grounds on an elevated site including terraces centred on flights of six moss-covered steps.

A monastery representing an important component of the late nineteenth-century built heritage of Enniscorthy with the architectural value of the composition, one eliciting comparisons with a contemporary monastery (1890-1) in New Ross (see 15705165) and thereby attributable to William Henry Byrne (1844-1917) of Dublin, confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking the River Slaney with its rolling backdrop; the compact plan form centred on a restrained doorcase; the silver-grey granite dressings demonstrating good quality workmanship; and the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with a private chapel defined by coupled lancets. A prolonged period of unoccupancy notwithstanding, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior where contemporary joinery; neo-medieval chimneypieces; and sleek plasterwork refinements, all highlight the artistic potential of a monastery making a pleasing visual statement overlooking Saint John's Road.