The Oratory, Dun Laoghaire

On Saturday I finally got to visit The Oratory in Dun Laoghaire. I had heard lots about it and was spurred on to visit by the launch of a new publication about the Oratory.  "Divine Illuminations" is edited by Marian Therese Keyes, Nigel Curtin and David Gunning of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries. 

Click here to see a video from the 1970's when the Oratory was under threat of being taken down.

Luckily it has been preserved and is available for all to enjoy. It's a very special place and I hope you get to visit. I plan on visiting it again soon as it is the type of place that you will notice different things on every visit.

I have seen it described as entering a 3D Book of Kells and I think that is very apt. The Oratory is covered in celtic art that is very unique.

Here is some of the pictures I took when I visited and they include some of the stained glass windows that were made in the studio of Harry Clarke.

This place is remarkable. It is tiny but packs a punch with the amazing artwork by Sister Concepta Lynch who painted the whole Oratory throughout the 1920's and 1930's.

Click here to read reviews of the Oratory on Tripadvisor 

I found the Oratory to be very unique and something very unexpected in the middle of houses in Dun Laoghaire behind the cinema.  Go seek it out - it's worth seeing!

Sr. Concepta herself seems like an amazing lady. Prior to being a nun she ran the family business which she sold at age 22 and then funded a marble altar with the money - this altar is seemingly now in the Cabra Domincan Convent - which happens to be my alma mater!  I need to investigate this further and see if I can get pictures of the altar which I am thinking might be the altar in our school chapel.

The artwork is hard to describe and really has to be seen - it's whimsical but elegant and the use of colour is breath taking.

All I can say is go visit!!!