George Ashlin

George Coppinger Ashlin (1837 – 1921) was an Irish architect, particularly noted for his work on churches and cathedrals.

Early life

Ashlin was born on 28 May 1837, in a house named “Carrigrenane” in Little Island, Co Cork. He received his early education at the Collège de St Servais, Liège. While at St Mary's College, Oscott (1851–5), with which Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was strongly associated, he studied drawing and perspective and developed an interest in architecture. Between 1856 and 1860 he was articled to .

Career

When in 1859 E.W. Pugin received the commission for SS Peter and Paul, Cork, he made Ashlin a partner with responsibility for their Irish work, a position he retained until about 1870. Their practice was primarily ecclesiastical, the remodelling (1869) of Enniscorthy Castle for Isaac Newton Wallop (1825–91), 5th Earl of Portsmouth, being one of their few domestic projects.

They worked on some 25 religious buildings. The Augustinian church of St. Augustine and St. John, Thomas Street, Dublin (commissioned 1860, opened (1874), in a style inspired by French architecture, is one of their most successful designs. The site drops towards the river, so that while the entrance is at street level the nave and chancel are raised considerably above the surrounding streets, a dramatic effect enhanced by the soaring spire.

Their churches in the countryside, mainly in counties Wexford, Cork and County Kerry, are simpler, with straightforward Latin-cross plans, good quality stonework and simple bellcotes. The church at Lady’s Island, Co. Wexford adjoins the parish of Tagoat, the church of which was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin in 1846.

By far the most important commission undertaken in Ireland by Pugin and Ashlin was the building of Cobh Cathedral (1869-1919) which was realization of the ideal gothic church advocated by Adolphe Napoleon Didron in his "Annales Archéologique".

The partnership broke up in 1870 and Ashlin practised on his own. During this time he designed a number of churches, including St. Mary Magdalen’s Dominican Church in Drogheda.

Work

*Adelaide Memorial Church, Myshall,

*SS Peter and Paul’s, Cork [http://www.mkschubert.de/eire/leisure2pic1.jpg]
*Holy Trinity, Cork [http://www.bluedolphin.ie/images/capuchin.jpg]
*St. Finbar’s West, Cork
*Good Shepherd Convent, Cork
*Clonmeen, Banteer,
*Loreto and Presentations Convents, Fermoy
*AIB Midleton,
*Convent of Mercy, Skibbereen,
*St. Mary of the Angels, Dublin,
*Convent School, Portland Row, Dublin
*Carmelite Church, Aungier St. Dublin
*28 Fitzwilliam Pl., Dublin
*St. Audoen’s, Dublin
*SS Augustine and John, Dublin
*7, Westmoreland St., Dublin,
*Belcamp Hall,
*Castleknock College [http://www.iol.ie/~svc/images/main.jpg]
*Dominican Convent, Cabra
*St. Anne’s Clontarf
*All Hallow’s, Drumcondra,
*Redemptoristine Convent Drumcondra
*St. Patrick’s Training College
*Glasnevin Cemetery
*St. Joseph’s Phibsborough
*Mental Hospital, Portrane
*C of I Raheny
*Blackrock College, Dublin
*Mount Anville
*St. George’s Killiney
*Dominican Monastery, Tallaght
*Tulira Castle
*Ashford Castle [http://www.kingsanglingholidays.co.uk/images_hotel/ASHFORD%20CASTLE-VWD.jpg]
*Clongowes Woods
*St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
*St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny
*Presentation Church Limerick
*Redemptorist Church, Dundalk
*Netterville Almshouses
*Convent of Mercy Birr
*Rockwell College, Cashel
*Mooresfort
*Convent of Mercy, Tipperary
*Clonyn Castle,
*Greville Nugent Mausoleum

Catholic Cathedrals

*St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh Catholic
*Cobh Cathedral
*Skibbereen Cathedral
*Newry Cathedral [http://www.dromorediocese.org/images/cathedral.jpg]
*Killarney Cathedral
*Derry Cathedral [http://www.simonknott.co.uk/northcathsderryrc2.jpg]
*Longford Cathedral, St. Mel's. [http://www.longford.ie/community/groupimages/longfordtourism/catheral1.jpg]
*Thurles Cathedral

Catholic churches

*Kileavey Catholic Church
*Kilrush Catholic Church
*St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
*Ballyhooly Catholic Church
*Fermoy Catholic Church
*Mallow Catholic Church
*Midleton Catholic Church
*Clonakilty Catholic ChurchIt is said to be one of the most successful examples of Mr. Ashlin's skill as a Church architect. It is of pure Gothic of the early French style, and consists of a nave, aisles, transepts, two chapels and a baptistery.
*Monkstown Catholic Church
*Carrick Catholic Church
*Balbriggan Catholic Church
*Rush Catholic Church
*Ballybrack Catholic Church
*Dundrum Catholic Church
*Inchicore Catholic Church
*Rathfarnam Catholic Church
*Brosna Catholic Church
*Cahirciveen Catholic Church
*Tralee Catholic Church
*Ballingarry Catholic Church
*Kilfinane Catholic Church
*Kilmallock Catholic Church
*Edgeworthstown Catholic Church
*Dundalk Catholic Church
*Carrig-on-Suir Catholic Church
*Emly Catholic Church
*SS Peter and Paul’s Clonmel
*Lattin Catholic Church
*Nenagh Catholic Church Verify source|date=July 2007
*Templemore Catholic Church
*TempletouhyCatholic Church
*Clonlea Catholic Church
*Devlin Catholic Church
*Balloughter Catholic Church
*Ballymurn Catholic Church
*Newry Dominican Church
*Tralee Dominican Church
*Drogheda Dominican Church
*Dundalk Dominican Church
*Attrib.
*Mausoleum Monivea
*Bishop’s Palace Killarney
*Costello Chapel
*Rathangan

Notes