1930 – Church of the Four Masters, Friary, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

A twentieth century church with a Hiberno-Romanesque design including a round tower, Romanesque doorways and paired round-headed window openings. The interior has round-headed arches dividing the nave from the side aisles with Celtic interlacing carbing. Also includes Harry Clarke Studio stained glass windows. Said to have been based on the early medieval Romanesque church of St. Cronin’s in Roscrea.

According to The Builder, May 2 1917 “A large new church is to be erected at Athloue for the Franciscan Order. The cost will be about £20,000, and it will be dedicated to ‘The Four Mastars’. The church will be in the Hiberno-Romanesque style, and from the designs of Mr. T.J. Cullen, anchitect, Dublin.”

Photograph courtesy, and copyright of Keith J. Allen.