Church of the Sacred Heart
The foundation stone of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Ballyoughter was laid on the 12th of March 1874 by the Administrator, Rev. Henry Williams, in the presence of Bishop Furlong who urged the parishioners to throw themselves generously into the work of building the new church. Seven months later, on 11th October 1876, it was dedicated to the Sacred Heart. On the occasion, the sermon was given by the Rev. John Lambert Furlong, Administrator of Enniscorthy.
The Church is a handsome stone building of Gothic design with a small campanile surmounting the entrance gable. The architect was George Ashlin, pupil and son-in-law of Agustus Welby Pugin. The ‘Irish Builder’ for 15th June 1874 gave a detailed description of the new church:
‘The internal dimensions are 70 feet by 30 feet, chancel, 20 feet by sixteen feet. The roof is open sheeted, with arched principals. The walling is of local brownestone, with dressings of a white sandstone obtained from a quarry in the neighbourhood.’
In 1976, in the curacy of Fr. John Nolan, the church was renovated, a new altar, doors and windows being installed and a new floor laid. It was rededicated on Thursday 19th of August, that year.
Check out further details of this historic building (Reg No: 15701127) on the ‘National Inventory of Architectural Heritage’ website.
North Wexford Historical Society has recorded the headstones in 14 graveyards in North Wexford. Check out the Ballyoughter headstones.
Architect - George Ashlin
George Ashlin was born in Ireland on 28th May 1837 at Little Island, County Cork. He was educated at the College de St Servais, Liege. He then attended St Mary’s College, Oscott, from 1851 to 1855, where he studied drawing and perspective. This led to an interest in Architecture, and he became a pupil of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin from 1856 to 1860, entering the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1858.
Pugin is best remembered for his part in the revival of Gothic architecture in England and was responsible for designing the interior of Westminster Palace and the ‘Big Ben’ clock tower.
Ashlin became a partner to Pugin in 1860 and he took responsibility for work in Ireland, setting up the ‘Pugin and Ashlin’ office at St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Their first commissioned work was Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Cork. Ashlin was responsible for the building of up to 50 churches in Ireland, including the Church of the Sacred Heart in Ballyoughter.
Ashlin married Pugin’s daughter, Mary, in 1867 with whom he had one daughter. He split from Pugin in 1870 but continued to work on his own as an Architect while living in Dublin. He served as President of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland from 1902 to 1904. George Ashlin died on the 10th of December 1921, aged 84, and is buried in Glasnevin.
Read more about George Ashlin on the Irish Architectural Archive.