Archive for St Patrick’s House

Naomh Pádraig – Séamus Murphy

Posted in Art, Maynooth with tags , , , on March 23, 2026 by telescoper

I’ve walked past this imposing head of St Patrick countless times since I arrived in Maynooth, seven and a half years ago, but it was only last week that I found out a bit about it.

The statue is called Naomh Patrick (Saint Patrick) and it was created by Irish sculptor Séamus Murphy. It is on public view in St Patrick’s House, Maynooth, just inside the main entrance. It is made of polished limestone and was first unveiled in 1949. Here is an old newspaper article in which the photograph on the right shows the artist beside the sculpture…

(The picture on the left seems to show the artist, on the far left, dozing off during a speech…)

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A Winter’s Day in Maynooth

Posted in Biographical, Maynooth with tags , , , on December 9, 2022 by telescoper

It was -4°C outside my house at about 8.30am when I was getting ready to come to work this morning. There was a light dusting of snow which had frozen overnight so the paths were a bit treacherous. I took a few pictures of Maynooth on the way in. It may have been cold and misty but it was rather atmospheric.

Tháinig sneachta an gheimhridh go luath i mbliana.

Frozen Harbour and Royal Canal
St Patrick’s House from St Joseph’s Square
New House from St Joseph’s Square
Stoyte House from St Joseph’s Square

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Lunch with Pugin

Posted in Architecture, Maynooth with tags , , , on February 9, 2018 by telescoper

I usually have a sandwich lunch when I’m in Maynooth because I’m quite busy, but it’s rather cold (though bright) today so I decided to get myself a hot lunch at Pugin Hall, which is situated in St Patrick’s House on the South Campus of Maynooth University. I stayed in St Patrick’s House briefly before Christmas, and had my breakfasts in Pugin Hall. It’s a nice place to have an expensive but filling meal. It was particularly cosy today because of the sunlight streaming in through the windows:

The hall is named, of course, in honour of architect Augustus Pugin. He didn’t design St Patrick’s House itself – construction of that building started before he was born – but did lay out the quadrangles elsewhere that make up much of the South Campus.

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