Michael Kirwan Marble Mason

Emma willis visits an irish church decorated by a marble mason her four times great grandfather michael kirwan sr.

Michael kirwan marble mason. You did find a very good man in your family tree in the form of your four times great grandfather michael kirwan who was a social campaigner and a marble mason. I never expected to be able to see and touch something that was made by the hands of my ancestors. Kirwan michael c born. What was it like seeing a church altar he made.

Michael kirwan sr was a stonecutter and marble mason whose altar for the franciscan church in henry street limerick was described in the catholic directory of 1848 as one of the most splendid pieces of irish manufacture. His altar for the franciscan church in henry street limerick was described in the catholic directory for 1848 as one of the most splendid. Michael kirwan s father also named michael kirwan had the occupation of marble mason. Overwhelmed when she sees her four times great grandfather s fine work she learns that this was a very new kind of work for an irish catholic craftsman as they were not.

Stone statuary and marble yards marble works marble chimney piece manufacturers. Exploring michael s branch of the family she finds out that his father also michael kirwan was a marble mason who created an altar in the franciscan church in limerick. Kirwan it is also discovered was a highly regarded marble mason and the first to create altars in catholic churches in ireland after a series of reforms allowing for catholics to openly worship. Michael kirwan was a catholic while harriet fowler was a protestant.

In pettigrew oulton s dublin almanac for 1847 he appears in partnership with andrew kirwan.