St.Sinian's Church
A cursory look at the early village maps clearly show the existence of a Church overlooking the Green in pre 19th century. St.Sinian’s always occupied this dominant position. St.Sinian’s was a replacement for the church at Clonfad. It underwent major renovations during the remodelling of the village green’s architecture under the stewardship of Jane the Countess of Belvedere. It was extended in 1823 and the Countess had a steeple added. The steeple is a needle spire with battlements at either side. The beautifully carved door adds enormously to the churches’ visual appearance. The railings and steps give the church an elevation above the surrounding buildings. It is a fine example of a First Fruits type of church. Battlements and tracery in the windows also add enormously to the elegance of the church exterior.
The interior is enormously attractive and its overall simplicity is complimented by the interesting memorial monuments on both walls. The outstanding Memorial monument to George Augustus 2nd earl of Belvedere is quite outstanding. It was commissioned by Jane to commemorate her husband and was sculpted by John Bacon jnr., a renowned English architect who has works in churches and cathedrals in England.
The Methodist Chapel
The Methodist or Wesleyan Chapel was constructed in 1814, a short distance west of the Village Green. Like all Wesleyan Chapels it has a very simple unadorned exterior. Village maps show that it had a formal courtyard entrance which now acts as a parking space behind the façade of the Midland Motor Works. A plaque on the east wall reads:
The gift of Jane, Countess of Belvedere to the Methodist Society of Tyrrellspass. Of Thyne own Lord have I given unto Thee. Erected A.D. 1814 John Wesley was a frequent visitor to the village. He died before the church was erected so did not preach here, but possibly in an earlier meeting house.
Directly opposite the Methodist site is the home of James Daly, who served in the Connaught Rangers in India. He was executed by firing squad in 1920 because of his involvement in a mutiny, when members of the regiment refused to obey orders and surrendered their arms on hearing of the atrocities committed by the Black and Tans in Ireland. James’ body was eventually repatriated and reinterred in the local Catholic Cemetery close to the St. Steven’s Catholic Church across from Tyrrellspass Castle. The Imogen Stuart sculpture on the Green commemorates James and all who fought and died for Irish freedom at home and abroad.
Methodist Meeting House where John Wesley is alleged to have preached.
