RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - Offaly County Council

Policy 4d: Stained Glass Window6.0 CONSERVATION POLICIESThe small stained glass window set into the fifteenth century single light ogee headed window in the north side ofthe nave is in a poor state of repair. This attractive window, depicting an image of St Carthage, contains a crudelyexecuted and inexpert repair to an area of the window damaged in the past.As the original painting contained in the surviving parts of the window is of a high standard, it would be appropriateto instigate a programme of restoration to be carried out by an experienced stained glass conservator skilled inglass painting. A good colour photograph survives of the window prior to the damage, and from this the missingsection can be copied accurately to match the original artwork. As this window is an integral part of the important1912 refurnishing and restoration of the church by William Edward Martin, this work should be undertaken in theshort, rather than the medium term.Policy 4e: Damp PenetrationPlates 58-59. Stained glass window before and after restoration work.Image on the left (De Breffny and Mott 1976) depicts St Carthage withhis right hand holding the crozier, while the image on the right showsrestoration work with the right hand missing.There is a serious long-term problem with dampness along the south side of the nave. This is due to the highexternal ground level that has risen significantly as a result of burials over the years. Lowering of this groundlevel is not appropriate due to the burials directly beneath the top soil. Low brick walls were constructed at sometime during the past, possibly in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, to form a cavity between the damp outerwall and the inner leaf, which was subsequently hidden behind a timber panelled wainscot. This system appearsto work reasonably well, although the timber wainscot on the south side no longer survives. Careful attentionto detail will be necessary when reinstating this joinery element to isolate it from the inner wall and to allowventilation for the passage of moist air in the cavity.Policy 4f: FurnishingsMost of the simple and well detailed joinery furnishings installed by William Edward Martin in the 1912 restorationsurvive, apart from the wainscot to the south wall. This should be reinstated to match the similar detail on thewainscot and vestry that survives on the north side of the church. The timber parquet floor also requires isolatedrepairs in a number of areas. These should be carried out using hardwood blocks to match the existing floor.65