St. Marys Chapel of Ease, Dublin

St. Marys Chapel of Ease is a Gothic Revival church in Broadstone, Dublin, built from local limestone that darkens when exposed to the elements. The interior features curved walls that slope toward the ceiling to form a large parabolic vault rather than traditional rectangular space.

The chapel opened in 1830 on land provided by Viscount Mountjoy and served as an additional place of worship for people living far from St. Marys on Mary Street. This expansion arose from the need to serve Dublin's growing population with more worship space closer to residential areas.

The chapel appears in James Joyce's novel Ulysses, linking Dublin's religious spaces to the city's modern literary heritage. This literary connection draws readers and literature enthusiasts interested in Joyce's depictions of the city.

The building is no longer active as a church and has been modernized for other uses, so visitors should check in advance whether the interior is accessible. The location in Broadstone allows visitors to view and photograph the architecture from the street.

The interior features an unusual parabolic vault design where walls curve smoothly toward the ceiling instead of following straight lines. This architectural approach is uncommon in Irish churches and gives the building a distinctive spatial quality.

Location: Dublin

Location: County Dublin

Architects: John Semple

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 53.35473,-6.26829

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:08