Sir, – It is good that Siobhan Corry should call attention to the sad state of the square on Dublin’s Kildare Street (Letters, December 5th).
It contains the only instance of a statue of a Protestant bishop in Dublin. The statue of Archbishop Lord Plunket is there because he founded the College of Education which used to occupy the southern and eastern corners of the square.
Recent chaplains were Dr G.O. Simms and the Rev Robert Ross. In the latter times, the college was demolished and reinstated at Rathmines Castle. I believe it has now been moved again to a room labelled “Church of Ireland” at DCU in Drumcondra. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT MacCARTHY,
(Formerly Dean of
St Patrick’s Cathedral,
Dublin), Dublin 8.
Sir, – Archbishop Plunket gazes gloomily over the sea of concrete in the small square off Kildare Street.
I can never pass him without recalling this anecdote. It is said that his predecessor, Archbishop Trench, paid him one visit following his appointment. The elderly Archbishop Trench, finding himself in his old palace, at his old dinner table sitting opposite his wife, became confused and forgot that he was no longer at home. He remarked to Mrs Trench, “I am afraid, my love, that we must put this cook down among our failures.” – Yours, etc,
ANNE DOHERTY,
Dublin 7.