Page 18 - SISK NEWS JANUARY 2017

Honan is an icon of
craftsmanship

Below is an excerpt from the Cork Independent, 17 November 2016

The Honan Chapel is a national icon of Irish construction) for providing much-needed employment
craftsmanship. The erection of the chapel was to their members for close on two years and a much-
entrusted to the well-known building firm of needed stimulus to the stone cutting industry.
Messrs John Sisk and Son.
They noted their pride in the distinctive national style of
The opening of the Honan Chapel on 5 November architecture and its construction in Cork limestone and
1916 was marked by great speeches and insights into marble, which meant the circulation of a large sum of
the work involved in its construction, from the funders money in Cork at a time of difficult economic conditions.
to the craftsmen.
The Honan Chapel interior was painted in a simple
John Sisk set up his construction business in 1859 and white with grey tints by artificial colouring. The altar
by the early 20th Century had an impressive record of (pictured) was built of the same white limestone of
work around the province of Munster, building schools, which the rest of the fabric was built. The altar-plate,
hotels, banks and 30 churches. the vestments, altar coverings, everything down to
the seating accommodation is not only Irish in design,
An open letter on 30 May 1916 in the Cork Examiner but Irish in workmanship. As far as possible, local
by the members of the Cork branch of Stonecutters’ craftsmen were employed.
Union of Ireland, recorded their appreciation to
Sir John O’Connell (the driving force behind its

A section of the mosaic floor entitled River of Life

HUonnivaenrCsihtyapCeollliesgloecCaoterdk ioncIarteeladnaddjacent to the grounds of Honan Chapel’s distinctive altar

You can find more information about Honan Chapel and other historical projects in the Sisk Book, ‘Building a
Business’. On this particular project there is a whole section dedicated to its importance. It states ‘At a time when
the Irish language was being revived this was a truly Irish building, created by Irish people using local materials
(the walls, for instance, are in Cork limestone). The Honan Chapel was a welcome project in difficult times, as the
first World War was raging.

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