The Works of William Hague (1836-1899)
Lady luck occasionally smiles even on me, and I have been
fortunate enough to learn of the existence of further works carried out by the architect,
of which I was previously unaware. In the spirit of my scholarly generosity I have
included this information in the list below.
Hague was born in Cavan town in January 1836. His father (also
called William) was a self-made man, rising from humble origins to become one of Cavan
town's richest businessmen. William jr. trained as an architect in Dublin and in 1862 he
opened an office in Great Brunswick St., (now Pearse St.) Dublin was to remain the
location of his architectural practice for the rest of his life, and by the time of his
death in March 1899 he was one of Ireland's best-known architects, specialising in church
design.
As an architect he was perhaps one of the best proponents of the
'Gothic Revival' in architecture. The influence of the
writings of John Ruskin, and the work of his professional mentor J.J. McCarthy can be seen
in much of his work. Indeed Hague was commissioned to complete a number of works left
unfinished by McCarthy at his death in 1882.
I used to think of Hague's work as cold and utilitarian, an
embodiment in stone of a pernicious cocktail of late nineteenth-century Catholic
triumphalism and 'Victorian values'. But when I stopped looking (blindly I might say) at
these buildings solely as a historian, and began to appreciate their aesthetic, I
discovered works of great beauty, warmth and vitality. I also uncovered a playfulness on
the architect's part, a willingness to be mischievous and to incorporate the unusual and
the unexpected.
I was asked in a recent television interview what drew me to
Hague, and why did I consider him important. I could answer both questions at the same
time: his fame rests on his creativity - he didn't kill anyone. Perhaps he'd be better
known if he had, and his 'works' better preserved..
Hague's work can be found in over twenty counties (and a list is
appended below). I hope eventually to expand this list into a complete photographic
database with links, where available (thankfully most are still in use, in one form or
another). There has been a lot of talk recently about our heritage and the need to
preserve it, yet some of the finest examples of our heritage are taken for granted. Future
generations will judge us harshly if we allow any further examples of his work to fall
victim to the invidious version of progress that, while disowned throughout Europe, seems
eager to raise its ugly head here.
There are always flies in the ointment of anything in Co. Cavan. There is one family in Butlersbridge who claim to be descendants of the architect. Their ancestor was born in 1867, and I very much doubt that he was a 'by child' of the architect. I can't recall what his name was, or indeed that of his fatber, but neither was William. Now there is every possibility that the family are related to ancestors of the architect, probably through his uncle James, but descendants they are not. Sadly, I am not a very popular person amongst some in the village of Butlersbride, but people must understand that, as a historian, I cannot repeat what I believe to be untrue.
I am indebted to the work of F.T. Harron, especially the list published in Breifne (1996), and also to the Irish Architectural Archive, Merrion Square, Dublin 2, for much of the following list. I am also indebted to Fr Gerard Alwill for allowing me to use some of the photographs from his Diocese of KIlmore site.
This list is probably not complete, and I would be greatly indebted to anyone who knows of any of Hague's work not included here to get in touch with me.
The Copyright of the following text belongs to Dr Ciaran Parker.
Armagh
Gates, lodge, vestry, Celtic cross to Archbishop McGettigan, rood screen behind the high altar, sacristy and Synod Hall, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh (1884-6, 1891, 1894, 1899)
Parochial house and Catholic Church, Cullyhanna (1890-1903, finished by T.F. McNamara)
Carlow
Alterations to Minnockstown House (1861)
New wing, St Patrick’s College, Carlow (1879)
Extension to Carlow Town Hall (1881)
Catholic Church, Rathoe (1885-9)
Sacred Heart Chapel, Carlow College (1883-7)
Catholic Church, Rathvilly (1898) ?
Convent of the Assumption School, Carlow (1899)
Cavan
(attrib.) St John's Cloverhill (1856)
Although this church is attributed locally to Hague, I agree with Jeremy Williams
that it is more likely to be the work of Joseph Welland (J. Williams, Architecture in
Ireland1837-1921 46.)
Methodist Chapel, Farnham St., Cavan (1859), now Abbeyset Printers Ltd.
(attrib) Provincial Bank (now the Alliedc Irish Bank), Cootehill (1859)
Provincial Bank, Farnham St., Cavan (1862)
St Aidan's Church, Butlersbridge
(1860-63) 
St Brigid's, Killeshandra (1862-3)
St Patrick's Church, Corrick (1863) 
Bethel Episcopal Church, Kingscourt (1864)
Church of the Immaculate
Conception, Kilnavart (1866-8)
(Please visit the elegant and well presented site dedicated to
the earlier Church of St Peter at nearby
Templeport.)
Drumalee Church, nr. Belturbet (1868)
St.
Patrick's Church, Miltown (1868)
Parochial House, Ballymachugh (1868)
Alterations to Drumkeen House, now the Loreto Convent outside Cavan town (1868)
Alterations to Drumbar Lodge, nr Cavan Town (1868)
St Brigid’s Church, Killygarry
(1868) 
Alterations and repairs to Swanlinbar church (1869), built originally in 1828, now no longer standing.
Ballinagh Church (1869), demolished in the late 1970s.
Alterations and additions, Convent of Mercy, Ballyjamesduff (1869-70), no longer standing.
Kingscourt Catholic Church (1869-78)
St
Patrick's College, Cavan (1871-4) 
(attrib.) Farnham Hall, Cavan (1876). Demolished October 1995 in one of the greatest acts of vandalism ever carried out in the county.
Poor Clares' Convent, Ballyjamesduff
(1881-3),
no longer a convent.
Crosserlough church
(1888) 
Cork
House for Lord Charles Pelham Clinton’s agent near
Bantry (1866)
Derry
Waterside Presbyterian Church, Clooney Tce., Derry (Londonderry) (1863-6)
Donegal
Sheil Hospital, Ballyshannon (1891), the hospital had been built in 1834.
St Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny (1891-1902), completed by T. F. MacNamara.
Rathmullan Church (1893)
Down
‘Sundry works’ at the Anchorage, Rostrevor (1862)
Dublin
Bethel Church, Dun Laoghaire (1864)
Pembroke Estate Rent Offices, Wilton Place (1866)
Remodelling of Daniel Burke’s wholesale grocery store, 50 Lr Baggot St. (1889)
St Joseph’s Altar, St Theresa’s Church, Clarendon St. (1889)
St Peter's National School, Phibsborough (1891-7)
Archbishop's House, Drumcondra (1889-91)
Catholic Church, Dolphin's Barn (1890-93)
Catholic Church, Porterstown (1891-3)
St Andrew's National School, Brunswick St. (1892-5)
Apse, SS Augustine and John Church, Thomas St. (1895)
Fermanagh
Alterations to Riverdale House (1868)
St Ninnidh's Church, Kinawley (1873-76), belfry designed by Thomas Elliot, added in 1896.
(attributed) The Billiard Room, Castle Crom (1890)
St Patrick's Church, Belleek (1892)
Galway
Redecoration of St Ignatius' church, Galway City (1878)
Altar, St Joseph's Church, Galway City (1889)
Industrial School, Letterfrack (1886)
Convent School, Clifden (1887)
St Mary's Church, Claddagh, Galway (1891)
Church tower, Gort (1895)
Kildare
Monasterevan Church (1880)
Alterations and additions to St Michael’s church, Athy (1881-6)
College Chapel, St Patrick's College, Maynooth (1882-1903)
Carmelite Church, Kildare (1889)
Mercy Convent schools, Athy (1892)
Kilkenny
Additions including a new Chapter House, St Canice's
Cathedral, Kilkenny City (1888-99, completed by W. H. Byrne.)
St Patrick's Church, Kilkenny (1896-99)
Convent of St John of God, Kilkenny (1895-99)
St John's, Kilkenny City (Designed in 1896, though not built until after Hague's death, under the supervision of Byrne)
Photographs courtesy of Dorcas Birthistle RIP, Kilkenny
Catholic church, Piltown..
Laois
Convent School, Abbeyleix (1892)
Church of the Sacred Heart, Stradbally (1893-6)
Abbeyleix Church (1892-5)
Leitrim
Carrick-on-Shannon Church (1879-1929), completed by T.F. MacNamara.
Church of St Clare, Manorhamilton (1884-6)
Longford
Catholic Church, Lanesborough (1859) - although this was attributed at the time to the work of "Mr Hague", this could have been a reference to the builder who may have been William Hague sr.
Alterations to Currygrane House (1868)
Ardagh Church (1881-1903, completed by T.F. MacNamara)
Convent of Mercy, Granard (1892)
Convent Church, Newtownforbes (1897). This fine example of Hague's work, with its rose window, is no longer in danger of demolition, thanks to the determined enthusiasm of some of Newtownforbes' local people.
Louth
Rebuilding of St Peter’s, West St., Drogheda (1882)
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Termonfeckin (1883)
Mayo
Alterations to Convent and School, Knock (1883)
Meath
Parochial House, Ratoath (1869-74)
St Martin's Church, Culmullin, Dunshaughlin (1876)
Alterations to Kells church (1890)
St Patrick's Church, Trim (1891-1902)
Church of the Assumption, Dunsany (1893)
Alterations to Catholic Church, Kilmessan (1895)
Bohermeen Church (1897)
Monaghan
St Patrick's Church, Ballybay (1859-62)
Ematris (Rockcorry) Church (1866)
External and internal alterations to Hilton Park, Scotshouse (1874)
St Michael's Church, Ardaghey (1875)
Completion of Monaghan Cathedral
(1883-92) 
Bishop's Palace, Monaghan (1889)
Sanitary annex, Lunatic Asylum, Monaghan (1886-7)
St Joseph's, Monaghan (1891)
Church of the Sacred Heart, Clones (1891-5)
Offaly
Tower, spire, altar and later remodelling, St Renagh’s Catholic Church, Banagher (1875-8, 1899)
Ferbane Church (1893)
Tullamore Church (1898-1906)
Sligo
Town Hall, Sligo (1864-70)
(attrib.) Teeling Memorial, Collooney (1898)
Tyrone
Sacred Heart Convent, Cookstown (1890)
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane (1890-5)
Church of the Sacred Heart, Omagh
(1893-9) 
Westmeath
Alterations to Street Church (1869)
Episcopal Palace, Mullingar (1871)
Ballinahowen Parish Church (1895-1902)
Wexford
Convent church of the Good Shepherd, New Ross (1893-6)
Newbawn Church (1896)
Wicklow
Alterations to Barndarrig Church (1877)
Arklow Convent of Mercy (1879)
Catholic Church, Rathnew (1881-2)
Catholic Church, Castletown (1885)
Parochial House, Arklow (1898)
Catholic Church, Aughrim (before 1899)