Saint Manchan's Shrine
Saint Manchan and his Cow
Harry Clarke Stained Glass at Saint Manchan's Church
Boher, Ballycumber, County Offaly
Internationally renowned stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke was born in Dublin on March 17th, 1889. At age 14 he left Belvedere College to apprentice in the stained glass studio at his father’s church decorating business on North Frederick Street. During his late teens Harry studied stained glass at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and won three consecutive gold medals at National competitions. Harry began to work on his own commissions while working at his father’s studio and in 1915 he created the first of nine stained glass windows for the Honan Chapel, Cork University.
Clarkes stained glass was synonymous with quality craftsmanship, imaginative illustrations and a deep rich colour palette. During the 1920’s his reputation soared internationally and commissions from churches and patrons in Ireland, England, the United States and as far as Brisbane, Australia were executed.
Harry Clarke created over 130 original stained glass windows during his lifetime. His book illustrations for London publishers Harrap include the Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe (1919), The Year’s at the Spring (1920) and Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (1916).
In 1929 Harry was diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis. On January 6th, 1931, he died in Coire, Switzerland at the age of 41. During his illness in 1930, the firm was renamed Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd. and continued to create stained glass in the style and quality of the original artists work until 1973.
In 1930, St. Manchan’s Church in Boher, County Offaly commissioned five unique stained glass windows from Harry Clarke. The design and installation were carried out by Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd. Cecil Simmonds, the studio manager, is attributed with the design of the windows for the church. The commission was carried out at a cost of approximately £330.
Saint Manchan stained glass concept for Boher Church. Produced by Harry Clarke studio manager/Artist Cecil Simmonds. Colour schemes were created to give an indication of how the blocks of colour would appear in the stained glass windows. However, the Studios were always at pains to indicate to their clients that these colour sketches could never convey the final effect of the actual stained glass in the church.
Saint Manchan and his Cow
Stained Glass
In 1930, St Manchan’s Church commissioned five unique stained-glass windows from Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd., one of Ireland’s most renowned stained-glass studios. While these windows were not personally designed or painted by Harry Clarke, they were created under the direction of his studio manager, Cecil Simmonds, in the distinctive style Clarke had developed. The commission, completed for approximately £330, reflects the master artist’s signature aesthetic—rich colours, intricate details, and expressive figures. Though Clarke’s health was in decline at the time, it is reasonable to assume that he retained considerable influence over the designs. Today, these windows remain significant examples of Ireland’s stained-glass heritage.
Harry Clarke (1889–1931) was one of Ireland’s most celebrated stained-glass artists and illustrators. Born in Dublin, he was the son of a craftsman and studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where he excelled in stained glass. He gained early recognition with his work for the Honan Chapel in Cork, completed in 1917, and went on to produce masterful stained-glass windows for churches, institutions, and private collectors. Clarke’s work is known for its deep jewel tones, intricate Gothic-inspired details, and ethereal figures. In addition to stained glass, he was also a talented book illustrator, famous for his darkly imaginative illustrations of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1919). Unfortunately, Clarke’s life was cut short due to tuberculosis, and he passed away in 1931 at the age of 41. Despite his early death, his influence lived on through his studio, which continued producing work in his distinctive style, as seen in the windows of St Manchan’s Church.
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