Seek not thyself outside thyself

Last June, I spotted this small chapel in Carrick-on-Shannon.

It was closed that day so I was unable to see what the inside might look like.

That was rectified earlier this week when I received Louise’s latest blog.

“A remarkable example of one man’s deep love for his wife, this tiny R.C. chapel on Bridge Street in Carrick is the smallest in Ireland and reputedly the second smallest in the world. When Mary Josephine Costello died at the age of 47 on 6th of October 1877 her heart-broken husband, Edward Costello, had her body embalmed and placed in the care of the Marist Sisters in Carrick-on-Shannon. He immediately commissioned this beautiful Chapel in her memory and as a last resting place for them both.

On April 22nd 1879 the Chapel was dedicated, solemn Requiem Mass was offered and Mary Josephine’s remains were interred in a beautifully decorated coffin and placed in a sunken place to the left of the entrance and covered with a thick lid of specially made glass. A large gathering of clergy and laity attended this occasion. A chalice specially commissioned by Edward Costello was used during the celebration mass and thereafter on the first Friday of every month until Edward Costello’s death at the age of 68 on March 7th 1891. This chalice is now on permanent display at St. Georges Visitor Center. When he died his remains were interred in the sunken space to the right of the entrance and a similar thick lid of specially made glass was placed over the coffin.

The Chapel itself is 16ft long and 12ft wide. The entrance gate is placed between two handsome cut-stone pillars surmounted by two Celtic crosses of exquisite design and tracery. The exterior of the building is cut-stone surmounted by two Celtic crosses of the same material. There is but one entrance to the Chapel, a door of wrought galvanised iron. On the front gable in one of the component stones of the building is a raised monogram – the Costello coat of arms with the motto ‘Ne te quaesiveris extra’- ‘Seek not thyself outside thyself’. On the corresponding left side is a raised monogram with the letters E.M.C. beautifully entertained and the same motto again. The interior of the building is lined in Bathstone. There is no woodwork in the entire Chapel as the roof is an arched piece of masonry of the same material as the wall. Over the richly decorated marble altar is a stained glass window of handsome design by Mayer of Munich.”

Carrick on Shannon Heritage Group Ltd.