My wife's ancestors - FitzEustace - Contents

St.Audoen's Church, Dublin

The effigies of Rowland FitzEustace, Baron Portlester (died 1496) and his 3rd wife Margaret Dartas.
In the base of the tower at St.Audoen's Church, High St, Dublin.

St.Audoen's Church was founded in the 12th century.
Rowland FitzEustace, Baron Portlester was cr 1462.
He built the "Portlester Chapel" (the SE chapel) at St.Audoen's in 1482.
[McMahon, 2006] says the correct reading of the inscription on the Portlester monument (dating the Portlester Chapel) is 1482.
The date on the monument was formerly incorrectly read as 1455. (Note he was Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1455, but not yet Baron Portlester.)
His 3rd wife Margaret Dartas died in 1486-1496. She was buried in the Portlester Chapel [Tickell, 1955].
He died 1496. He was buried in Co.Kildare.
Effigies of him and his 3rd wife were placed at her grave in the Portlester Chapel in St.Audoen's.

The Portlester monument remained in the Portlester Chapel for some centuries.
The roof of the Portlester Chapel was removed maybe in the late 18th century [McMahon, 2006]. The chapel fell into disrepair.
The Portlester monument was not yet removed. 1832 article says the Portlester monument was then located "near the east end of the south aisle" (i.e. in the Portlester Chapel).
In 1859/1860, the Portlester monument was moved to the base of the tower, and survives there today.

Today, St.Audoen's Church is the only medieval church surviving in use in Dublin.
The Portlester Chapel is still in ruins, with no roof.
St. Anne's Chapel was also ruined for many years, but has now been restored as a visitor centre.
A modern notice at the site has the 1455 date reading.
However another notice notes that the 1455 date is probably wrong. This gives a reading of "m cccc lxxx ii" (1482).
See street view.

Location

St.Audoen's church on a Model of Dublin around 1500. View from NW.
The city gate at the back of the church still exists today, as does some of the city wall.
Dublin Bridge was for centuries Dublin's only bridge.
See full size and other shot.

St. Audoen's church in modern 3D view. N is up.
The Portlester Chapel is to the SE (bottom right).

Plan of St. Audoen's church, 1866. N is down.
Shows the Portlester Chapel to the SE (top left).
Shows the Portlester monument now removed to the base of the tower.
From here.

Portlester Chapel, St. Audoen's church, in ruins, with no roof.
Engraving dated 1840. On sale at Antiqua Print Gallery.
See original dated 1829.
See also engraving of 1832. On sale on eBay.
The Portlester monument was in the Portlester Chapel at this time.

Portlester monument

The Portlester monument, in the base of the tower, St.Audoen's Church.
Tomb on LHS is from around the 1330s.
Photo 2024. See larger and full size.
See 2012 shot.

Portlester monument, St.Audoen's, Dublin.
From [Finerty, 1898]. Copy here.
See larger and full size.
Note the base of the monument has been changed since.
The new base dates from 1949.

The Portlester monument, St.Audoen's Church.
Photo 2024. See larger and full size.
See 2012 shot.
See different 2012 shot.

The Portlester monument.
Photo 2024. See larger and full size.
See other shot.

Portlester monument, St.Audoen's, Dublin.
Photo 2012. See full size.
Photo credit Con O'Donoghue. From Arran Henderson. Used with permission.

Close-up of the Portlester effigies.
Photo 2024. See larger and full size.
See other shot.

References

"Lord Portlester's Chapel: St Audeon's Church Dublin", The Dublin Penny Journal, vol. 1, p.201, Number 26, December 22, 1832.
Mary McMahon (2006). St. Audoen's Church, Cornmarket, Dublin: Archaeology and Architecture.

St. Audoen's Gate (1240) is a surviving gate of the old Dublin city walls, at the back of St.Audoen's church.
St.Audoen's is the Protestant church. Not to be confused with the 19th century Catholic St.Audoen's beside it.