Athy's Emily Square has always been a civic space

AS is customary at this time of year, I lay down my pen for a few weeks and focus instead on images of Athy I have picked up over the last 40 years or so.

This week the article features two photographs of Emily Square separated by twenty years. The first shows the square on 23 June 1937 during Corpus Christi.

As a feast day, it was marked by an annual procession (which is no longer held) with a community-wide involvement.

For the purpose of the event, the water fountain, donated by the Duke of Leinster in 1907, was covered over and surmounted by a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The seco

nd image is from 11 August 1957 when the townspeople were celebrating 700 years since the establishment of the Dominican friary.

The Nationalist and Leinster Times of 10th August 1957 under the headline ‘The Dominican Athy Foundation’ read.

‘On Sunday, August 11th, the Catholic population of Athy and District will jubilantly join in celebrating the 700th centenary of the coming to Athy of the Dominican Fathers. At present a beautiful wrought iron centenary memorial gate is being erected at the main entrance to the Dominican grounds and at either side of it a handsome wall of cut stone is being constructed. ‘The gate will have two plaques, one bearing the crest of the Dominican Order and the other the Irish title Naomh Dominic.’

I remember when the cut stone wall was being built by the late John Murphy of St Michael’s Terrace. Working alone over many weeks he created what was a beautiful monument to the stone mason’s skill.

As for Emily Square, its recent redevelopment has returned it to its core purpose as a civic space for the town.