Wexford’s Johnstown Castle sees ‘remarkable restoration project’ for historic stained glass window

Crafted in 1920 by the esteemed stained glass manufacturing company Earley & Co. of Camden Street, Dublin, the 6ft x 11ft window depicts a scene from the resurrection of Christ and was originally housed in the Church of Ireland Rathaspeck Church, linked to the Johnstown Castle Estate.

Unfortunately, the window fell victim to vandalism in the mid-1980s. Dr. Austin O’Sullivan of the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle rescued the shattered remnants in 1985, ensuring its preservation and preventing it from further dereliction. For nearly 40 years, the panels and fragments lay safely stored at the Irish Agricultural Museum until 2023 when the Heritage Council provided crucial grant support – through its Community Heritage Grant Scheme – to the Irish Heritage Trust which cares for and manages the property since 2019.

This support enabled the painstaking restoration work to commence under the skilled hands of stained-glass window conservator Colette Langan of Irish Stained Glass, operating from her studio in Co. Leitrim.

The restoration project, spanning approximately six months, was a labour of love and dedication. Collaborating closely with Matt Wheeler, the Irish Heritage Trust’s General Manager at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens Wexford, Colette meticulously researched missing pieces of the window to authentically recreate the lost sections saying: “Embarking on the restoration of the magnificent windows was both a privilege and a formidable task, as unravelling the mystery of the missing elements in these previously vandalised windows proved to be quite an enigma. Through diligent research and collaborative efforts, we not only deciphered what the original quotation was, we also meticulously restored other significantly damaged areas, liberating this timeless masterpiece from its storage crate.”

The restored window now graces the wall of the Flag Hall of the Castle – formerly known as the Grand Staircase Hall – where it is backlit and can be admired as part of the daily guided tours of the castle, allowing visitors to connect with the poignant history it represents. The window commemorates Gerald FitzGerald, the only son of Lord and Lady Maurice FitzGerald of Johnstown Castle, and Desmond Otho Paget, a cousin of the FitzGerald family. Gerald, serving with the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, fell in battle in France on September 13, 1914, at the age of 28. Desmond, serving with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, met his fate in March 1918 at the tender age of 18.

Matt Wheeler, commenting on the project said: “It has been a fascinating project to work on, and we are very grateful to the Heritage Council for backing it and helping to bring this important memorial back to life for all to appreciate. This remarkable restoration project has breathed new life into a significant piece of Johnstown Castle’s history, bringing it back to its former glory. This truly is a resurrection project.”

Daily tours of the castle are available, pre-booking is advised. Visitors can also avail of annual membership of the Irish Heritage Trust. www.johnstowncastle.ie.