Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Antiquarian and designer of church furnishings, of London, Youghal, Co. Cork, and Bruges, Belgium, active from the 1860s until 1905. Michael Buckley was a son of John George Buckley, of Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, who when emigrating to Newfoundland as a young man was captured by a French privateer and taken as a prisoner to France, where he remained for some time after his release. Michael Buckley was born in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, in 1847 or 1848 and educated at Mount Melleray Abbey School and Louvain. In 1881(1) he became a partner in the firm of COX & BUCKLEY BUCKLEY , ecclesiastical art manufacturers of London. He appears in the English census of 1891 as a single, forty-three-year-old lodger, living at 17 Buckingham Street, London, his occupation described as 'in manufacture'. When the firm of Cox & Buckley failed, involving him in severe financial loss, he moved to Ireland, where he established a stained glass and metal works, at Youghal. He also acted as agent and designer for the Decorative Arts Guild of Bruges and was about to bring over some Belgian art workers to Youghal at the time of his death, which took place after a short illness on 2 August 1905 at his house, Montmorenci, Youghal. He was buried in the North Abbey churchyard, Youghal. He was still unmarried at the time of his death.  At some point, probably in 1903 or 1904, the firm was taken over by JAMES WATSON & JAMES WATSON & amp; CO.(2)

Buckley was an enthusiastic and informed antiquarian with a particular interest in ecclesiastical art and architecture; 'though brought up in a severely antiquarian school, no man appreciated more warmly than he the breaking away from hide-bound tradition, exemplified in the work of the best men, such as Bodley, Leonard, Stokes and others in their later work'.(3) He was a contributor to the Ecclesiastical Art Review, the JRSAI, the Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society and the Waterford Archaeological Journal. He became a member of the RSAI in 1888 and acted as hon. local secretary for East Cork.

Addresses: 8 Gillet's Hill, Youghal, 1901;  Montmorenci, Yourghal, at time of death.

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the obituary of Buckley in Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society 13, 2nd series, 1907, 144-146, which also reproduces a photograph of him.  A portrait attributed to John Scott is reproduced in Patricia Butler, Nun's Cross Church, Co. Wicklow, and its treasures (2016), 75. Another account of his life and works is in Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129. His full name is given in the 1901 census of Ireland.


(1) www.achome.co.uk.
(2) David Lawrence, 'Church of Ireland: The United Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry: Stained-Glass Windows' (RCB report, 2000), i, 18.
(3) Obituary notice in IB 48, 10 Mar 1906, 173, which incorporates material from obituary in JRSAI 36 (1906), 100.


10 work entries listed in chronological order for BUCKLEY, MICHAEL JOSEPH CUNNINGHAM *


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Building: CO. KILDARE, MAYNOOTH, ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE
Date: 1891
Nature: Organ case (1891) in chapel
Refs: B 60, ? Jun 1891, 494; Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129, citing IB 46, 3 Dec 1904, 822.

Building: CO. KILDARE, MAYNOOTH, ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE
Date: 1897
Nature: Wooden altar relief in chapel, executed by Pieter de Wispelaere
Refs: Patricia Butler, Nun's Cross Church, Co. Wicklow, and its treasures (2016), 74.

Building: CO. CARLOW, CARLOW, CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION (RC)
Date: 1899
Nature: Dr Comerford memorial pulpit.   Executed by  Pieter De Wispelaere, Bruges.
Refs: IB 41, 1 Nov,1 Dec 1899, 169,198(illus.); Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129; Carlow Cathedral 1833-1983, 24-25(illus.);  Patricia Butler, Nun's Cross Church, Co. Wicklow, and its treasures (2016), 74,79.

Building: CO. KILKENNY, KILKENNY, COACH ROAD, CATHEDRAL OF ST CANICE (CI)
Date: 1901
Nature: Involved in design and execution of carved oak stalls
Refs: IB 42, 1 Nov 1900, 535; 43, 7 Nov 1901, 921(illus.)

Building: CO. KILDARE, CELBRIDGE, CHRIST CHURCH (CI, KILDROUGHT PARISH)
Date: 1902
Nature: Carved stone reredos and 4 stained glass windows
Refs: Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129

Building: CO. TIPPERARY, RATHRONAN, CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1902ca
Nature: Pulpit. Now in St Mary's CI church, Clonmel.
Refs: IB 44, 9 Apr 1903, 1680 (illus. facing p.1702); Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129.

Building: ITALY, ROME, ORATORY
Date: 1903
Nature: Celto-byzantine enamelled glass window
Refs: IB 44, 23 Apr 1903, ? (illus.)

Building: CO. WATERFORD, DUNGARVAN, PRESENTATION CONVENT
Date: ?
Nature: 9 stained glass windows in chapel incorporating Celtic motifs.
Refs: William Fraher, Dungarvan: an Architectural Inventory (Dungravan Museum Society, 1983), 31

Building: CO. CORK, YOUGHAL, COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST MARY (CI)
Date: ?
Nature: Memorial window & oak sedilia in memory of Dr Jones, rector
Refs: Journal of Cork Historical & Archaeological Society 13, 2nd series (1907), 146

Building: CO. CORK, GOUGANE BARRA, ORATORY
Date: ?
Nature: Altar, furnishings, stained glass windows
Refs: IB 44, 9 Apr 1903, 1680 (photo of altar facing p.1702); Paul Larmour, The Arts & Crafts Movement in Ireland (1992), 129.

Author Title Date Details
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The Ancient Stained Glass of St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny' 1896 JRSAI 26 (1896), 240-244.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The antique vestments of Waterford Cathedral' 1897 Waterford Archaeological Journal, No. 11 (Jan 1907), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The antique vestments of Waterford Cathedral' 1897 Waterford Archaeological Journal, No. 11 (Jan 1907), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Ecclesiological Gleanings and Jottings' 1898 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 16 (Apr-Jun 1898), ?; no. 17 (Jul-Sep 1898), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The 'Bambino' of New Ross' 1898 JRSAI 28 (1898), 250-253.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Ecclesiological Gleanings and Jottings' 1898 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 16 (Apr-Jun 1898), ?; no. 17 (Jul-Sep 1898), ?
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Notes Ecclesiological' 1899 JRSAI 29 (1899), 420-423.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Early Irish universities and palaces' 1899 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 19 (Jul 1898-Mar 1899) & no. 20 (Apr-Jun 1899), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Early Irish universities and palaces' 1899 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 19 (Jul 1898-Mar 1899), ?; no. 20 (Apr-Jun 1899), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Notes on boundary crosses' 1900 JRSAI 30 (1900), 247.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'An episode of the emigration from Waterford to Newfoundland' 1900 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 25 (Jul-Sep 1900), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The town walls of Youghal' 1900 JCHAS 6, 2nd series (1900), 156-161.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'A remarkable restoration in St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny' 1900 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 25 (Jul-Sep 1900); IB 42, 1 Nov 1900, 534.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'An episode of the emigration from Waterford to Newfoundland' 1900 Waterford Archaeological Journal, no. 25 (Jul-Sep 1900), ?.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Notes on boundary crosses' 1900 JRSAI 30(1900), 247.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Youghal' 1903 JRSAI 33 (1903), 307.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Rincrew Preceptory' 1903 JRSAI 33 (1903), 312.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Kilnatoora Castle, Youghal' 1903 JRSAI 33 (1903), 315.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'The Burgh or 'Ville' of Youghal' 1903 JRSAI 33 (1903), 326.
Buckley, Michael J.c. 'Notes on St Mary's Church, Youghal' 1903 JRSAI 33 (1903), 333.