World War I chaplain with Irish heritage showed compassion in the midst of horror Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy was a priest and a poet. Photo: Getty A couple of years back, I took advantage of National Heritage Week to drop in to one of Dublin’s oldest, smallest and most iconic churches, St Doulagh’s, just off the Malahide Road, for a quick gander. From the road, it looks a bit like a small medieval castle with its short and broad battlement tower, steep stone roof and thick walls.
The church probably dates from the 12th century and is named after St Doulagh, thought to have lived a religious hermit’s life around AD600 It also has a leper’s window, where people who had infectious diseases such as leprosy could be given communion through the bars. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.