Smiling saints in Strade, Ireland

@JudyEv (381928)
Rockingham, Australia
May 13, 2023 11:03pm CST
The photo shows part of the Dominican Abbey in Strade, Co. Mayo, Ireland. It is adjacent to an ancient church. Straide/Strade is famous as the birthplace of Michael Davitt, one of Ireland’s most revered sons and founder, in 1879, of the Land League. Tourist brochures like to point out that the effigies of saints and a pieta in the Abbey are unique as thy are all smiling. I googled Pieta as I don’t know the term and it seems it is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the body of Jesus Christ. I can’t see that in these effigies but I hope you enjoy seeing the photo.
11 people like this
10 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502262)
• Italy
14 May 23
The Pietà is Virgin Mary with the deceased body of Jesus on her lap. The most famous Pietà is the one by Michelangelo and it is beautiful. Pietà means "pity - compassion".
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502262)
• Italy
14 May 23
@JudyEv I had a very hard time finding this one, I have to modify my keywords many times and finally I got it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
I read that but perhaps whoever did up the signage didn't.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
@LadyDuck Oh wow, you continue to amaze me. I have another one coming up shortly. The guide told us a bit about it but I can't remember what he said and I've searched and searched but can't find anything about it.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
14 May 23
Always thought saints were supposed to be glum so a bit of smiling makes a change!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 May 23
@Ronrybs Maybe not but at least his works have endured for centuries and that's a pretty big deal.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
I wonder if the sculptor got hauled over the coals for daring to change from tradition.
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
15 May 23
@JudyEv So he wasn't smiling!
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (120637)
• United States
14 May 23
The work put into it must have been astounding.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
True and they had so few tools in those days.
2 people like this
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
14 May 23
Yes, they seem to be all smiling. The La Pieta is popular in Catholic churches all over our country. Visiting Ireland reminds me that is it one of the countries where many people practiced Catholicism.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
They still do. There are a lot of roadside shrines too. The one in the photo was actually in Germany. There were a lot there too.
2 people like this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
14 May 23
Smiling saints is certainly unique. Happy Mother's Day.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
Thanks - and to you too. Did you do anything special?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 May 23
@LindaOHio Oh, that's a bit sad. I remember you had two little dogs.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222280)
• United States
14 May 23
@JudyEv No I"m no longer a mother. We don't have any fur babies anymore.
1 person likes this
M Cheung
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
14 May 23
Yes, I can see that they seem to be all smiling.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
I wonder if they got into trouble for doing this.
2 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
14 May 23
Looks to me as if they're not just smiling but laughing merrily.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 May 23
Let's hope they were. There are enough sad saints around the world without there being more.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
14 May 23
I do love this..I always love looking at Saints anyway. Did Vince make it back yet Judy?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 May 23
He rang a few minutes ago. They're following the lad to Bordertown on the SA/WA border and will head home tomorrow. They'll be home Wednesday. Thanks for asking.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
21 May 23
@JudyEv Oh good good..I am way behind here Judy..this is ages ago now.
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86623)
• United States
15 May 23
I smile when I think of God’s goodness, glad someone made the saints smile in the artwork!!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 May 23
They're mostly pretty sombre, aren't they? I'm a bit surprised they're smiling in Ireland which wouldn't have had much to smile about at the time.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34957)
• United Kingdom
14 May 23
That certainly is unusual. Saints in general look serious, which I guess isn't surprising as a lot of them were martyrs!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 May 23
Very few had much to look forward to, that's for sure. Hopefully they didn't all have the gift of prophecy.
1 person likes this