Cork City possesses a rich and remarkable history. Unlike other cities it is built on a marsh and an island. The river Lee, on its journey southeastwards, divides and meets again to form an elongated island which, in the earlier days became flooded at high tide. The City of Cork (its name derived from the Gaelic "Corcaigh", a marsh) was funded here. It grew from small beginnings, a monastery and church founded by St Finbarr.

The Augustinians, the Order of St. Augustine, owes its origins to the Saint from Hannaba Hippo in Algeria (354-430). St. Augustine inspired men and women to live in religious communities. By the 13th century many different Augustinians existed. In 1256 Pope Alexander IV created the Grand Union of all existing Augustinian Conregations to form what we know today as the Order of St. Augustine.

The Order of St. Augustine came to Cork some time between 1270 and 1300. As the Augustinian historian, Fr. Thomas C. Butler osa writes: "If we take 1272 as a date of petition for approval to open a foundation in Cork, it would have taken some years for the planning and building of a church and priory (recidence). So we can safely assume tht the later took place between 1275-1285.

The priory was dedicated to the Most Holy trinity, but was recorded on ancient maps as St. Austin's (1545) and St. Augustine's (1610). Later still it became popularly known as the "Red Abbey" because of the red sandstone used in the church. The towers were added after the middle of the 14th century.

          

The main shrine in the church is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. The annual novena in honour of Our Lady of Good Counsel draws large numbers of people from 17th - 26th April each year. Along the side are themysteries of the Rosary.

The North Window 

This window symbolises the Interior Life of the Church. The luminous almond shape in the panels, lighted by the star, shows how the Interior Life of the Church is nourished and illuminated by the divine life, which is its source. The alpha and omega indicate that the light and life of God are the source and summit of the Interior Life. The sun resting on a purpled horizon depicts the church in times of difficulty, through which it is sustained by the hope of rebirth to divine life.  

This window symbolises the expansion of the Kingdom of God trough apostolic activity by sharing the gifts of God with all mankind. The chalice represents the gift of Faith and the anchor symbolises the gift of Hope. The burning heart , emblem of St. Augustine, represents the gift of Love. The seven radiating suns represent the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

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St. Nicholas was born in Pontano, Italy, in 1245. He joined the Augustinian Order and was ordained in 1271. He spent the last thirty years of his life in Tolentine preaching and ministering to the sick and poor. He died in 1305. He is the patron saint of the 'Holy Souls'.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."

                St Pius X     

 Our Lady and St Ann, St Jude,  St Anthony

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Wood carving of the Nativity

St Maria Goretti

Virgin and Martyr

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St Augustine's Repository

St. Augustine of Hippo    

Augustine was born on November 13, 354 in Tagaste, North Africa. He wa the son of Patricius, a pagan, and Monica, a Christian. While still a child Augustine became a catechumen, but was not baptised.

He went to the grammar school at Madaura and later to Carthage for further study.  It was here that he met a girl who became his mistress and to whom he remained faithful. In 372 she gave him a son, Adoedatus.

Through the reading of Cicero's Hortensius, Augustine became deeply interested in philosophy. He joined the Manichean sect.

In 374 Augustie returned to Tagaste to teach grammar, and in 375 went to Carthage where he taught rhetoric until 383. From Carthage he went to Milan where he was offered the chair of rhetoric. There he came in contact with wit an influentia figure, Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Unconsciously, Augustine absorbed Ambrose's Christian message.

In a garden in Milan in August 386, Augustine heard a child's voice singing the words: Tolle, lege - take and read, and he opened and read the text of St. Paul's Letter to the Romans (13:13-14). This incident marked Augustine's conversion to Christianity. He prepared for baptism and was baptised by Ambrose during the Easter Vigil, April 387.

In the autumn of 388 Augustine returned to Tagaste where he led a monastic life with his son and a few close friends. His time was spent in praye, study and the writing of books. In 391, whle on a visit to inspect a candidate for his monastery, Augustine went into the basilica at Hippo, whereupon the people present insisted on having him as their priest. Augustine resisted, but was forced to yield to the peoples importunity, much against his will. He was rdained a priest in the same year. However, he made a condition to which he was to remain faithful all his life, that he should be allowed to continue his monastic life  while attending to his pastoral duties. That is why he founded a monastery at Hippo.

 In 395 he was ordained Bishop of Hippo, but continued to ive in his monastic community and to encourage the spread of monasticism in Nort Africa. He wrote a Rule of Life for community andmany books, treatises, letters and sermons. Two of his most renowned works are his Confessions and City Of God. Augustine died in 430.