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Jane graduated from the Dublin College of Speech Therapy as a mature student in 1974 and worked as a Speech Therapist until her retirement. Changing horses completely she then enrolled as a full time undergraduate in the Art History Department of Trinity College, from which she graduated four years later with a degree in the History of Art and Architecture, and Ancient History and Archaeology. Her special subject during her final year at Trinity was Dublin Architecture 1680-1840, which subject totally captured her interest and imagination and led her on to research for a higher degree. For the next five years the man in her life was Andrew Caldwell (1733-1808), about whom she is now the world’s expert! Who is, or was, Andrew Caldwell, people will ask? He owned the Newgrange estate, which he let to wealthy tenants, preferring to live in his home in Rutland (now Parnell) Square; he was a fine arts connoisseur, with a special interest in architecture, and great friends with Lord Charlemont; he was a Member of Parliament and, very importantly for Jane’s research, a member of the Wide Streets Commission; and it is because of him that Jane is now a member of this church’s congregation. Andrew was a Presbyterian (known as a dissenter in 18th century Ireland) and attended Strand Street Chapel, the congregation of which eventually moved, some time after his death, to our church here in St,Stephen’s Green. Tipped off that, in the basement of the St.Stephen’s Green Church, was an interesting archive, Jane duly investigated and found great riches; Andrew was a conscientious vestryman and his name, and those of his family members and other Presbyterian friends, was much in evidence in the Strand Street Minute Books. As a thank you to Bill Darlison for his trust in allowing her, free from cameras and watchful manuscript room employees, to delve into these treasures, Jane attended a Sunday service at the church. She has attended ever since and officially became a member on Sunday 30th October 2005. It should be mentioned that, on the first Sunday she attended the church, she was welcomed, as a newcomer, by one Cahill Courteny. It turned out that, many years before, Cahill had been Jane’s patient at her Speech Therapy Clinic at Navan! Didn’t she do a good job! Jane |