Almost Wordless Wednesday: Stained Glass Windows, The Black Abbey, Kilkenny

The Black Abbey of the Dominican Friars was founded in 1225 by William the younger, turned into a courthouse in 1543 with the repression of Catholicism, minimally restored in the 18th century and finally returned to being a place of worship in the 19th century. One of the most remarkable aspects of the abbey, in addition to its beautiful stained glass windows and extraordinary architecture, is the sense of complete calm and absolute silence within. There were several individuals engaged in their daily prayers, and, despite the fact that I had permission to shoot inside the church, I felt like an interloper fully wishing that my camera would make no sound as I photographed the windows.