cathedrals historical ireland

The Cathedral:

A monastery was founded here by St. Jarlath in the late 5th or early 6th century. In the late 12th century a Romanesque nave-and-chancel church was built. Fire destroyed the nave in 1767, but the barrel-vaulted chancel is incorporated in the present Cathedral. It was added to in 1312, and for almost a century served as a porch. Its outstanding features are the chancel arch of six orders showing Scandinavian influence in its ornamentation, and a very fine east...

The Cathedral was erected in 1831 two years after Catholic Emancipation. It was designed in a neo-Gothic style by Dominic Madden of Galway. In 1843 the church was placed under the patronage of St. Peter and St. Paul. In 1973 the sanctuary of the church was subject to major renovations. At the end of that same year, Bishop Michael Harty was the celbrant at the formal reopening ceremony....

The fine stone tower is a remnant of the medieval Parish Church of Trim. Commemorating Dean Butleer, the historian of Trim, is a clock in the tower. In the porch there are some fine examples of ancient tombstones found by Dean Butler around Trim.

The present church is 87 feet in length; remains of the original chancel may be seen behind the East gable. Access is by appointment only....

Tuam Cathedral

Tuam has the reputation of being a very important church centre. St. Jarlath founded a monastery there in the 6th century. To the north west of Tuam Cathedral are the remains of Temple Jarlath with an east window of c.1200.

The Cathedral was built in the 12th century, with the Romaneaque Arch. King Turlough O'Conor of Connaught is credited with the building of the chancel and the triple circular east window of the three lights. The rest of the cathedral is...

A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars.

Features include an audio visual show entitled "Strongholds of Faith", which is available in English, French, Italian and German as well as various other exhibitions.

Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors m...

The first evidence of settlement in Limerick is found on Kings Island, and dates back to the Vikings of the 9th century. It was the only river crossing then, and served as a base for raiding local monasteries and Celtic settlements.

The English took over the town of Limerick in the late 12th Century, and in 1197 granted a charter declaring Limerick a city. King John, who visited in 1210, ordered that a castle and a bridge (Thomond Bridge) be constructed. Residents of the island city...

The foundation stone of this cathedral was laid in July 1851 but not dedicated until May 1873. Built of Newry sandstone its tower stands 77m high with a 2.4m granite cross on top. The stained-glass windows were designed by Meyer of Munich and installed in 1891 and the gardens grounds and gate lodge were completed in 1905.

The city has two wonderful cathedrals which are celebrated annually through the Two Cathedrals Festival, a programme of music and prayer open to everyone.

O...

The Anglican cathdral on the main street contains a full length martial portrait of this same general, still brandishing his sabre. The cathedral tower, which survives from a seventeenth century church on the site, contains a bell cast from cannon used in the Battle of the Boyne. Colours of the Inniskilling regiments hang in the light and airy late Georgian interior.

Notable features are the seventeenth century font and a stone tablet to William Pokrich ( died 1628) with half the inscrip...

Saint Mary's Cathedral is situated off High Street in the town of Tuam. Saint Mary's is comprised of three cathedrals; the 12th century cathedral of which only the magnificent Romanesque chancel remains.

The unfinished 14th century cathedral which served as the diocesan Synod Hall and the 19th century Gothic Orevival Cathedral which contains a number of unusual stained glass windows.

The most impressive window is that on the west end which depicts the Transfiguration of Our Lord....

The Church of Ireland cathedral (1749 - 1784) is spartan, dignified , eschewing human figures in its stained glass. The GPA Bolton Library is located in the grounds and contains the 18th century book collect of Dean Bolton.

The Catholic Church (1801 -1855 ) is exotic , almost alive with statuary dividing the aisles. Both are named for St John the Baptist and both vonvey a sense of Cashel's religious importance in the wall plaques commemorating Protestant archbishops and Catholic dea...