cathedrals historical ireland

The place-name Downpatrick comprises two elements - dun, an early Irish fortified site (on which the present Cathedral was erected), and the name of Ireland's National Apostle. Some say St. Patrick was buried here, but there is no early tradition to substantiate the claim, and the inscribed stone allegedly marking the Saint's burial place just south of the Cathedral dates from as recently as 1900. Indeed, very little is known of the early history of the site until the 12th century, when a churc...

Ballyporeen in whose cruciform church one Michael Reagan, great grand-father of former Carthage, which became one of the renowned universities of Europe. The Round Tower which is one of the finest in Europe is 97 feet high and 15 feet in diameter at the base, with its doorway set high above the ground for protection against Viking attacks. Also interesting is St. Declan's oratory which is a very small early church. The "Cathedral includes work of various periods and styles from about the te...

Built in 1865, the cathedral remains to be one of Corks most famed landmarks. The cathedral is based on William Burges’s French gothic style design. Burges gave the cathedral a Resurrection Angel, made of coppper and gold leaf as a gift and it is located on the pinnacle of the sanctuary. There is a local superstition which states that if ever the angel is to fall from the roof of the Cathedral, this would signify the end of the world.
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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...

Dating back to over 1400 years ago, the site on which the  catherdral stands has been a place of worship since 490 AD when St. Fachtna founded a monastic school here. This was visited by scolars and pligrams from near and afar. 

The catherdral itself dates back to 1612 and it was extensively restored after the Rebillion of 1641. ...

The interior was rebuilt by George Richard Pain, in 1828 following a fire. The tower dates from 1862. John Hogan produced the apostles and the saints figures, and the bas relief, "Last Supper" as well as the Bishop Murphy mural monument. Turnerelli produced the bust of Bishop Moylan....

Saint Canices Cathedral is one of Ireland's finest. Completed in 1285, it occupies the site of an earlier church and contains rich carvings, worked in both timber and stone, some dating from the 13th century. It was sacked by Cromwell's army in 1650.
The walls are made of local Kilkenny limestone with pillars of sandstone on the interior. The south transept contains the effigies of the Butler family. It has colourful stained glass too and everywhere the authentic air of a structur...

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...

In 1840 Archbishop Crolly laid the foundation stone for St Patricks Cathedral. Archbishop Crolly died during the famine and work on the building was stopped. Construction began again in 1854 under a new dynamic Bishop, Dr Dixon who appointed another architect, JJ McCarthy to succeed Mr. Duff.

He changed Duff's plan to a purer Gothic Style giving us the lofty twin spires of today's building. Work on the building had again virtually stopped until Dr McGettigan was appointed to...

The 49-bell Carillon, unique in this country, is played from a console within the belfry. A closed-circuit system shows the carillonneur playing the instrument. To mark this 81st year, an enhanced programme is planned, including guest recitals by leading carillonneurs, grant aided by the Arts Council, the Cork County and Cobh Town Councils.Recitals take place on Sundays from the 4th of May 2008, to 28th of September 2008.

The Carillion is played from a keyboard and pedalboard cons...