cathedrals historical ireland

This building was erected in 1831, two years after Catholic Emancipation, to the design of Dominic Madden of Galway in the then fashionable neo-Gothic style. The reredos or screen backing the altar shows paintings of the Ascension and SS. Peter and Paul, to whom the church is dedicated. The church is sited close to the Old Ground Hotel....

Much of the Cathedral dates from 1633 when Richard Boyle, the Earl of Cork built it. However, the chancel arch and south transept windows go back as far as the 13th century. The church contains a fine tomb of the Mac Grath family dated 1557, and showing the Crucifixion, Ecce Homo, St. Gregory the Great, St. Carthage, St. Katherine of Alexandria, St. Patrick and some Apostles. It is one of the few cases where the figures are named on Irish medieval tombs. Not far from the tomb, and also at th...

The town was founded by the Norse early in the 10th century, but by the end of the century of Irish under Brian Boru captured it. The O'Briens had already made it their own capital by 1100. In 1175 Raymond Le Gros took the town for a time, though he had to relinquish it shortly afterwards. But by 1200 the Normans were back again, and with few interruptions held it until the Confederate Catholics captured it in 1642. The Cromwellians took it in 1651.

In October 1691 the Williamites de...

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....

On Marlborough Street, you will find St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, the main Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. Built in 1852 it features a high altar by Peter Turnerelli, the famous Irish-Italian artist....

Ardmore is the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. St. Declan lived in the period 350-450 AD and christianised this area before the coming of St. Patrick. St. Declan's feast day is "Pattern Day" every 24th of July....

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...

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 turned...

A Roman Catholic cathedral consecrated in 1874 by Cardinal Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin. The magnificent stained glass windows were installed by Loblin of Tours, France....

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...